ZN ORAL HISTORY VERSES stacks of books in this cartoon on the Gitksan-Wet suwet en land claims action. A landmark ruling by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Allan McEachern on July 24, 1987, allowed admission of some native oral history as evidence in the ongoing case. Oral history is not unusual — only five per cent of the estimated 3,000 languages in the world have a written form — buf is nof usually accepted over wiitten evidence in a modem court. H Literacy gives power Being illiterate often equals being powerless. “You don’t feel as if you're part of the process. It is just happening to you,” says Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Lynn Hunter. “Being illiterate leaves people with such low self-esteem that they don’t feel they have a right to participate in the political process,” she said. A year ago Hunter attended a conference on literacy in Victoria. “Tt was very moving, hearing from these people and realizing the kind of courage it takes to deal with this. You just see the kind of outcast mentality they have.” Those participating in the conference were ‘self-confident enough to assert their rights and express anger at the failure of the education system and society to resolve the problem of illiteracy, Hunter said. = But she suspects the majority of = s- . yy functionally illiterate people are not politically active. “‘Tiliterate people are less likely to write their Member of Parliament, to lobby their Member of Parliament.” They are also less likely to join the kind of political protests which bring government action. “Many are ashamed at something that they have very little ability to change themselves. “Instead, we should all be ashamed over the failure of the system to address their needs,” Hunter said. One MP who tries to bring his illiterate constituents into the political system is New Democrat Jim Fulton. Because an estimated 50 per cent of his constituents are functionally illiterate, Fulton uses graphics to illustrate the issues in his government reports. His northwestern B.C. riding of Skeena includes many small, isolated communities and a large hative population. Traditionally natives do not participate in politics, but Hunter notes Fulton is the only MP she has seen make allowances for the largely oral native culture. Most of the political process is based on written information, she said. “That may contribute to the low voter turnout in elections and to part of the feeling natives have of being left out of the political process.” The political process is included in the Saanich Indian Adult Education centre’s basic literacy. and math program. Director Robert Sam said students are encouraged to express their ideas on political and social issues. Assertiveness training and communication exercises improve the adult students’ self-esteem. “There’s a need for that type of thing because a lot of the students are very Shy and withdrawn,” Sam said. The students also learn how to identify and resolve problems — and how to find the resources which can help solve a problem. - This training replaces the life experience and the habit of referring to’ written information which other people may take for granted, Sam explained. Two work experience sessions, job readiness training and personal financial management workshops ensure the students leave the course with improved literacy and the ability to improve their lives. “This is a unique program in that it does have a component with the life skills,” Sam said. Leamed skills eliminate what Hunter describes as the poor mentality: a feeling of helplessness. “They don’t have the means of controlling their own lives. They -don’t feel as if they can change their lives,” she said. Before her election to parliament, OXFAM representative Hunter attended a 1986 conference in Africa on women’s literacy. “Titeracy transforms the local societies,” she said. As women’s literacy rises, infant mortality drops, reducing the pressure on women to bear more children. Slower population growth has been linked to improved literacy, Hunter said. “Tt’s all to do with self-esteem. You’re more in control of your own life, you don’t have to allow life to happen to you.” One African woman told Hunter her in-laws were opposed to her learning to read. “They felt the sky was going to fall if she got that power.” In contrast to the importance of literacy in the developing world, Hunter fears literacy will again become a non-issue in Canada once the 1990 Year of Literacy is over: “We've taken literacy for granted in Canada. In Africa there is that urgency to share learning because they know that is the only way their country is going to become self-sufficient.” TheReview Wednesday, June 20, 1990 B3 Literacy learning offered here An estimated 44,000 residents of Greater Victoria are functionally illiterate — but theyre hard to find. “How do you contact them?” “asks Victoria Project Literacy chairman Donna Oswald-Miller. Functional illiterates are unlikely to read newspapers, posters or pamphlets. The 1987 Southam Literacy Report revealed only 10 per cent of adult illiterates would consider seeking help — and half of those who seek help drop out before the end of the program. Although only 20 per cent of illiterates think they are harmed by poor writing or reading skills, the income of functional illiterates is 44 per cent lower than the income of literate Canadians, the Southam Report noted. Oswald-Miller found the most successful program was one-on- one volunteer tutoring in the student’s home, followed by enrolment in an adult education class. Students seeking help on the south Island have five options: the School District 63 PALS lab at Stelly’s Secondary School, the R.E.A.D, Society classes in Sidney, Project Literacy’s volunteer tutor program, the Camosun College Adult Basic Education program and the District 62 HEAL programs in Colwood. Native students can also attend a program offered by the Saanich Adult Education Centre on the Tsartlip Reserve in Central Saanich. The Project Literacy program and the HEAL program also need volunteer tutors. The following list summarizes the available programs. Principle of the Alphabet Literacy System: Generally known as PALS, this IBM-sponsored program was piloted in Canada by School District 63 in 1988. Students work at their own pace using a computer and teaching software. The program operates Monday to Thursday from 12:30 to 7 p.m., September until June at Stelly’s Secondary School and is free to students. Registration for the September session is now being taken at 652-3122. A report on the PALS program will be “shown on the CBC television program Breakthrough, Channel 2, on June 28 at 3 p.m. Basic Academics and Job Development Program: Offered by the Saanich Indian School Board at the Saanich Adult Education Centre. The second session started late in May, further sessions depend on continued government funding. Sponsorship by the school board and the Canadian Employment and Immigration Commission is available. For information call post secondary counsellor Sandy Henry at 652-2214 between 1 and 4 pm. Monday to Friday. Victoria R.E.A.D. Society: This non-profit organization, founded in 1976, offers year- round basic literacy and math programs to students of all ages. Fees are charged but sponsorship through Canadian Employment and Immigration is possible and bursaries are available. A full-time, three-month adult basic skills program is offered each September, January and April. Glasses are held at the Sidney. office, 302B-9775 Fourth Street, and in Saanich and Victoria. For information call 388- 7225 9 to 5 weekdays. The Learners’ Network:Sponsored by Victoria Project Literacy, the Leamers’ Network has been matching students with volunteer tutors since January this year. There is no charge for the program. The office is open Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 pm., and can be reached by calling 381-3755. Basic Academic Skills Development ~ Course: Offered by Camosun College during the fall, winter and spring sessions. For information call the office at 370-3312, 8:30 am. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays; in July and August call 370-3321. Helping Empower the Adult Learner/ Helping Empower the Adult Learner who is Hearing Impaired: The HEAL and HEAL-HI programs are sponsored by School District 62. The HEAL program is offered in the Adult Leaming Centre at Ruth King Elementary School, Jacklin and Goldstream in Colwood, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. September to June. The program uses one-to-one tutoring, small classes and a drop-in centre to help with basic reading, writing and math skills. The program is free to students. For information call 474- 2175. The new HEAL-HI program is the first literacy program in Canada directed specifically to hearing impaired adults. The pilot project operates until June this year and from September until January 1991, Mondays to Thursdays at Belmont Secondary School, 3067 Jacklin Road, Victoria. The program is free to students. For information call 478-5800 (voice/tdd). AT DIE THE SECRETS BEHIND THE DIET THAT'S WORKED FOR MILLIONS. LOSE WEIGHT FAST “ENTER. 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