Success Stories
Urban Aboriginal Family
The Urban Aboriginal Family Literacy program supported literacy development in urban Aboriginal families across B.C. through Friendship Centres. This program has positively impacted approximately 3,000 individuals and hundreds of Aboriginal families across the province. The following are some success stories.
Kermode Friendship Centre in Terrace, B.C., has created a diverse and inclusive cultural program through their Aboriginal Family Literacy project. The breadth of their activities meant there was something for everyone, at all ages and stages of literacy development. One of their many cultural activities was to gather families together to learn and practice the traditional way of canning their food fish for the winter. Many young, urban families no longer have the knowledge or resources to prepare and preserve the fish they receive from their communities. Sharing in this experience meant a great deal to the elders, parents and children involved. To their great surprise, each family present received an entire case of canned salmon for their families for the winter. This is Aboriginal Family Literacy at its best!
Cariboo Friendship Society in Williams Lake, B.C., has established a traditional quilting program with their Aboriginal Family Literacy project. This program unites women of all generations together to sew quilts; offering opportunities for elders to share traditional stories with younger generations. Mothers, children, aunties and elders meet and support one another while learning new skills grounded in numeracy, fine motor skills and self-discipline. One participant of the program refused to cut and sew her own materials during the first year out of a deep fear of failure. In the second year of the program, the young mother has watched and learned from her elders and peers enough to feel comfortable sewing her very own quilt, from start to finish! She has gifted her new baby with this quilt which is the product of her ability to take risks, learn and develop new skills.
