Many of the participants had wonderful skills in cooking, sewing and other traditional skills. In the program they had an opportunity to be the facilitator and teach their skills. The instructors were able to learn about different traditions and culture, how to sew wall hangings and how to cook perfect bannock. This practice allowed for participants to feel good about the skills they did have and recognized prior learning experience.

Further, the program encouraged participants to bring their children to the program when there was a professional development day or when the parent couldn’t find day care. This provided a perfect opportunity to model parenting skills and help families with family literacy.

As a result of the program, participants decided they would like to have a Kitchen Circle. Every second Saturday, participants and their children would come to class for the Kitchen/Reading Circle where the parents did the cooking and the children participated in a reading circle. Parents spent their time socializing, reading recipes and cooking a nutritious meal for their family. At the end of the session, families took the meal home. They also made a nutritious snack for the children and themselves and joined their children and read together. This particular project was funded through the Health Promotions fund.

In addition the program provided breakfast and lunch to the participants. It was a great way to spend time with learners and it prompted participants to create the Kitchen Circle.

The program instructors always used community resources by having different organizations/people come to the program to deliver workshops, such as: