Study Paints Sobering Picture Of Native Literacy

Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at 15:05

 

 

A Statistics Canada literacy study released yesterday told an already known story: that Aboriginal literacy rates are lower than those of non-Aboriginal people.

 

But the executive director of the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network says for the first time, the literacy study broke down First Nations and Metis literacy levels.

 

It found that 70% of First Nations people in urban Saskatchewan scored below the accepted minimum to successfully cope in a complex, knowledge-based society.

 

That’s compared to 56% of Metis and 37% of the non-Aborginal population in urban Saskatchewan.

 

Carol Vandale says it painted a picture that researchers suspected.

 

She says, comparatively speaking, the Metis are very proactive and fairly successful at getting their people literate, while First Nations people seem to have more obstacles.

 

Vandale also says if an Aboriginal person grew up learning English — but was surrounded by their Aboriginal tongue — that would affect how well they learn English, possibly making it more difficult.

 

She says that needs to be taken into account when teaching people English.