African Heritage Month exhibit in Regina highlights Black history on the prairies

African Heritage Month was recently celebrated at the Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina. (Damian Smith/CTV News)

It was a time of celebration and discovery at the Mackenzie Art Gallery over the weekend, as the museum hosted an exhibit for African Heritage Month.

As a Saskatchewan resident of African descent, Saturday was an important day for Carol Lafayette-Boyd. African-Canadian history dates back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s in the prairies.

“A lot of people didn’t know that there was a black settlement up near Maidstone,” said Lafayette-Boyd. “They came in 1910 and my great grandmother was among those people that came there.”

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Many of those settlers moved from Oklahoma, seeking better opportunities among segregation increasing in the United States.

Lafayette’s father was one of the first to be born of African descent in Saskatchewan, born in 1907.

It was also another chance to show the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum, a virtual museum that was founded in 2002.

“We’re pleased, because we believe that February isn’t just a month for black history. Black history is for education all year long, 24 hours a day,” she said.

Among other notable figures highlighted were Dr. Shadd, who worked in the medical field in the late 1890’s, George Smith, who served in World War 1 and William Earl LaFayette, who served in World War 2.

Landmarks such as the Shiloh Baptiste in Maidstone, which was built by the first twelve families were also honoured.