Activities of the Nunavut Literacy Council

Workshops

Literacy & Language Development

This 3-day workshop, delivered in both Inuktitut and English, focuses on the development of oral language, reading & writing skills and the ways people can support children develop strong language & literacy skills. Participants also discuss language and literacy issues in their community and how these issues can be addressed through community-based initiatives and projects. The Nunavut Literacy Council has delivered this workshop in Gjoa Haven, Hall Beach, Igloolik, Taloyoak & Repulse Bay to upgrading instructors, adult learners, daycare workers, community health representatives, parents & Elders.

Tools for Community Building

The goal of this three day workshop is the development by participants of a funding proposal for a community literacy project. During the first day of this workshop participants define literacy in Nunavut and discuss literacy projects and literacy issues in their community. On day two participants engage in project planning, setting goals & objectives for a community based literacy project that addresses one or more of the literacy issues in their community. Participants progress through the development of a project proposal which can be used to submit to funders. This workshop has been delivered in Clyde River, Kimmirut & Gjoa Haven.

Events

Nunavut Literacy Week

The Nunavut Literacy Council sponsors Nunavut Literacy Week during the first week of October. The Council sponsors the popular "Read for 15" event and provides schools, community learning centres, day cares & libraries with resources and prizes to promote & celebrate literacy.

PGI Golf Tournaments for Literacy

The Nunavut Literacy Council hosts and organizes the PGI Golf Tournaments for Literacy. Celebrities, officials and community members promote literacy and raises money to support literacy projects across Nunavut.

Family Literacy Day

Every year in January, the Nunavut Literacy Council mails out over 200 packages containing information on family literacy and literacy resources developed for parents and children.

Resource Development

Oral History Manual - Unipkausivut

This resource manual is for literacy practitioners, upgrading instructors, adult educators, high school teachers & learners. Unipkausivut is designed to help adult learners build literacy & language skills through the use of Oral Histories. Integrating the study of Oral Histories in literacy & language programmes also helps to preserve elders' knowledge, build awareness and appreciation of culture & preserve and promote the use of the Inuktitut language. Working on Oral History projects can bring communities together and get people engaged & excited about their learning.

Nobodys Perfect Parent Manual

The Nunavut Literacy Council has published an Inuktitut version of this popular parenting manual.

Storysacks

A "Storysack" is built around an oral story or a fictional story. A storysack includes a bag containing the words to an oral story or a children's fiction story, props, scenery, word games & activities as well as a non-fiction book related to the story. Storysacks are fun way to bring a story to life through drama and activities. They help support caregivers to build language and literacy skills in young children.The Nunavut Literacy Council has developed Storysacks for both Inuktitut & English stories or communities can develop their own.

Developing Successful Strategies for At-Risk Youth

This handbook provides adult educators and teachers with access to resources that support programme development for at-risk youth.

Literacy Programs That Work

This handbook provides adult educators, librarians & others with best practice, Nunavut-specific examples of quality literacy programming.

Inuktitut Environmental Print Labels

The Nunavut Literacy Council has developed colourful sets of Inuktitut environmental print labels that can be placed anywhere in the community - classrooms, homes, offices and stores. The purpose of these labels is to increase the amount of Inuktitut writing that people see, read and use in the environment. In order for children and adults to learn to read and write they need to see their printed language in the world around them.

Tools for Community Building Manual

A project planning & proposal writing resource for groups or individuals who are planning to develop community-based literacy programs. This manual complements the Tools for Community Building Workshop.

Other Resources

The Nunavut Literacy Council produces a quarterly newsletter. We also maintain a comprehensive bilingual website. The Council also has an extensive collection of books, videos and other materials on literacy, language development, project development and management and many other topics. These resources can be borrowed free of charge through our office in Rankin Inlet.

Other Activities

Workplace Literacy Project

The Nunavut Literacy Council, in partnership with the NWT Literacy Council, will bring goverment, the private sector and other organizations together to discuss the issues and challenges around workplace/ workforce literacy. We will look at ways that we can work together in partnership to support the development of high quality workplace literacy programmes across the territories. We will also research best practices in programme delivery and will use this information to develop resources.

Policy Related Activities

The Nunavut Literacy Council also provides information about literacy in Nunavut to government, the general public and the media. In 2003 the Nunavut Literacy Council obtained funding to carry out the first International Adult Literacy Survey in Nunavut. The results of this survey will be released in the fall of 2005. The Council also monitors and responds to federal and territorial literacy initiatives and policy.

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