Trails to Literacy: PHASES
Enjikendaasang Learning Centre is located in the Village of Blind River along the north shores of Lake Huron. The Centre provides services to the native population from a large area stretching both east and west of Blind River, encompassing a number of native nations.
Enjikendaasang Learning Centre joined Trails to Literacy in December of 2001. They had a number of ideas they were investigating that would fit well with the Trails to Literacy participatory learning profile.
They finally decided to do a series of workshops that featured different aspects of their culture and demonstrated and taught many skills from the 'old' ways. This series of workshops included the creation of cradle boards, talking sticks (a particular favourite), ceremonial roaches, moccasins, picture frames and concluded with a study of native plants under the guidance of a horticulturist.
The participants were very enthusiastic about the projects and attendance remained steady with little or no dropouts from those involved.
This kind of enthusiasm, while directing the project toward cultural and historical goals is rewarding not only for the individual but also for the Trails to Literacy projects' goals of encouraging self-direction and discovery.
