That means a large portion of the population has difficulty grasping basic literature.

Two workshops tomorrow and Friday are designed to help local agencies become more literacy-friendly.

"If the people who need our services cannot access our services they're not going to progress," said Elke Heinemann, literacy co-ordinator with the Yellowknife Association for Community Living.

Heinemann said there are many groups, agencies, businesses and even government departments who are not aware of the problems some people have with basic reading and writing.

The first workshop, tomorrow, works primarily with advocacy groups and will help participants find out what the literacy needs are in the community.

The Independent Club House, the Status of Women Council, Storefront and a Stanton Regional Hospital representative are among the expected participants.

The second workshop is for literacy practitioners.

It will teach people how to conduct a literacy audit and how to help an agency dismantle barriers to literacy through the audit.

The NWT Literacy Council representatives, educators from Aurora College, advocates from the Native Women's Association, educators from the YWCA and Tree of Peace are all expected to attend.

"The literacy audit is part of a pilot project sponsored by the Canadian Association for Community Living," said Heinemann.

They have identified three areas in Canada to do literacy outreach programs, one in New Brunswick, another in Manitoba and a third in Yellowknife, she said.