WELCOME
An invitation and opportunity for Indigenous Elders and Adults, Residential and Day School Survivors and Intergenerational Survivors, to learn English literacy skills in a supportive and safe environment. The program offers group learning and individual education plans in a classroom setting.
The Learners at The Literacy Circle would like to welcome you to listen to their stories and their learning journeys.
Yvonne
Louisa
Cathy
Florence
Joanne
The Literacy Circle ~ Learning for Life
The Education Component
The Education Component supports reading, writing and basic math skills. Each adult and elder is individually assessed to determine literacy and comprehension skills which establishes grade level. Learners are paired into appropriate level groups and work with their teacher in their group. Story telling is a new component where learners create stories from their past and learn to write down and tell their stories to share with their families, friends and classmates.
The Life Experiences Component
The Life Experiences Component provides opportunities for a variety of experiences including: field trip. Past trips include: visits to local library; concerts (like Snotty Nose Rez Kids); live theatre plays and dance focusing on Indigenous narratives; museum and special tours focusing on Indigenous archives; and art galleries. Cell phone and computer literacy tutoring are also available at The Literacy Circle.
The Learners' Advocate Component
The third component offered is the Learners' Advocate. The Advocate assists Learners in breaking down systemic and literacy barriers in day to day life. This individual oversees transportation, the delivery of lunches and school supplies. They also advocate for the Learners' non-educational needs to be met whenever possible including helping learners to fill out forms for housing, medical services, food security and transportation. The Advocate connects Learners with Indigenous Liaison nurses and cultural workers.
Classes are currently offered in Snuneymuxw territory (Nanaimo BC) on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30am to 3:30pm at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Donated lunches and school supplies are provided. Enrolment is Free.
Next Session begins Monday Sept. 11th, 11:30am. New students can enrol at any time! Please sign up on the Join Us page, or
call (250) 924 - 3314 to register.
The Literacy Circle Society
The Literacy Circle Society is a not-for-profit society. The Literacy Circle ~ Learning for Life program offers an opportunity for Indigenous Elders and Adults to learn literacy skills in a supportive environment.
The Literacy Circle Society acknowledges and gives thanks to the Snuneymuxw people, on whose traditional lands we learn, teach and live. We raise our hands in gratitude for their ongoing protection of the beautiful land we share.
Want to get involved?
We are working to bring this program to other communities. Please fill out forms on the Get Involved page if you want to participate.
Intake forms available for interested Elders, Teachers, and Community Volunteers.
The Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action are being brought to life by these generous funders and sponsors:
