Rankin Inlet (July 30/03) - To Gerry Pflueger music and writing have a lot in common - they are both forms of communication and expression.

It is fitting then that a series of coffee houses have been the medium for her and her committee to raise funds for the Tell Me a Story Reading Festival. Scheduled to begin Sept. 29, the festival will host three well-known Canadian authors, including Rankin's own Michael Kusugak.

The other two are Jean Little and Claire McKay.

Not only will their presence bring awareness to the importance of literacy, Pflueger said they will also demonstrate strength and determination.

Little, an author with over 20 titles, is blind.

She lost her sight when she was a child.

"We thought that having Jean Little here would be a real inspiration about overcoming adversity," said Pflueger.

While here the authors will go to local schools and attend public functions.

"If you can work with children and families you're working with the future," said Pflueger.

An extension of the World Literacy Council's literacy awareness program funding is only available for one author for one day.

But, Pflueger said, local businesses and citizens have stepped up to pay the expenses required to keep the authors longer.

"If they are going to come to Rankin Inlet we thought going to all the schools and attending public events would be a much better use of the resources," she said.

The idea to hold the festival stems from an old tradition where many Canadian authors used to visit Rankin, until the library system changed.

A reflection of the impact that had is the fact that it was a visit by Robert Munsch that prompted Michael Kusugak sharing stories of the Inuit with the world.

Debbie Montpetit, also on the committee, collected the donations from the last two coffee houses. The first, which was more of an impromptu event, raised nearly $200, she said.

The most recent coffee house raised nearly $500.

Montpetit added that the committee is considering an event with the elders next.

The event would include storytelling and a traditional feast.