First Nations and Métis early literacy and language enrichment program Nausheen Khan, Sandy Paddick [electronic resource] /

This article describes a pilot intervention program that was specifically developed to address perceived areas of weakness in the early literacy abilities of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children using a culturally adapted curriculum. The program arose as a result of a need identified by a school division in Northern Alberta to address concerns that children from First Nation and Métis backgrounds entering school were less prepared to develop reading skills than their non-Aboriginal peers. Teachers and principals indicated that young Aboriginal students did not begin school with the readiness skills required for success in the classroom. The school division contracted with Khan Communication Services, Inc. to implement a language enrichment program targeting children in the early elementary grades that would ensure that all children were equally prepared for the development of literacy skills and would be more likely to achieve reading success in higher grades. This article describes the program and presents preliminary outcome data. The findings resulted in the continuation and expansion of the program to all elementary schools in the School Division.