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Community Literacy Program

Our Community Literacy program works with community facilitators from Yukon communities to design and deliver unique literacy programs. Facilitators are trained how to design and create their specific programs and learn how to embed literacy and essential skills.

Rooted in Medicine

The Rooted in Medicine program was a youth program delivered in Carcross, YT. It taught youth how to prepare traditional medicines including teas, lozenges, powders, lotion bars, salves, etc. They made medicine bags to store the medicines in. It incorporated food security through growing medicinal plants, herbs and vegetables. Adults, teachers and elders were involved in the program through a train- the- trainer approach.

Quilting

Community members in Watson Lake had the opportunity to socialize safely and learn basic straight-line quilting. Each participant had use of their own sewing machine and created their own jellyroll quilt. To keep the group size small, the community held two five-week sessions with 8 participants in the first session and 7 in the second. There is interest to continue with the sewing program, with skilled sewers supporting novice sewers in gaining skills.

Food Security

As part of the Food Security program with Yukon College in Mayo, program participants actively engaged in learning about gardening and food security. The participants fostered food security in the community by working with the community daycare to provide a garden bed for the children to learn more about where their food comes from and experience food production. The garden bed was designed, built and installed by participants. Vegetables, flowers and strawberries were planted with daycare children. During the summer, a daycare instructor continued to teach the children about gardening.

Painting

This program provided much needed weekend programming for the community of Carmacks. An artist from Whitehorse delivered two weekend sessions for youth and adults, one painting cherry blossom trees and birds, and the other painting a birch tree forest. The artist led two-hour workshops, one in the morning for adults, one in the afternoon for youth.

Workshop Series: Seed Starting, Building Cold Frames and Small Engine Repair

Delivered in Haines Junction, this workshop series focused on seed starting, building cold frames and small engine repair. It happened over several weekends and welcomed several community members. Seed starting included tips and tricks about growing in the cold climate, when to plant, what to do throughout the season, and how to harvest. Participants learned some carpentry basics and built cold frames to help keep their plants live a little longer during our short growing season. The most popular workshop was small engine repair. This two-part workshop focused on maintenance of machines, diagnosis of problems and repairing small engines.

Sewing

Darcy, the community facilitator in Dawson has started a sewing program this winter. The hope of being able to sew baby bonnets, children’s mitts and toques and traditional anoraks. She is working to be able to pivot the program due to the current covid-19 restrictions and has offered some train the trainer sessions with Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in staff. We look forward to hopefully being able to offer the sewing program to members of the public in Dawson as soon as it is safe to do so.

Benches

Residents of Teslin built benches with the school kids (ages 5-13) to put around the community. They built 4 benches in total and they had families dedicate the benches to loved ones. A community dinner and celebration of the program has been put on hold due to Covid-19. When it is safe to do so a celebration dinner will be planned, and the benches will be moved to their permanent locations complete with the dedication plaques. Two benches will be placed outside the Teslin Tlingit Council office and two outside the Village of Teslin office.

If you are interested in delivering a Community Literacy program in your community or for more information about the program contact Darby at darby.macwilliam@yukonliteracy.com.