Literacy is the foundation to a lifelong learning process that empowers individuals to draw on the gifts of mind, body, heart and spirit toward the fulfillment of personal and family life and community responsibility.

Literacy is a continuum of interrelated skills, practices and learnings that contribute to an individual’s ability to understand, communicate and participate at home, at work, in education, in community and includes the following:

• listening and speaking
• reading and writing
• observing, viewing and representing
• spelling
• numeracy
• use of technology, such as computers and calculators.

Literacy is essential to and influences the ability to:

• think critically
• make decisions
• solve problems
• resolve conflicts

(Saskatchewan Learning, 2005, pp. 13-14)

The Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network’s (SALN, 2006) definition of literacy honours these ideas with an Aboriginal focus:

Aboriginal literacy is a learner-centred approach to lifelong learning that honours the inter-connectedness of all aspects of creation for personal empowerment, community development and self-determination.

Aboriginal literacy encompasses first languages, elder involvement, culture and community in a holistic developmental approach to unify mind, heart, body and spirit.

In March 2002, the Adult Basic Education Redesign Task Team articulated a vision of adult basic education. Together with the previous definitions of literacy, this vision underpins the philosophy and guiding principles of Levels 1 and 2 Literacy Benchmarks:

Basic education in Saskatchewan provides opportunities for adults to further develop academic, employability and functioning skills that contribute to lifelong learning. It helps learners to speak with their own voice and enhances individual and community well being.