Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe's project will strengthen community members' identities as readers and writers and the entire community's identity as literacy-rich through a connection with Indigenous creators and traditional culture and language; a focus on the importance of literacy; and addressing community member desires to embrace literacy and share their knowledge, creativity, and talents in the form of books. Through the book creation process, which involves exploration, analysis, and questioning, participants will cultivate critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. The project includes the development, implementation, and evaluation of workshops, events, tools, resources, and other related services to empower community members to create their own books to promote reading and authorship. It will support and encourage connection with traditional culture and language; provide guidance, information, and the opportunity for community members to learn about the process of and possibilities for creating their own books; and programs that celebrate traditional culture and language. Outcomes includes participants connecting with traditional culture and language; positive associations with reading; increased confidence; and connections between community members and authors, illustrators, and others in mentor roles.