Sanai M.

Regina, Saskatchewan

Regina Regional Heritage Fair

First African American Settlers in Saskatchewan

My project is about the first African American settlement in Saskatchewan. You will learn from my video why they moved to Canada in order to escape from slavery and got to be free. 

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

I think the most interesting thing I learned was about the Shiloh Baptist Church. I learned that the church was built in 1911 and it's still there after all those years. I also learned that the cemetery is the only all black cemetery in all of Canada. I think this is very neat because it is an important fact of history.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

The important lesson I want to share with other Canadians is to not give up or lose hope when things get hard. The families that moved to Saskatchewan were determined to escape slavery and provide a safe home to raise their children.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

My life is very different than the African American families I did my project on. I am part African American, and thankfully I will never know what it is like to be a slave. And the best thing is that slavery no longer exists. My life today is easier because people are more accepting of different cultures.