The Indigenous Literacy Enhancement Project.
Beyond inclusion, transformation.
As part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, we have committed to support the provision of culturally relevant programming and curriculum for school-aged Indigenous students. We are working to collaborate continuously and partner with Indigenous schools/boards to support creating programs to improve education attainment levels and success rates. In community outreach, we work with Indigenous Advisors as part of an Advisory Circle who oversee the development of our Indigenous relations and partnerships across Turtle Island.
An exciting and innovative initiative.
To support improving education attainment levels and success rates, we have launched The Indigenous Literacy Enhancement (“LIT”) Project in partnership with friendship centres and Indigenous-serving schools. The project is an exciting and innovative initiative providing literacy programming along with “book vending machines”, incorporating culturally-relevant storytelling that allows Indigenous children to see themselves in the stories/books and create a path forward for themselves and their communities.
Our Indigenous literacy and well-being curriculum, developed in collaboration with our Indigenous partners, is based on “The Seven Grandfather Teachings” (Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility, Truth). The curriculum provides Indigenous children access to culturally relevant teachings that help them develop a deeper connection with their identity. Seeing themselves in these stories can build self-esteem among these children, give them a sense of purpose and direction, and help them set and achieve goals.
Book Vending Machine Project
Along with the curriculum, the LIT Project piloted eight inaugural book vending machines in 2022-2023, which were provided to Indigenous friendship/cultural centres and schools on Anishinabe Algonquin, Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, Attawandaron, Blackfoot Confederacy, Tsuut’ina, Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, and Métis Nation lands. In the next three years, we purpose to quadruple our impact by purchasing and donating additional vending machines, and we are committed to keeping them filled with enough Indigenous-authored books for each child (200-250/location) to receive a free book every month.
*Download and complete the fillable form and email it to info@start2finishonline.org
“…decolonization is not accountable to settlers, or settler futurity. Decolonization is accountable to Indigenous sovereignty and futurity.”
— Tuck & Yang, Decolonization is not a metaphor