Marksville, La. – (Feb. 2, 2016) – The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana’s Language and Culture Revitalization Program (LCRP) will continue its “Story Time” series, featuring a new book each month through June 2016. The free and open-to-the-public events are offered each month for children 7 years old and under from 11 a.m. – noon in the Cultural and Educational Resource Center (CERC) Library located on the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana reservation (150 Melacon Road, Marksville, Louisiana 71351). Children must be accompanied by a parent and guardian to attend the public event.
The Tunica Biloxi LCRP’s “Story Time” program provides engaging activities that highlight the Tunica-Biloxi culture. Program activities include bilingual songs, popular children’s books, finger-play and free-play with puppets and props, rhymes, dances, games, crafts and more. The monthly “Story Time” events are hosted by Donna Pierite and Elisabeth Mora, Language & Cultural Lifeways instructors for the LCRP.
Designed by the LCRP as an early literacy pilot project, “Story Time” activities are based on standards from Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR), a curriculum adopted by the American Library Association to support parents and caregivers with early literacy development of children. The monthly programs aim to introduce practices for building early literacy skills that are essential for children entering school.
“We are proud to offer this educational initiative to the Avoyelles Parish community where children and families can grow and learn together in an interactive environment,” said Donna Pierite. “We can attest to the significant growth that our children experience by learning valuable literacy and social skills while expanding their minds and imaginations at the same time. Seeing the children’s excitement and enthusiasm to return for ‘Story Time’ each month is truly the greatest reward.”
The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana LCRP’s “Story Time” schedule is as follows:
Saturday, February 13 – Love!
The Kissing Hand, Audrey Penn
Saturday, March 12 – Springtime is Near
An Extraordinary Egg, Leo Lionni
Saturday, April 9 – April Showers Bring May Flowers
Underground, Denise Fleming and Float, Daniel Miyares
Saturday, May 14 – Powwow’s Coming!
Powwow’s Coming, Linda Boyden
Saturday, June 4 – Summertime Fun
The Otter Who Loved to Hold Hands, Heidi and Daniel Howarth
For more information about “Story Time” or the Tunica-Biloxi’s Language & Culture Revitalization Program, contact Director of Development & Programming John Barbry at (318) 240.6412 or email jdbarbry@tunica.org.
The CERC Library is located in the Tunica-Biloxi Cultural and Educational Resources Center on the reservation near Marksville, Louisiana. The library is non-circulating requiring patrons to view collections in the library only. The Language and Culture Revitalization Program (LCRP) coordinates library staffing and facilitates programming. For more information about the CERC Library, visit www.tunicabiloxi.org/cerc-library.html.