The Times of African Canadian Services Division Council on African-Canadian Education African Nova Scotians Times Series The African Nova Scotian History & Heritage Student Challenge 2009 YOU HAVE CHALLENGED SCHOOL CHILDREN TO LOOK BEYOND THE WHO’S AND WHEN’S OF HISTORY AND INSTEAD DELVE INTO THE WHYS AND HOWS. —The Honourable Mayann E. Francis, O.N.S., DHumL Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, June 13, 2008 A proper understanding of African heritage in this province needs context. How did the people get here? Why did they come? Why did some stay when many left? ONLY WITH THE Take the ANSWERS TO THESE 2009 History & QUESTIONS CAN THE Heritage Student FULL STORY BE TOLD. Challenges In February 2008, the Bursary Prizes Council on African Canadian Totaling $3000.00! Education (CACE), the African Canadian Services The 2009 ALI Student Division (ACSD) of the Awards will be Nova Scotia Department of presented to students Education and the Afri- and teachers whose centric Learning Institute submissions to the (ALI) challenged students African Nova Scotian in Nova Scotia to explore History & Heritage The inaugural ALI Student Awards were presented on June 13, 2008. Front row, left to right; Tylisha Way; Marlisha Mintis; and discuss the contri- Student Challenges, in Tatiyauna Talbot; Denzell Desmond; Johnathan Hiles; Her Honour, The Honourable Mayann E. Francis, O.N.S., DHumL , the opinion of the butions that African Nova Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia ; Sydney Hamilton; Alessandra Pagnotella; Toni Marsman; Shatori Willis. Back row, Scotians have made to the left to right; Kara Hyland; Brent Robertson; Curtis Whiley; Taylor Maxwell and Greg Pelly. judges, best exemplify history, heritage and culture the contributions that of our province. Students students and teachers who eighteen years old and African Nova Scotians submitted essays and have made a positive con- grades six to twelve. Cash have made to the photographs, interviewed tribution to the discussion bursaries totaling $1,900.00 history, heritage and community elders and nom- about African Nova Scotian were awarded. See page two culture of our province. inated their own candidates history in our schools. The for a complete list of 2008 Bursaries totaling for ‘Notable Nova Scotian’. Student Challenge and the Award recipients. $3,000.00, gifts and Submissions were judged Awards promote a better The Honourable Mayann classroom resources will by a volunteer panel of understanding of African E. Francis was piped into be presented to Award educators and the best Canadians and highlight the auditorium by Cicely recipients at a ceremony submissions in the opinion their history, heritage, Sparks and joined the to be held later this year. of the judges were presented culture, traditions and presenters and special Go ahead. Take the with an ALI Student Award contributions to society. guests on stage. The school Challenge. See pages at a gala celebration in June. The gala was held at band played a rousing 5 to 11 for details . Conjon Jallah (left) drumming a traditional African welcome. The Awards recognize O Canada Graham Creighton Junior Award recipient Shatori Willis (right) presents her photo entry. rendition of and High and Dr. Walter Borden drummer Conjon Jallah served as Master of Cere- Kakembo, Director of Afri- of autographed ‘Notable brought the crowd to its feet monies. The Awards were can Canadian Services, Nova Scotian’ posters. when he played a traditional presented to students by brought greetings from the Teachers received bursaries African drum welcome for distinguished Notable Nova Minister of Education. for classroom resource Her Honour. Recipients - Scotians including Dr. Guest of Honour, the Hon- materials. Fifteen Individual presented their entries on Daurene Lewis, Dr. Wayne ourable Mayann E. Francis, Awards were presented to stage prior to receiving their Adams, Mr. Gordon Earle, Lieutenant Governor of students and four Class Par- Awards. There were many Dr. Les Oliver and Dr. Edith Nova Scotia, presented the ticipation Awards were proud family members and Cromwell. Special guests Class Participation Awards presented to teachers. Award friends also in attendance. from CACE included Ms. and gave the final address. recipients represented many Her Honour’s closing re- Delvina Bernard, Director Award recipients received different schools from across marks were particularly Master of Ceremonies and Mr. Charles Sheppard, bursaries ranging from the province. Participants insightful and are reprinted Piper Cicely Sparks Dr. Walter Borden . Chairman. Dr. Patrick $50.00 to $500.00 and gifts ranged in age from ten to in full on the following page. 2 The Times of African Nova Scotians 2008 ALI History & Heritage Award Recipients “As the Queen’s representative in Nova Scotia I am delighted to join with you today to celebrate young writers who are seeking to understand the past so that they can make sense of Sydney Hamilton Brent Robertson the