A Nanaimo-based literacy program for Indigenous elders is helping its students gain confidence and navigate the world.
The (First Elders Accessible Training Healing Education Respect Support) provides a safe space for literacy training to Indigenous elders and adults who are residential, day school and intergenerational survivors.
害羞草研究所淭he students are amazing. They are incredibly brave and courageous to be coming back into a classroom after what they experienced,害羞草研究所� said Mary Desprez, a board member with the society. 害羞草研究所淭he barriers are so extreme 害羞草研究所� things we take for granted, like navigating a grocery store. They害羞草研究所檙e all eligible for HandyDART, for example, except you can害羞草研究所檛 apply if you don害羞草研究所檛 have a computer and you can害羞草研究所檛 read.害羞草研究所�
According to Desprez, the program first started when the chair of the board, Doug Savory, befriended an Indigenous woman who couldn害羞草研究所檛 read or write and was impressed by how well she managed to navigate the world. While there are numerous programs for Indigenous youths, Savory and the growing board were surprised by the lack of actual teaching programs for Indigenous elders in a classroom setting.
With support and backing from numerous community groups, a seven-week pilot program was started in the fall, geared towards the specific needs of Indigenous elders.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e building the plane while we害羞草研究所檙e flying it,害羞草研究所� said Desprez. 害羞草研究所淲e really didn害羞草研究所檛 know how it would be accepted. And it害羞草研究所檚 just been an absolutely beautiful and humbling experience.害羞草研究所�
The literacy program is provided at no cost to its students and includes lunch, supplies and even transport 害羞草研究所� all donated to the program itself at no cost by sponsors.
The program will be expanded over the next two years, bringing customized learning to a total of 11 communities across Canada.
The first expansion is planned for Penticton for fall this year, and then to Dawson Creek in early 2023. Gradually, the literacy program will reach Moose Jaw, London, Belleville, Hamilton, St. Catherine害羞草研究所檚, Toronto, Windsor and Ottawa. The expansion is possible thanks to a sponsorship by Oak View Group and the various municipalities in which they manage and operate conference centre facilities, including the Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC).
The general manager of VICC, Chuck Lo毛wen, also with Oak View Group, said he immediately knew it was the right thing to do when Desprez approached him about using the space, and even the further expansion.
害羞草研究所淲herever we can do it, we害羞草研究所檒l be able to do it,害羞草研究所� said Lo毛wen. 害羞草研究所淲e have affiliations with different cities and different buildings, and we害羞草研究所檙e hopeful that other companies that are similar to ours will see this and roll it out in those cities and communities.害羞草研究所�
Florence Marshall, 68, has been attending the literacy program since it started last year and said being together with the students and the teachers brings her a lot of happiness.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e like family here,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e help each other out. When somebody害羞草研究所檚 down, we lift each other up.害羞草研究所�
The warm and welcome environment has encouraged her to attend classes and keep learning.
害羞草研究所淚 plan to finish. I started and I plan to finish and go through right to the end 害羞草研究所� They work at my level here, and at my pace so I can understand. They害羞草研究所檙e wonderful teachers and they take their time with me.害羞草研究所�
Marshall said she now enjoys reading about her own and different Indigenous cultures, thanks to the program.
Enrolment for the FEATHERS Society literacy program is ongoing, with the current term running until June 30. They meet Mondays and Wednesdays between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the conference centre. Further information about the program and enrolment can be found , or through e-mail at info@feathersliteracycircle.ca.
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mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
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