The Community Learning Centre in Arviat is part of the Arctic College system. It is a community-based operation, with an elected Community Education Council responsible for hiring and for developing programs. Besides a full-time adult basic education program mandated by the College, the Centre sponsors a job entry program funded by the Canada Employment Commission (CEC), and programs such as home healthcare workers, secretarial arts and office procedures, English and Inuktitut literacy, Mums and Tots literacy, and GED. It co-sponsors workshops with other community and government agencies on issues such as family violence, mothers and self-esteem, and parenting for single parents. The staff includes nine women and two men.

In many ways, women are making the transition from traditional to modern lifestyles more readily than men. They hold many of the management-level jobs that require education and administrative skills. Many women also sit on the elected hamlet council and other community agencies and organizations.

The Women's Upgrading Program started in 1988 and runs from October to May each year. Women meet two nights per week for three hours. About half the time is spent on English and math skills. The rest of the time is spent on topics which the group selects at regular planning times. The women also choose how to explore the topic, for example, by inviting guest speakers, conducting interviews, or writing a story.

Involvement in the CCLOW research project

Karen Bergman-Illnik had facilitated the Women's Upgrading Program at the Community Learning Centre for two years when she was contacted by Lynn Fogwill, the Literacy Specialist for the Northwest Territories and a member of the CCLOW advisory committee for this research project. Lynn suggested that the Arviat program take part in the exploratory phase of this work. After receiving agreement from Karen and the Centre, Lynn came to Arviat with Betty-Ann Lloyd, the contract researcher. Karen, some of the women from the women's program, and staff at the Centre had several conversations with Betty-Ann about women's experiences in Arviat and in literacy.

After receiving the report from phase one, Karen approached Joy Suluk, the adult educator at the Community Learning Centre, about participating in the second phase. Karen came to the first national workshop with Selma Karetak, who had facilitated the program for a short time, but is no longer involved.