Black History Month: Home
Contact
Purpose
This guide is dedicated to Black History Month and highlights the resources offered at the library that focus on the accomplishments and experiences of the Black community in North America. In this guide, we invite you to read, watch, listen to, participate in, or actively learn more about why this month is so important.
In 2022, the Government of Saskatchewan proclaimed February as African-Canadian Black History Month, "in honour and recognition of the legacy of Black Canadians across the nation."
Black History Month Highlights
African-Canadian/Black History Month declared in Saskatchewan
As stated by the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan:
The Saskatchewan African-Canadian Heritage Museum (SACHM) has been one of the provincial leaders in promoting the importance of the historical and current contributions of people of African descent in the province. After years of reflecting and studying, this year [2022] they have chosen to change the title of the month to African-Canadian Black History month. This is meant to align with the 1978 UNESCO Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice, which clarified that genetics do not support human racial classifications; however, race as a social, political and economic construct remains a reality that results in persisting racial discrimination, violation of human rights and social injustices. This new title is meant to be inclusive of all people of African descent.
Shiloh Baptist Church
The Shiloh Baptist Church was the hub of the first black settlement in Saskatchewan, located near Maidstone in the Eldon rural municipality. The church was built by Black homesteaders in 1912 and was regularly used until the 1940s.
Black Thought and Culture Database
Black Thought and Culture is a landmark electronic collection of approximately 100,000 pages of non-fiction writings by major American black leaders—teachers, artists, politicians, religious leaders, athletes, war veterans, entertainers, and other figures—covering 250 years of history. In addition to the most familiar works, Black Thought and Culture presents a great deal of previously inaccessible material, including letters, speeches, prefatory essays, political leaflets, interviews, periodicals, and trial transcripts. The ideas of over 1,000 authors present an evolving and complex view of what it is to be black in America. You can view this database using your USask login credentials.
Li'l Shadd : A Story of Ujima by Miriam Körner and Alix Lwanga
Li'l Shadd is a children's book published by the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum in 2015. It tells the story of Dr. Alfred Schmitz Shadd, the first Black doctor in Saskatchewan. Dr. Shadd was a farmer, a doctor and a beloved figure in his community of Melfort, Saskatchewan. You can read more about Dr. Shadd at the Saskatchewan African Canadian History Museum.
Criterion On Demand Black History Collection
Criterion on Demand is an online digital library of educationally relevant feature films used in Canadian Higher Education institutions. This database has curated a collection of films related to Black History Month. You can view these videos using your USask credentials.