Brainstorm different places where you can find resources.

People in your group may already know about some of the sources listed below or you may have other ideas of your own. Post your brainstormed list where everyone can see it.

Resources in the community:

• Library – books, newspapers, videos, subject or vertical files, oral history videos and audiotapes
• Schools – teachers know a lot about resources
• Churches – for records of births, baptisms, marriages, deaths, the writings of priests and missionaries?
• Elders’ centres and groups
• People – Ask on the local radio. Some people may have audio tapes, pictures, tools, clothing, books, etc. made by or about relatives. It’s better not to borrow these items; instead look at them at the person’s home or copy them. These may be precious items that could be easily damaged.

Resources outside the community:

• Nunavut Research Institute
• Archives – government, church, Hudson Bay Company, RCMP
• Education Resource Centres and Teaching and Learning Centres (there’s one in each region)
• Heritage Centres
• CBC – they have many recordings, but they may not be available for borrowing because many are not catalogued and copied.
• Newspapers – some newspapers offer internet searches of back issues
• Colleges and universities

(See the Useful Resources section.)

Go and check out the local resources.

Literacy group members could go in pairs or small groups to look at the different resources in the community. Make sure everyone is familiar with the theme first. Your discussions and brainstorming will have helped develop people’s ideas on the theme. If group members are shy, or will have to communicate in a language in which they are not very comfortable, you could role-play the scenario of asking for the resources. People can gain confidence from practicing the necessary phrases and possible responses. Make a list of the questions you will ask the resource people:

• Can we borrow materials – if so, for how long?
• Can we copy material?
• Do you have a catalogue?
• Do you know of any other sources of material on this theme?