Bartleman recognizes NAN First Nation partnerships in speech to Ont Legislature
NAN Press Release ...
NAN First Nations Recognized During Monumental Speech
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario James K. Bartleman recognized NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy and the many NAN youth who participated in his Aboriginal Literacy initiative during an unprecedented address to the Ontario Legislature Thursday December 7, 2006.
The Lieutenant Governor's Aboriginal Literacy Initiative was implmented in 2004 to address lower than average literacy rates among First Nation students in Ontario.
There were three phases to this initiative, including book drive, school twinning, and summer camps in communities across NAN.
By engaging a strong partnership network, His Honour James K. Bartleman was able to collect 850,000 useable books to establish and fill libraries in schools throughout NAN territory. He then developed a pen-pal system where NAN schools were twinned with schools in the Greater Toronto Area. Students were able to share resources and cultures, breaking down barriers between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth. The third phase was introducing summer literacy camps in many of NAN's 49 communities. These very successful camps included traditional educational components as well as cultural practices.
Mr. Bartleman is the first Lieutenant Governor to be asked to speak to the Ontario Legislature.
For more information on the Lieutenant Governor's Aboriginal Literacy Initiative please visit the following web site:
http://www.lt.gov.on.ca/sections_english/welcome/literacy_main.html
Posted by: Communications and Media jyoung@nan.on.ca.
12/9/2006