The PGI for Literacy last week was a whirlwind for the NWT Literacy Council.
Our eight southern performers and northern musicians took their literacy message to 11 schools in Behchokǫ̀, Ndilo and Yellowknife, one adult literacy program, the Avens Cottages Territorial Dementia Centre, Yellowknife Association for Community Living and the North Slave Young Offender Facility. We also organized and got our guests to two concerts, seven media interviews, a feast, breakfasts and more in Dettah, Ndilo and Yellowknife.
We had many highs, bringing alive the late Peter Gzowski’s legacy of a fundraising event that celebrates literacy. One highlight was watching residents at the dementia centre join Russell deCarle, Mike Stevens and NWT Commissioner George Tuccaro in a touching version of “You are my Sunshine”!
We thank our two PGI Literacy Award champions, and the adult educators who nominated them, for reminding us of the importance of our day-to-day work. Rose Mackenzie and Stacey Keyes took the leap and have worked incredibly hard to improve their literacy skills and education.
It was heartwarming to see the pride in their family members. Adult learners who are not yet in post-secondary programs are not supported financially through scholarships or student financial assistance. Overcoming financial barriers makes the achievement of Rose and Stacey all that much more remarkable. You can reduce the financial burden for adult learners through a donation to the NWT Literacy Council.
Mary Rose Sundberg, the executive director of the Goyatıkǫ̀ Society in Dettah, is another tireless worker, in her case, for the Wıı̀lıı̀deh language and culture. She received the Peter Gzowski Award given out at each PGI for Literacy, to honour someone whose work and life exemplifies the spirit of the CBC broadcaster and literacy advocate.
She commented that Goyatıkǫ̀ is always short of money and she often thinks of giving up, and “then something like this comes along to inspire me to continue the work.” You can help Aboriginal language workers like Mary Rose to develop language learning materials for people in their communities.
We know where the barriers to literacy are. We support the adult educators, family literacy coordinators and others working in NWT communities through our training events and by creating and giving them free materials to work with. We recognize their efforts in the trenches where it counts, when others don’t.
Help us to help them. Literacy changes lives. Stacey, Rose and Mary Rose prove that.
Please take a look at our Donation and Sponsorship Catalogue. You’ll find projects that we would love to take on if we had the money. Please donate today.
-- Michael Corbett
