INUVIK - The children of the Aboriginal Head Start program in Inuvik will have extra reading materials to learn from, thanks to their love for literacy.

The Inuvik Literacy Circle held a challenge for the pre-school and elementary programs in town.

The Aboriginal Head Start program was recently awarded with books for the centre and backpacks with goodies for the participating children. The gifts were given by the Inuvik Literacy Circle on June 14. The children won a literacy challenge by writing or drawing about why they liked to read. The winners included from left, Kai Cardinal, Dalton McLeod, Lauren Ross and Isabelle Hendrick. Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

To complete the challenge, children from various programs wrote or drew pictures about their favourite literacy activity, whether it be reading, doing crafts or going in the bush.

The prize of the challenge was $500 worth of children's books and special backpacks, filled with reading materials and learning tools for all children in the program. The backpacks were donated by the NWT Literacy Council.

Suzanne Robinson is an organizer of the literacy circle. She said the funding for the challenge came from a government grant.

"This is one of the activities we're doing in Inuvik to promote literacy," said Robinson.

Robinson added that the theme of the challenge was "Literacy lives here."

She said the Aboriginal Head Start program won the challenge because they had the most submissions.

"Their entries were the most charming," said Robinson.

Robinson said that the literacy circle is looking to host another challenge in the fall school semester.

She added that the circle is always open to new members who want to be involved in promoting literacy in the region.

Co-ordinator for the Aboriginal Head Start program Donna Ann Rogers said the challenge was introduced by a parent.

"One of the parents brought in a poster, we looked it over and made submissions," she said.

Rogers said that one of the submissions came in the form of a drawing.

"We read them a book and some of them drew pictures and wrote about the story," she said.

In May, the head start program also made bookmarks for the children to use at home and while at the centre.

Rogers said that the materials and books will help their program in the new year.

"Reading is an important part of our program," she said.

"We read to the kids, books are really important to our school."

The program serves children aged three to four.