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This documentary film and its accompanying teachers' guide presents the history of Black settlers in Alberta and incorporates the voices of young Black Albertans who share their experiences.
The teachers' guide provides historical information about early Black settlements in Alberta, lesson ideas and activities, support materials and resource lists.
BLACK LIVES IN ALBERTA:
Over a Century of Racial Injustice Continues
Black Lives in Alberta: Over a Century of Racial Injustice Continues tells the story of five generations of Black Albertans and their experiences of discrimination living on the Canadian Prairies. Descendants of a large wave of African American immigrants who moved to Alberta and Saskatchewan in the early 20th Century to escape racism and persecution in the United States candidly share their family histories and discuss how their racial identities have shaped their experiences of living in Alberta.
Deborah Dobbins, founder of Shiloh Centre for Multicultural Roots, worked in partnership with The Aspen Foundation, Dr. David Este of the University of Calgary, and Dr. Jenna Bailey of Bailey & Soda Films to create Black Lives in Alberta: Over a Century of Racial Injustice Continues.
It builds on the work of the documentary; We Are the Roots: Black Settlers and Their Experiences of Discrimination, shows how the original immigrants overcame adversity, resisted measures to exploit and control them and made significant contributions to Alberta’s society and culture.
No duplication or public broadcast of this film should be done without the permission of the copyright owners.
Please contact Shiloh Centre for Multicultural Roots if you would like to arrange a public screening.
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The "WE ARE THE ROOTS" film was created and produced through a partnership between Deborah Dobbins, founder of the Shiloh Centre for Multicultural Roots, and documentary film production company Bailey and Soda Films.
We Are The Roots:
“An intriguing and moving new documentary.”– Paula Simons, Edmonton Journal
We are the Roots: Black Settlers and their Experiences of Discrimination on the Canadian Prairies tells the story of a wave of African American immigrants who moved to Alberta and Saskatchewan between 1905-1912 to escape racism and persecution in the United States.
Taking advantage of Canada’s offer of 160 acres of land for a $10 fee, 1000-1500 individuals moved to the Prairies and helped develop several settlements throughout the provinces.
Through the stories of 19 descendants of the original settlers, We are the Roots focuses on the experiences of discrimination these individuals encountered while living in the rural communities and in Edmonton.
No duplication or public broadcast of this film should be done without the permission of the copyright owners.
Please contact Shiloh Centre for Multicultural Roots if you would like to arrange a public screening.
Alberta: Growing up Black
Our Story is totally diffierent
The public conversation around Black experiences in Alberta is often centred on the immigrant experience. However, since many early Black settlers in Alberta arrived from the United States and early European settlers, the narrative of being newly arrived in the country does not fit many Black youths in Edmonton.
To address this gap in the narrative, REACH Edmonton, in collaboration with Coalitions Creating Equity (CCE), teamed up with Deborah Dobbins to create a video that shares the experiences of Black youth in their own words.
Alberta: Growing Up Black aims to show that Black youth have a specific story and experience in Alberta.
No duplication or public broadcast of this film should be done without the permission of the copyright owners.
Please contact Shiloh Centre for Multicultural Roots if you would like to arrange a public screening.
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