Virtual African Heritage Month proclamation happening at Black Loyalist Heritage Centre
Like last year, the African Heritage Month Proclamation for Shelburne County will be a virtual affair due to COVID-19 but will still bring together community leaders at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown for the annual event on Feb. 2.
“As always, this event is organized by the Black Loyalist Heritage Society (BLHS) and the Municipality of Shelburne," says Braden Chetwynd Programming and Outreach Coordinator for the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre. "Like last year, this event will be closed to the public, however we plan for it to be recorded and released on our YouTube and Facebook the following day."
Darlene Cooper, president of the BLHS, will be hosting the proclamation event with representatives from the
Town of Shelburne, Municipality of Shelburne, Town of Lockeport, Town of Clarks Harbour and Municipality of Barrington reading the proclamation.
“The month of February culturally is an awareness of the history of African descent in the province and it's a celebration of our culture, traditions and of course the storytelling,” said Cooper.
“We know for generations information was by word of mouth and not the technology we're in. I think it's very important to have the museum and the verbal storytelling of what has happened, where we came from and to ensure future generations don't forget the sacrifices our ancestors made to bring us to this country, this province," said Cooper, saying it's important to continue to celebrate these traditions and lifestyles "so we don't forget who we are or where we came from."
“It's important to celebrate those traditions and cultures for everybody,” she said.
Also on tap during February at the Black Loyalist Heritage Center, Chetwynd said they will be releasing the full conversation with Lawrence Hill from last month for those who missed out during the live Zoom event. "Like the proclamation, the Evening with Lawrence Hill video will be uploaded to our YouTube and Facebook," Chetwynd said.
An award-winning Canadian author, the Zoom event celebrated Hill's launch of his latest novel Beatrice and Croc Harry.
Chetwynd said the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre will also be working throughout the month booking virtual tours of the centre.
“These tours are all prefilmed and run 38 minutes and take viewers through a guided video tour of the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre and our site,” he said.
The virtual tour can be booked by schools, organizations or individuals by emailing Chetwynd at pgmassist@blackloyalist.com or by calling the centre at 902-875-1310.
Through Our Eyes: The Voices of African Nova Scotians, is the provincial theme for African Heritage Month this year.
The theme recognizes the long-standing history of people of African Descent in the development of Canada. It explores and examines the effects of anti-black racism and the voice of African Nova Scotians who blazed the trail for change. The theme also aligns with the United Nations' International Decade for People of African Descent (DPAD) 2015-2024. The goal of DPAD is to strengthen global cooperation in support of people of African descent, increase awareness and the passage towards presence in all aspects of society.
The African Heritage Month Information Network, a partnership with 12 African Nova Scotian organizations, is responsible for selecting the theme, producing educational posters, and supporting the various virtual and in-person events across the province. All events will adhere to COVID-19 public health protocols.
There are over 50 African Nova Scotian communities in Nova Scotia with a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 200 years, says the province. More than 70 percent of African Nova Scotians have family roots in the province going back three generations or more.
The Municipality of the District of Shelburne says it is proud to support and partner with the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre to celebrate the culture, legacy, achievements, and contributions of people of African decent. "Storytelling can be a force of social change as it can educate and influence people's behaviour and change our future for the better," it says. "The Centre continues to tell the story that needs to be told."