| Advancing Aboriginal Languages and Literacy is a special issue from the Canadian Journal of Native Education, volume 27, number 1, 2003. The articles in this journal were presented at the Symposium: Native Literacy and Learning—Aboriginal Perspectives, held at OISE, University of Toronto in May 2002. Editors Eileen Antone, Heather Blair, and Jo-ann Archibald have selected twelve essays for inclusion in this ground-breaking issue. The theoretical-practitioner framework is clearly outlined in introductory essays by Eileen Antone, Peter Gamlin, and Rhonda L. Paulsen. These scholars provide the definitions and contexts for the study of Aboriginal literacy and its relationship to Native language. The two keynote presentations given at the Symposium Native Literacy and Learning - Aboriginal Perspectives held at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), May 2002 are included. Long-time practitioners in Native literacy, Priscilla George and Sally Gaikezehongai, share their knowledge and wholistic approaches to Native literacy. The remaining papers explore the various Best Practices in Aboriginal literacy. Of particular interest are the papers by Shirley Williams and Isadore Toulouse who bring their perspectives about the teaching of the Ojibwe language and the creation of teaching materials. Several papers relate to specific literacy programs such as Christianna Jones from M'Chegeeng Literacy and Basic Skills Program, Elva Lickers from the Six Nations Literacy Achievement Centre, Sharon Swanson from the Moose Cree Education Authority, and Charles Miller who works with other deaf Aboriginal people in Toronto. The final section focuses on the personal narratives of literacy and language practitioners as well as two university case studies. Lenore Keeshig-Tobias presents a moving account of her personal story of language loss in her career as storyteller, writer, and educator. On the whole this volume introduces the reader to the amazing stories of Aboriginal literacy workers who have made extensive contributions to the understanding of Native literacy and language issues. |
