Preserving and Promoting: Black Cultural Heritage in Canada
Introduction
Every February, the Multiculturalism Program, on behalf of the Government of Canada, invites Canadians to take part in events to celebrate and learn about the contributions black Canadians have made to the growth and development of Canada. It is also an opportunity for Canadians to seek creative and economic ways to preserve and actively promote the black Canadian heritage as an integral component of our collective Canadian Identity.
In March 2004, the Department hosted a round table to link individuals who specialize in African-Canadian heritage with officials of the Canadian heritage portfolio. The objectives of the round table were:
- to link African-Canadian heritage organizations, historians and community media representatives to key resources available through the Canadian heritage portfolio;
- to increase the awareness of the departmental and portfolio agency officials of the work being carried out by African-Canadian heritage organizations and individuals; and
- to share information.
No young people were present at the round table although many references were made to the importance of youth to the survival of black Canadian museums and to their preservation of black Canadian heritage. Since that time, many curators and historians have called for the development of practical ways of engaging youth “to take up the torch.”
Following consultations with officials of black Canadian museums across the country, it was the consensus that a one-day succession planning summit be convened on February 5, 2009, to exchange knowledge and to help develop young managers to preserve and promote the African-Canadian heritage as an integral component of our Canadian identity.
Young participants were chosen from among those pursuing studies at universities and colleges in black Canadian history, Canadian studies or related fields, and also from among youth in the community who are interested in pursuing museum administration professionally. Other participants came from recognized black Canadian museums or heritage institutions, and included historians and serious practitioners from across the country.
The one-day summit was organized by the Multiculturalism Program of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration and held at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
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