2-4 When we hear women's stories about their lives , how do we begin to “do” literacy

I met with women in a variety of places in this northern community of 1,200. Out on the back stoop of a house, trying to catch the last of the summer's sun. In the adult learning centre of the community college. At “Stitch,” a weekly get-together of women in the community. On the back of a four-wheel ATV going across the tundra to collect the best drinking water from a brook. Perched on beds in a motel room. In a living room with numbers of small children drifting in and out. At the co-op. Out on the road at night.

There are three literacy programs in this community, each of them with a formal structure. One of them is a women-only program in English, one is women and men in English, one is women and men in Inuktitut. There is also, clearly, an informal structure for each that fits not only women's lives here, but the lives of everyone who lives in a small, isolated community.

It reminded me of my life and work in a rural Cape Breton community and it was also unlike anything I had ever experienced before. It was easy not to be romantic about it all, because the hardships of northern life are very real and very present. On the other hand, it was difficult not to be drawn into the very direct way in which women look at what is actually happening and then begin to work out what that means for what they are doing.

If the need is to redefine “literacy” or redefine “programs” they seem to spend the time reflecting on the concrete needs of everyone in the community and the implications of what they are actually doing. The theory comes out of the practice.

As one woman said to me, "Just because something is true, does not mean it is true." So why should we stick to what has been real for others if it is not real for us?

She also said to me, “People in the south think too much!” Live with what you are doing-just let it be real on its own-as long as that reality comes out of experience rather than thinking too much!