Black History Month on the Salish Sea

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Back in 1999 when Shalema Gantt first came to Nanaimo, she says she didn’t find many black people, and she didn’t hear much about the contributions of black Canadians in the region’s history. When she was given a resource guide on Black pioneers in British Columbia, she was inspired to share what she had learned with others, and started the Nanaimo African Heritage Society.

Now more than 25 years later Gantt is still president of the society, and is still organizing events to bring people together to mark Black History Month. Midcoast Morning asked her how the Nanaimo African Heritage Society is marking the occasion in 2026.

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Links:

• Read more about Gladys West’s story here.

• Salt Spring Island Archives on Black pioneers and families.

Guests:

• Shalema Gantt — President, Nanaimo African Heritage Society.

Program Team:

• Joe Pugh — Host and Producer.

• Jesse Woodward — Executive Producer.

• Arbie Fru — Technical Assistance.

Podcast Photo:

• Marie and Louise Stark (Estes-Stark Collection/Salt Spring Island Archives).

Theme Music:

• Waste Management - First One

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Transcript:

Incoming.

Report Transcription errors by emailing production@chly.ca.

Funding:

This program is part of our our Nonprofit Newsroom Project. Sustain local news for many years to come by signing up for a monthly Sustaining Donation.