By Scott McLean, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Athabasca Tribal Council (ATC) has partnered with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to send a free book to children under five every month.
The program is open to rural and First Nation residents in Anzac, Fort Chipewyan, Fort Fitzgerald, Fort McKay, Janvier and Fort McMurray #468 First Nation. Elena Gould, director of education, language and culture for ATC, said the partnership was formed to improve early literacy within First Nation communities.
“It's a major component of success in schools as well as long term quality of life,” said Gould in an interview. “We really felt this partnership would be a good investment for the ATC, because it does put books in the hands of kids from zero to five every single month. You sign up from when they're born and every month for five years they get a book in the mail.”
The partnership is sponsored by a $10,000 donation from Enbridge and took six months to finalize. Karla Buffalo, CEO for ATC, has used the service with her own children and felt it was an important service for families in rural areas.
“Sometimes it’s really difficult to access new reading resources,” she said in an interview. “Whether it’s accessibility to the library or if people don’t have the funds to access books. This is providing age-appropriate books that really encourage kids to...continued
For full article click HERE.
The Athabasca Tribal Council (ATC) has partnered with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to send a free book to children under five every month.
The program is open to rural and First Nation residents in Anzac, Fort Chipewyan, Fort Fitzgerald, Fort McKay, Janvier and Fort McMurray #468 First Nation. Elena Gould, director of education, language and culture for ATC, said the partnership was formed to improve early literacy within First Nation communities.
“It's a major component of success in schools as well as long term quality of life,” said Gould in an interview. “We really felt this partnership would be a good investment for the ATC, because it does put books in the hands of kids from zero to five every single month. You sign up from when they're born and every month for five years they get a book in the mail.”
The partnership is sponsored by a $10,000 donation from Enbridge and took six months to finalize. Karla Buffalo, CEO for ATC, has used the service with her own children and felt it was an important service for families in rural areas.
“Sometimes it’s really difficult to access new reading resources,” she said in an interview. “Whether it’s accessibility to the library or if people don’t have the funds to access books. This is providing age-appropriate books that really encourage kids to...continued
For full article click HERE.