Debra English, Career Development Officer, Education, Culture and Employment, Inuvik
The Inuvik Literacy Committee started out as the NWT Literacy Week Committee made up of representatives from the community, regional and territorial organizations. The committee started as an informal group of representatives from a variety of organizations that came together in September 2001 and 2002 to organize and deliver in-class, community, family and workplace activities for NWT Literacy Week.
In September 2002, the NWT Literacy Council held a Family Literacy Training Institute in Inuvik, which involved different organizations, businesses, institutions and agencies from Inuvik and other Beaufort Delta communities. As part of this training, the NWT Literacy Council encouraged community groups to explore the literacy activities they would like to have in their community.
The workshop introduced three family literacy programs: 1-2-3 Rhyme with Me, Families First and Books in the Home, all excellent resources for starting literacy projects in the communities. The NWT Literacy Council then offered each community $3,000 to plan and deliver literacy projects in their communities.