Province Launches African Nova Scotian Online Resource

Archival records help people understand the who, what, where, when and why of the past. For that reason, on Tuesday, Feb. 25, Nova Scotia Archives is launching an online resource with a range of historical information relating to African Nova Scotians.

The resource, Looking Back, Moving Forward: Documenting the Heritage of African Nova Scotians, includes court records, maps, photographs, newspapers, land records and rare published materials.

“Launching the online resource during African Heritage Month 2020 is especially momentous and meaningful,” said Lt.-Gov. Arthur LeBlanc. “This important collection will help all Nova Scotians better understand our incredibly rich African Nova Scotian history, heritage and culture. It also meets the recognition pillar of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent.”

The online resource will provide access to materials in one central place. It will be a free, searchable educational resource for use by the public. Documentation will be added annually as more material is acquired and/or digitized.

“Nova Scotia has been home to people of African descent for over 400 years," said Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs Tony Ince. “This collection will help us better understand our shared past while creating a more inclusive future for all Nova Scotians.”

“The Nova Scotia Archives is one of Canada’s oldest archival institutions that assists thousands of researchers and visitors each year,” said Leo Glavine, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage. “We want to be a leader in acquiring, preserving and sharing historical content about our diverse and vibrant communities.”

Quotes:

“This online resource holds materials representing the various African Nova Scotian communities across the province. This is an excellent tool for the public, historians, genealogists and students in all levels of the education system to learn more about African Nova Scotian history.”

– David States, researcher and consultant, African Canadian history and genealogy in Atlantic provinces

Quick Facts:

• 2.4 per cent of Nova Scotians identify as African Nova Scotian
• African Nova Scotians are the largest racialized group in the province making up 37.3 per cent of Nova Scotia’s racialized population
• 71.8 per cent of African Nova Scotians have roots in Nova Scotia going back three generations or more
• enhancing understanding and recognition of the African Nova Scotian history is one of the goals in Count Us In: Nova Scotia’s Action Plan in Response to the International Decade for People of African Descent, 2015-2024
• advancing cultural diversity is one of the themes in Nova Scotia’s Culture Action Plan

Additional Resources:

Looking Back, Moving Forward: Documenting the Heritage of African Nova Scotians: http://novascotia.ca/archives/african-heritage

Nova Scotia Archives: https://archives.novascotia.ca

Count Us In: Nova Scotia’s Action Plan in Response to the International Decade for People of African Descent, 2015-2024: https://ansa.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/dpad-action-plan.pdf

Nova Scotia’s Culture Action Plan: https://novascotia.ca/culture/Culture-Action-Plan--English.pdf

International Decade for People of African Descent: https://www.un.org/en/events/africandescentdecade/recognition.shtml