Bookmates and partners develop family literacy materials for Aboriginal families
Bookmates partnered with Rita Emerson, now of the Women of Red Nations, and an advisory group of Aboriginal people to create the Tikanagan Program. The Tikanagan Program, made possible through the generous support of the National Literacy Secretariat, is based on Bookmate’s Rock & Read Program and is the next step for those practitioners wishing to offer a culturally relevant family literacy/learning program. The Tikanagan program blends the best parts of family literacy and learning programs widely used across Manitoba and in Canada with the wisdom of our Elders providing a unique and real experience for the Aboriginal families participating in the program.
We were intent on having books for the program that reflected the Aboriginal way of life. A book making group of community people was formed. They met on a regular basis and talked about book format, language and content. Bookmates provided refreshments, materials and space. We were thrilled with the dedication of the group.
We secured monies from the National Literacy Secretariat and the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre to self-publish books. Rhonda Taylor’s ‘Watch Your Step”, Shirley Haynes and Danielle Clements’ ‘Kinipan na” and Linda Ducharme’s “Pepere Played the Fiddle” were published. Bookmates distributes these books as part of the Tikanagan Rock & Read Facilitator Training. We also accept donations for the books so that we can continue publishing them.
The book making group continues to meet on a monthly basis. We are expecting to publish more books in the near future.
For more information about copies of the books or the Tikanagan Rock & Read program, please call Terrie Moar, Executive Director of Bookmates Inc. at 582-1804.