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Children from Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Choose Free Books At Reading Is Fundamental "Ice Cream Social" Literacy Celebration
Idaho Congressional offices join open house events surrounding book distribution
WASHINGTON—July 17, 2009—Idaho congressional leaders today join representatives from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) for a community-wide celebration of literacy with an ice cream social open house, hosted by the Shoshone-Bannock Early Childhood RIF program at the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
During the ice-cream-social-themed literacy celebration, special guest readers—including those from the offices of Senator Jim Risch—will read from the classic Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop, by Margaret and H.A. Rey. Ice cream from the tribally-owned Fort Hall Trading Post will be served to those to community members in attendance.
"Our center has been running a RIF program since 2000 and currently serves 127 children from birth to age 5, who are able to choose and keep three books each per year," said Liz Shaw, of Shoshone-Bannock Early Childhood. "We are excited that during today's literacy celebration, children of all ages from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes will have the opportunity to discover the joy of reading through fun activities and through the experience of choosing a book to keep as their own."
As part of its Multicultural Literacy Campaign, RIF has been reaching out to American Indian tribes and organizations to ensure that RIF programs meet the needs of Indian country and individual tribes. RIF has met with tribal leaders from around the country and is now conducting site visits to local communities, such as this visit to the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
On July 16, RIF staff met with the Fort Hall Business Council and discussed how additional RIF services could benefit children of all ages throughout the reservation. RIF also met with educators, parents, and other community leaders to discuss the literacy and resource needs of the children and families of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.
"RIF aims to develop collaborative partnerships with American Indian organizations and tribes to expand literacy and educational opportunities in their communities—including increased access to books featuring culturally relevant themes," said RIF President and CEO, Carol H. Rasco. "RIF also hopes to increase family and community involvement in reading and literacy development."
RIF will also cooperate with American Indian organizations to reach out to all levels of government to support literacy and education in American Indian communities.
About Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes consisted of approximately 5,300 members, more than half of whom reside on the 550,000-acre Fort Hall Reservation. The reservation was established as the permanent homeland of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes under the Fort Bridger Treaty of 1868. Today, the tribal government and its business enterprises employ approximately 1,000 native and non-native people, making the tribes one of the largest employers in the region.
About RIF's Multicultural Literacy Campaign
In 2007, Macy's helped launch RIF's Multicultural Literacy Campaign, a multiyear effort to promote and support early childhood literacy in African-American, Hispanic, and American Indian communities. As part of this campaign, Macy's has donated over 750 multicultural children's book collections to classrooms in early childhood centers in low-income communities throughout the U.S. Each collection includes hardback books with themes related to Asian, African-American, Hispanic, and Native American children.
About RIF
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF's highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides 4.5 million children with 16 million new, free books and literacy resources each year. For more information, and to access reading resources, visit RIF's website at www.rif.org.
Discover the Joy!
Press Contact:
Layla Wright-Contreras, RIF
202-536-3528
lwright@rif.org
Laverne Beech, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
208-478-3721
lbeech@sbtribes.com
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