The inmate walks into the classroom at North Slave Correctional Complex (NSCC), and sits down in front of a video camera.

He looks curious, if not a little hesitant about the new program, Reading Together.

SA国际影视传媒淟isten SA国际影视传媒� this is for your children,SA国际影视传媒� Hannah Eden, the videographer, tells him. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 just here to facilitate this for you. You tell me when youSA国际影视传媒檙e done.SA国际影视传媒�

Then she hits record.

A few minutes later, the inmate has a picture book open and is mooing like a cow between fits of laughter.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of joy. I mean, this is just a dad reading to his child,SA国际影视传媒� Eden says.

The NWT Literacy Council (NWTLC) launched Reading Together in 2020.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne goal of this project is to support parent-child connections despite the separation,SA国际影视传媒� says program founder Katie Johnson, from the NWTLC.

The programSA国际影视传媒檚 first step is the inmate selects a book to read to his child on video.

After the recording is made, including a special bedtime message, the father then chooses a blanket kit and ties the pieces together.

SA国际影视传媒淲e included this element as an opportunity to talk and connect with participants about their children and their literacy,SA国际影视传媒� says Johnson.

Then, they assemble a SA国际影视传媒渒itSA国际影视传媒� for their child, including the blanket, pyjamas, toothbrush and the book they read.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e actively involved SA国际影视传媒� they know this is a gift for their children,SA国际影视传媒� Johnson says.

While the inmate assembles the kit, Eden uploads the video on her computer.

Then, she sits down with the inmate and they edit the video together.

SA国际影视传媒淲e might remove a long pause or a loud sound or re-do a page. At the beginning or the end, the client may add a message,SA国际影视传媒� says Eden.

Abiding by the prisonSA国际影视传媒檚 rules SA国际影视传媒� and the programSA国际影视传媒檚 overarching commitment to autonomy SA国际影视传媒� no footage is filed away. It is created solely for the child.

The kit and video SA国际影视传媒� in a USB and DVD format SA国际影视传媒� is then mailed to the child, addressed to their primary caregiver.

SA国际影视传媒淕iving the fathers as much parenting autonomy as possible was really key to the projectSA国际影视传媒檚 success,SA国际影视传媒� says Johnson.

She got the idea around 2010 from the adult educator at the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre and the Hay River Literacy Society, who were making audio recordings of stories and sending the tape and book to the participantSA国际影视传媒檚 children.

SA国际影视传媒淚 had wanted to increase the impact of this project by having video recordings so children could also see their parent in addition to hearing them, and adding the bedtime kit,SA国际影视传媒� says Johnson. SA国际影视传媒淲hile incarcerated, many aspects of parenting autonomy, like helping a child pick out their new pyjamas or reminding them to brush their teeth, doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 happen, so I wanted to add this element.SA国际影视传媒�

On March 8, six inmates at NSCC participated in the program, which benefited 12 children living across NWT.

SA国际影视传媒淧articipants have said that the program gives them pride in helping and connecting with their children,SA国际影视传媒� says Johnson. SA国际影视传媒淭he program has provided an opportunity to focus their children for an hour, and reducing stress.SA国际影视传媒�

The initiative costs about $225 for each child to receive a kit, and the program relies on government funding.

The NWTLC is working with the NSCC on more parenting-related programs. and expanding Reading Together.

SA国际影视传媒漀WTLC is able to offer the program monthly, fathers will have an opportunity to make different types of crafts and send new books each month to their children,SA国际影视传媒� Johnson says.

Additionally, the literacy council is seeking to offer it at the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre and at both the male and female units of the Fort Smith Correctional Center.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey (the clients) are incredibly polite, well-spoken, just appreciative. This might be the only contact, outside of calls, theySA国际影视传媒檒l have with their children,SA国际影视传媒� says Eden.

Utimately, the children benefit from the program the most, according to Johnson.

SA国际影视传媒�(They) talk about watching the video every day, or snuggling with their special blanket from their dad,SA国际影视传媒� she says.