The forgotten accounts of the black communities of Western Canada

The cinematographic mini-festival was organized by the Prairie Place-Ancestors Collective et Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatrein partnership with the Calgary public library.

A story unknown everywhere around us

The great-grandparents of Cheryl Foggo, filmmaker, historian and author of Calgary, settled in 1910 in the meadows. Nevertheless, This is my story here. However, There is no part of the meadows where the history of black people is absentshe says. However, deploring that this story remains much overlooked.

Di Dirks, lecturer at Mount Royal University, also shares forgotten accounts black communities western new this observation. Moreover, She finds that many Albertans are unwilling with these stories. However, I was very embarrassed when I saw Cheryl’s documentary on Amber Valley… For example, and I didn’t know anything about itshe concedes.

Ms. Meanwhile, Foggo devoted her 35 years of career to research and sharing of this Canadian history. Furthermore, His documentary film For Caesarhighlights the journey of Leander K. Similarly, Lane To discover the inheritance of his great-grandfather, Julius Caesar Lane. However,

The film explores the migration of blacks in Canada. the resilience of the first black pioneers, forgotten accounts black communities western new especially through the restoration of the church and the baptist cemetery of Shiloh.

The church of Shiloh. in the north of Saskatchewan, is one of the very rare buildings which testify to the history of blacks in the meadows. We had hundreds of buildings in a certain time, but there are still very little.

The historic building was saved by Leander K  Lanewhose preservation and restoration work has avoided that the church does not fall into ruins.

The building and the cemetery of Shiloh were then appointed by Saskatchewan in 2019 as a provincial heritage.

Leander K. Lane tells that he was confronted with ignorance himself. People told me all the time … ” Black farmers? It doesn’t exist, black farmers ”.

However, black communities have built prosperous farms in Saskatchewan and Alberta, he underlines.

Forgotten accounts black communities western new

Fill the silence

The lack of knowledge is not trivial. points out Dadirks. She denounces the fact that the history of blacks in Canada is sub-stud and. above all, that she is not taught at all in the K-12 school system here in Alberta.

According to her. this story should be taught, because It is part of our history, it is part of Canadian history.

It also questions the perception that Canada is less racist. more multicultural than the United States, saying that We are just as racist. We are just as ignorant of our own story.

I forgotten accounts black communities western new believe that education helps fight ignorance.

Robert Coopera retired nurse came to the festival to better understand. his family roots linked to Amber Valley.

Ten years ago, he tried to add the history of blacks to school education programs, but without success. They are still not ready, I presume, to integrate it into schools!

Despite everything, he finds it important forgotten accounts black communities western new to know this story to transmit it to his own children. I learn more. more about the history of my family, the past, how they have succeeded and where they come fromhe says.

For Cheryl Foggo. art, be it cinema, theater or music, is the most direct way to reach the hearts of people in order to tell these forgotten stories.

It’s a job intensive manpoweroften with missing pieces in the archives, but that must be doneshe explains.