present and plan for the future. Cobequid Lockview High School Educational Centre I want to commend the Africentric Learning Institute and the Age 16 Times of African Nova Scotians Age 18 for sponsoring the ALI History Grade 11 ACS Grade 12 and Heritage Awards. You have challenged school children to Nominated Nominated look beyond the who’s and when’s of history and instead delve Ruth Johnson Michael Duck into the whys and hows. It is a far more complete examination. For a proper understanding of African heritage in this province needs context. How did the people get here? Why did they come? Why did some stay when many Marlisha Mintis left? Only with the answers to these questions can the Saint Patrick’s- Shatori Willis full story be told. A complete and deep understanding of Alexandra School Oxford School Age 12 Age 12, Grade 7 one’s heritage is essential. For if you do not know the Grade 7 Photo of great- past, how can you judge if progress has been made? The Honourable Nominated grandmother Lena Many African-Nova Scotian families have deep roots Mayann E. Francis, O.N.S., DHumL Maxine Tynes in our province, tracing lineages back for more than 200 Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. years. The ancestors of these families came to Nova Scotia on the promise of freedom and better life for themselves and their children. We know those promises were not always kept. That is a fact, a part of the historical record. Toni Marsman It cannot be denied. For many years, African-Nova Scotians were marginalized Oxford School Alessandra Pagnotella economically, socially and politically. Age 12 Sacred Heart School Grade 7 Age 16 But these were not people who easily surrendered to such treatment. Instead, African- Photo of great- Nominated Nova Scotians built their own institutions - churches, community halls and schools. They grandnanny Yvonne Atwell built their own businesses, their own communities, their own lives. In these places, a Theresa Willis people flourished. Leaders arose, skills developed and a culture was born. This is the heritage you students were asked to examine. It is a heritage at once both complex and simple. Complex because that heritage is made up of tens of thousands of individuals, each acting on their own desires with their own abilities and motivations. Curtis Whiley Taylor Maxwell Simple because this heritage involves universal human themes - survival, adaptation and Charles P. Allen Cobequid Educational triumph. High School Centre Age 18 I applaud the teachers for embracing this program and for getting their students to go Age 15 Grade 12 beyond the simple memorizing of places and dates. History yields no lessons unless it is Grade 11 Nominated Deacon properly understood and analyzed. Photo of Maxwell Family Aubrey T. Whiley . African heritage is not static. It is still being written. For new chapters are being added every day to the story of people of African descent in North America and here at home. We are still celebrating firsts - the pioneers who blazed the trail for others to follow, often under difficult circumstances. Tremendous responsibilities rest with “firsts” because Greg Pelly Kyle MacNeil they want to ensure that they will be followed by seconds, thirds and fourths. Halifax West Lockview High School It is a long and proud heritage. Embrace it, learn from it, understand it. For it is the High School Age 17 Age 18 story of us all. Grade 11 ACS Grade 12 Thank You. Merci. Tapadh leibh. Asante. ” Interview with Interview with Dr. Lorne White Ms. Gloria Ann Wesley Class Participation Award Recipiants High School - Lockview High School ; Grade 11 African Canadian Studies class; Mrs. Wendy Driscoll, teacher . Recipients in this class were Kyle MacNeil, Interview with Dr. Lorne White and Brent Johnson for his Notable Nova Scotian nomination Ruth Johnson . Entries of note from this class included Tylisha Way for Just Because I’m Black... and Kara Hyland for Writing Racial Slurs on a Bathroom Wall . High School - Runner-up. Cobequid Educational Centre ; Grade 11 African Canadian Studies class; Mr. Foster, teacher. Recipients in this class were Taylor Maxwell for her photo of the Maxwell Family and Sydney Hamilton for her Notable Nova Scotian nomination of Michael Duck . Junior High School – St. Patrick’s-Alexandra School ; Grade 5/6 and junior high partners. Mr. Myra, teacher. Recipients in this class included Marlisha Mintis for her Notable Nova Scotian nomination Maxine Tynes . Entries of note from this class included Favour Fagbile for History of the Black Loyalists ; Johnathan Hiles for African Nova Scotian Hockey Players and Tatiyauna Talbot with partner Denzell Desmond for Back to Africville . Junior High School - Runner-up. Oxford School ; Grade 7; Mr. Noble. Recipients Shatori Willis and Toni Marsman for their Clues in Old Photos . Special Guests and ‘Notable Nova Scotians’ presented the ALI Student Awards. Seated (left to right) : Dr. Edith Cromwell and Her Honour, the Honourable Mayann E.