by Noha Abdelmoaty
Saturday 29 January 2022
The launch of Black History Month in Ottawa took us through an evening of history, art, community, leadership, and spirituality, creating a space to reflect on what it means for people of African Descent to claim our space, particularly during the UN Decade of People of African Descent.
Launched virtually on January 29th on Facebook and Youtube, Black History Month Ottawa is organized by Black History Ottawa, whose board members are: June Girvan, Godwin Ifedi, Joanne Robinson, Sarah Onyango, and Jean-Marie Guerrier.
The celebration opened with Drummer Wandara whose performance combined the drum, vocals and a reminder that “Black History is not just one month, it is life in its entirety”
Starting with an acknowledgment of the land where we live: the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg people, the lively bilingual hosts, Sarah Onyango and Jean-Marie Guerrier, led us through an afternoon of highlighting the immense and deep-rooted contributions of Black Canadians.
The afternoon featured multiple musical performances pleasantly interspersed throughout the launch by Eddie Atleyne and Ken Roach playing O’Canada on the Steel Pan and Drum, Lisa-Gaye Pryce singing Lift Every Voice, John Kofi Dapaah with two performances on the piano, Ferline Regis and Sean Duhaime performing Look to the Rainbow by Eleanor Collins and Continue ton Chemin
Multiple guest speakers issued messages that expand our knowledge of the contributions of Black Canadians and give us immense hope for a future where the history, humanity, and rights of people of African descent will be protected and promoted.
In their presentation of the Black Empowerment Statement of Truth, Yasmine Elmi in English and Janeyce and Rayah-Simone Guerrier in French, stated “Our significant presence and contribution to this land predate Canada by over 150 years.” They gave us many examples attesting to the fact that “up until 1961 over half of the Black people in Canada were indigenous to Canada…our sweat, skills, experiences, and contributions taken and used without consent and for free built and shaped early Canada”
“Together each achieves more,” said June Girvan, President of Black History Ottawa. June Girvan paid tribute to those in our past and present who have elevated racial justice and she reminded us of the 3 pillars of the UN Decade for People of African Descent: “Development, recognition, and justice”
Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard invited us to reflect on the 7 principles of Kwanza: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith) and apply them in our own actions.
Member of Parliament for Hull and Aylmer and co-president of the Canadian Caucasus of Black Parliamentarians, Greg Fergus reminded us that Black History is Canadian History.
Senator Marie-Francoise Megie highlighted the importance of speaking about the contributions of Black Canadians throughout the month of February and beyond since their contributions are little taught or written.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued a speech “celebrating what would have been the Honorable Lincoln Alexander’s 100th birthday” and reminding us that “our strength comes from diversity and inclusiveness”.
Andrea Horwarth, NDP leader, and Laura Mae Lindo, Chair of the NDP Black Caucasus, underlined the importance of solidarity in fighting systemic anti-Black racism and encouraged us to imagine the future of the NDP Black Caucasus and the positive impact it would have on our communities.
Yasir Naqvi, MP for Ottawa Centre stressed the importance of celebrating the contributions of Black Community Members in Ottawa and all Canada in all fields.
Mayor of Ottawa Jim Watson, officially proclaimed February 2022 as Black History Month with the theme: “Claiming our space”.
Councillor Rawlson King – Rideau-Rockliffe City Councillor recounted the important strides Ottawa has made towards equity, announcing that the city will release its first anti-racism strategy this year. He highlighted that Ottawa is the first city in Ontario to launch policies for combating gender and racial inequity.
Chief Peter Sloly from Ottawa Police Service, honored the memory of Bishop Desmond Tutu who said “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together”. Chief Sloly shared his vision to build a police department built on inclusion, equity, and anti-racism and ensuring the safety of all members of our community.
Dr. Vera Etches, Medical Officer of Health with Ottawa Public Health pointed out the need to change racism embedded in Public Health and stated that racism is a health issue.
Shery Alexander Heinis performed Waiting: a poem inspired by Martin Luther King. Starting with “I have decided to stick to love, hate is too great a burden to bear,” Shery’s poem speaks to the humanity in us, never asking for permission to build a community entwined with love, arising from a painful past with hope, power, unity, and love.
Director of Education at OCDSB: Camille Williams-Taylor spoke about the origins of Black History Month in the United States and how it came to Canada.
Valerie Assoi, Academic counsellor at Le Conseil des Ecole Catholique Centre Est, spoke of the initiatives being taken to increase representation and lift the voices of Black Canadians at CECCE.
We enjoyed a small documentary about Canadian Jazz singer Eleanor Collins whose art, talent, and bravery live to this day and for whom Canada Post unveiled a stamp in her honour.
Osvaldo Jeanty from the Royal Bank of Canada commended the work of the organizers of Black History Ottawa stressing the importance of this work on positively impacting many lives.
The Community Leadership awards were given to: Ewart Walters, Meron Berhe, Lyse-Pascal Inamuco , Denise Isaacs, Amatur Raheem Salam-Alada, Black 365 Black Student Union at Sir Wilfred Laurier secondary school, and Maeesha Boursiquot.
The Every Child is Sacred Award was given to Dr. Richard Barwell.
The John G. Dennison Award to Dr. Dorothy W. Williams
The Black History Ottawa President’s Award went to Liz Wong
An unannounced surprise was the United Way East Ontario Community Builder Award presented to Jean Marie Guerrier, Vice President of Black History Ottawa.
Tarrah Mauricette gave us “Black History in the Making.” Tarrah’s poem started with “I am Black History in the Making, You are Black History in the Making” and told us that every member of Black communities is Black history in the making.
Joanne Robinson, Black History Ottawa board member issued the closing statement thanking all guest speakers, performers, the Royal Bank of Canada for sponsoring the event, BIA media for technical support, Canada post for unveiling the stamp, BIA Media, and all local claimers of space.
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Noha Abdelmoaty is from Alexandria, Egypt. she currently lives in Ottawa and works as a Settlement Counsellor. She studied Women’s Studies, Mathematics and Gender Studies. She loves learning new languages because they open windows to different places. Noha has lived in Egypt, the USA, Spain and Canada. Alexandria is always in her heart and she is determined to love where she lives and live where she loves.