Key Skills for Today
September 19th is Skills for Success Day. What are Skills for Success and why are they important? According to the Government of Canada Skills for Success provides Canadians with the everyday skills they need for work, learning and life. Improving these skills helps people succeed in today’s world. (1) With funding from the federal government, the NWT Literacy Council worked with the Northwest Territories Department of Education, Culture and Employment to develop an employment readiness program for people in smaller NWT communities. The program was…
“Let’s Speak Together” Talking Bags Gathering
In mid-July, a special workshop brought together 13 wonderful Elders from across the NWT, each representing one of the nine official Indigenous languages spoken in the NWT. The workshop was part of an inspiring project called Let’s Speak Together Talking Bags Gathering, hosted by the NWT Literacy Council and the Government of the Northwest Territories, Indigenous Language and Education Secretariat (ECE). This project was based on a similar one we have done in the past called Granny and Grandpa Talking Bags. This time, we have added and focused more on…
Digital Skills for Seniors
Technology has made the world increasingly connected, making it easier to stay in touch with loved ones and find information on everything. While younger generations have grown up with technology at their fingertips, it can be challenging for seniors to stay current. The Digital Skills for Seniors program is designed to help seniors who are beginners at using technology. The class offers basic computer training including how to set up your computer and connect wifi, use different web browsers, use smartphones and tablets to send emails, and other basic tasks.…
HIPPY 2024 Graduation Celebration: A Milestone of Achievement and Pride
HIPPY, Home Instruction for Parents of Pre-School Youngsters, Yellowknife is thrilled to celebrate its 4th HIPPY Graduation this June! Graduation Day is the most awaited event of the year, marking the culmination of a year filled with learning, teaching, and skill-building. This day is dedicated to acknowledging and honouring the hard work and energy families have invested in the program, highlighting how far they have come in their unique journeys. It is a special moment that brings together families and significant people who have supported the program every…
Canadian Multiculturalism Day
Canadian Multiculturalism Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the inclusivity and acceptance of values that define Canada as a nation. Multiculturalism Day holds a deep personal significance for me, rooted in both my immigration journey and my work with new immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers to Canada. As an immigrant, I understand the challenges and joys of adapting to a new culture. I have found a meaningful way to connect with others who share similar experiences, while celebrating the rich cultural diversity in Canada, through my work…
Early Words NWT
We're thrilled to introduce our new project called Early Words! Early Words, a program by the Canadian Children's Literacy Foundation, connects healthcare providers with resources that will help families to foster early literacy skills. By providing evidence-based training, developed with literacy and healthcare experts like the Canadian Paediatric Society, Early Words aims to strengthen early brain development and foundational literacy skills through collaborations with clinics, hospitals, and communities. It offers coaching and modelling to families…
NWT Literacy Week 2024: Literacy and Play
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” ― Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers) I am very excited about the theme for NWT Literacy Week this year, “Literacy and Play”! At the NWT Literacy Council, we think that play is important for everyone, no matter their age, and that play teaches us throughout our lives. Play can help us connect to the world and people around us, help us test risks and boundaries, and teach us literacy skills. I remember learning how to…
Black History is Joyful
Meet the local artist who designed the NWTLC's recent colouring pages to celebrate Black Excellence in the North. Inemesit Essien Graham has been a guest in Somba K'e, the traditional home of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, for 17 years. She is a writer, anti-racism educator, personal trainer and group fitness instructor, and visual and spoken word artist of West African descent from the region now called Nigeria. Inemesit spent 16 years in England before immigrating to Turtle Island on the land now called Canada. She is also a mother of three3. Hi! My…
One Word at a Time: Reclaiming and Relearning Inuvialuktun Taalrumiq (Christina Gruben King)
Taalrumiq is an Inuvialuit and Gwich’in Fashion Designer, Artist and Digital Content Creator originally from Tuktuuyaqtuuq, whose work is inspired by and highlights Inuvialuit culture, language and history. February is Indigenous Languages Month in the NWT. According to the GNWT, “This is a month to celebrate the diverse Indigenous languages in the Northwest Territories and to encourage everyone to learn about them and use with pride.” Growing up Inuvialuit As a contemporary Inuvialuk and Gwich’in person from the NWT, I grew up in Inuvialuit culture,…
Dream Chasing
Drin Gwiinzih! Niniin ganjit sho ihtlee. Heart of the Yukon, Keno City, Elsa, Mayo qwats'at ihtlee. Na'aa Effie Mullin-Vittrekwa vagi, Teetlit Zheh gwats'at din cho. Shitsuu Annie Vittrekwa-Doe vagi. Tia'ah Kris Pavlovich vagi, Keno City gwats'at din cho. Yellowknife Dan Gwitchin. Mayo Gwichin ihtlee. Gwiinzih adik' anyotih. Nidivee Gouzo. Hai Cho! Good day. It's good to see you. I’m Cynthia Pavlovich. I'm from Heart of the Yukon, Keno City, Elsa, Mayo. My mother’s name is Effie Mullin-Vittrekwa from Fort McPherson. My grandmother’s name is Annie Vittrekwa-Doe…
Celebrating Black History Month
We are excited to join in celebrating Black Excellence this month with a few fun giveaways! The 2024 theme for Black History Month is: “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build”. This theme celebrates the rich past, and present contributions and accomplishments, of Black people in Canada and internationally, while aspiring to embrace new opportunities for the future. Representation is fundamental for children, youth and adults to develop a strong sense of self, identity, confidence and value. One way to celebrate Black Excellence and…
From a Fellow Learner
As a little kid, I remember visiting my Granny and Grandpa’s house [1]. The woodstove would be on, a large bowl of bògǫǫ̀ [2] would be on the table, and there was always lots of laughter. My ears would perk up at the sound of Tłı̨chǫ Yatıı̀ being spoken. My Granny had even nicknamed me “smiley”, I was always so happy to be in that house, sitting, listening, even if I didn’t know what was being said. After my grandparents passed away and I hadn’t yet learned my language, I realised that my grief not only involved missing them but missing the…
NWT Literacy Council’s Holiday Book Picks, Part 3
This is the third installment in our annual holiday book recommendations blog series. Each year we have so much fun thinking about the books to recommend for gifts or for putting on your own to-be-read list. You can check out part one here and part two here. You Come from the Stars by Tanya Snow The book I’d like to gift this year is You Come from the Stars, written by Tanya Snow and illustrated by Yong Ling Kang. I love to gift books written by northern authors to friends with children. I think You Come from the Stars is going to quickly become a favourite…
NWT Literacy Council’s Holiday Book Picks, Part 2
Our staff love sharing book suggestions! Here is part 2 of our annual holiday book recommendations. You can check out part 1 here. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins The book that I’m recommending and gifting my daughter this holiday season is The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. This book is a prequel to the popular Hunger Games series that I got for my girls when they were in middle school. As a fan of the original series, they deeply enjoyed the adventure of this post-apocalyptic young adult fantasy. The author does a…
NWT Literacy Council’s Holiday Book Picks, Part 1
NWT Literacy Council’s Holiday Book Picks, Part 1 Each December, the staff of the NWT Literacy Council write a blog series about the books we have enjoyed reading this year, books we are planning to give as holiday gifts, or are planning to read over the break. Here are the first of our choices. The Noise Inside Boys: A Story About Big Feelings by Pete Oswald This book has been a favourite in my house in 2023. I purchased this book for my 6-year-old son so we could talk about big emotions. It is a beautifully illustrated story of a little boy who has had…