Ideas for E-mail for Elders

• People in your community may have relatives in another community. Partner with a literacy group in that community to set up a program where Elders from each community can e-mail their relatives regularly.
• The facilitator makes sure the literacy group is confident in their computer and e-mail skills first. The facilitator can teach mini-lessons on syllabic keyboarding if necessary. Literacy group members should feel comfortable using e-mail and have many chances to practice before you begin the project.
• Advertise your group’s project in the community.
• Match up Elders with literacy group members. The group in the other community will be doing the same.
• Set up e-mail accounts for the Elders.
• If any Elders aren’t literate in syllabics or don’t want to learn the keyboard, someone can type for them while they dictate their message. Others may want to learn about computers.
• Show Elders how to take digital pictures to e-mail to their relatives.
• Create a special weekly time when Elders can come to check their e-mail.
• Literacy group members could keep journals about their experiences.
  • How has the regular contact with the Elder affected your approach or attitudes?
  • What are your thoughts and feelings about the project?
  • How do you feel about this chance to use Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun in a meaningful way?
  • Have you learned new or traditional vocabulary?
• Literacy group members could also keep vocabulary lists or personal dictionaries of any new words learned from the Elders.