Africentric Heritage Park of Northeastern Nova Scotia
Mission
"To provide a physical gathering space as the pivot-point of our African
Nova Scotian community. It is viewed as a "sacred" piece of
ground which celebrates our rooted position in the settlement of Nova Scotia
from Africa">
Africentric
Heritage Park of Northeastern Nova Scotia Mission
"To provide a physical gathering space as the pivot-point of our African
Nova Scotian community. It is viewed as a "sacred" piece of
ground which celebrates our rooted position in the settlement of Nova Scotia
from Africa, Europe, and via the underground railroad in North America". History
African Nova Scotians, unlike Europeans, lack a genealogical background and
social history prior to the American Revolution. After arriving in Nova Scotia in the
late 18th century as freed and escaped slaves, the
lack of genealogy meant that these hard-working African descendants had little
choice but to assume the names of their former slave masters and begin anew to
create a family history. Settlements throughout North and Eastern Nova Scotia were established based
on where there was employment. Like much of the human settlement in the
East River Valley, coal and steel were driving forces. Throughout most of the 180 years since then, African Nova Scotians have
evolved in their own right contributing to the social history and culture of
their new homeland. With little long-term family history, the young African Nova Scotians of
today are recreating that history for future generations, a history based in North
and Eastern Nova Scotia. The Africentric Heritage Park will provide a physical monument commemorating the past,
focusing the present, and providing the foundations for the future of our
culture. The Park is located in the heart of New Glasgow's Black Community, the
largest concentration of African Nova Scotians on the North and Eastern shores
of Nova Scotia. The design approach is solely unique and will incite interest from the
entire Black community of Nova Scotia. The park structure will be a cultural focus and community gathering
point being based on the pyramids of Egypt. The 10 meter-high
pyramid will be open for the first 3.3 meters, thus creating a covered, yet open
gathering place for many community events. The vertex of the
pyramid will include a light panel (window) on each of the four sides
(gables). Each side represents a portion of the history and migration of Nova
Scotia Blacks. The four gables together mix light at the apex of a traditional African
structure and this available light shines onto a spot in the center of the floor
of the pyramid. By standing in this position, African Nova Scotians are at
an emotional center of their history and culture. The importance of this
symbolism will only grow with future generations. Directly in the floor
beneath, four pie-shaped polished and engraved stones from Africa, Europe, the
United States, and Northern Nova Scotia will strengthen this unique symbolism. Into the 1960's, racial discrimination was still highly evident in many commercial establishments.
Over time this has subsided, and most of us now live
harmoniously throughout the region. The Africentric Heritage Park symbols and focus will
also provide the population of the region and all who visit, a snapshot of the
dramatic history and culture of Blacks in Nova Scotia. Goals
Objectives
Common Questions & Answers Q. Why is it called Africentric?
Q. Why locate this park in Pictou County?
Q. Why are the main park structures in
the form of a pyramid?
Q. What happened to the monument unveiled at the 1990 Homecoming?
Click on picture for a larger view of pyramid.Southeast Gable: This light panel allows light from the direction of Africa, thus reflecting
the roots of thousands of Nova Scotians.Southwest Gable: From this face of the pyramid we receive the light (and darkness) from the
east coast of the United
States commemorating the underground railroad and mass migration of former slaves into
the fabric of Nova Scotia.Northeast Gable: The ambient light into this side of the pyramid provides a panel facing
Europe. Hundreds of African Nova Scotians can trace their roots back
through Europe to West Africa.Northwest Gable: This side of the park structure pulls available light from the main
population base of Pictou County and beyond into the
direction of the center block of Parliament Hill. It signifies the light
created from the home of Africans in Nova Scotia and
Canada. It is a light that has shone on the community since the earliest
arrival of Blacks in Nova Scotia even before the arrival of Ship Hector in 1773.To
create an active community park/center germane to the African Nova Scotian
experience.
To incorporate architectural features and interpretive panels which
provide true symbolism of our history and culture.
To
encourage all Nova Scotians and outside visitors to explore our
Africentric history and culture.
To create innovative programming which will insure the use and maintenance
of this facility for future generations.
To strive to create a visual "touchstone" which represents the
foundation of our family and culture, thus ensuring a solid foundation for
families and individuals who want to explore their roots.
To
commit to creating widespread community ownership and volunteerism in the
construction, maintenance, and operations of our Africentric Heritage
Park.
To
use local goods and services in the capital construction phase, thus
insuring a
greater ownership for the whole project.
To
invite Black Businesses to participate in the tendering process for any
outside
goods or service.To
continue to build on the significant base of support in the greater
community of
Pictou County for this facility.
To
insure the on-going involvement of the Nova Scotia Museum, Heritage
and
Culture agencies, and in
particular the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library which
plans to establish a
genealogical study access point.
To
measure each phase of design and construction in order to complete the
project before
the millennium and the Black Homecoming Celebration planned for
August
2000.
To involve all volunteer expertise.
To
create an interface with the Chignecto Regional School Board to promote
elementary class visitations to the completed
project.
A. The origin of the word "Afrocentric" or "Africentric"
comes from an American author by the name of Molesfe Assante who wrote a book
called "The Afrocentric Idea" during the 1970's. In this
publication, it was his contention that most North Americans are
"euro-centric" and view the world from this perspective. The
Africentric Heritage Park highlights our African roots and underlines the
settlements and famous community workers from Amherst through Guysborough.
A. In 1767, the Philadelphia Company began providing land grants around
the Pictou area. It is documented that up to 30 slaves arrived in
Pictou Harbor with their slave-masters aboard ship Betsey 13 years before
the influx of Black Loyalists. This marks a little known, but
important chapter in the history of African Nova Scotians.
Construction of this park will assist our region in setting the record
straight. At the same time, the Park provides a strong focal point
for the Black community of New Glasgow.
A. All over Nova Scotia, architectural design is largely based on British and
European styles. These were the very cultures which kidnapped West
Africans into slavery in the United States. The pyramid, which is seldom
used in western design, is probably the most famous architecture in the world
and well-rooted in Africa. A pyramid is also believed by some to emit
positive celestial energy from the heavens. It is the perfect structure
from which to tell the dramatic story of our Black ancestors.
A. This monument forms a center piece of the Park. A new five-foot high
pyramidal structure of polished stone now incorporates the 1990 Homecoming
monument. This second model, a reunion over distance and time, orients the
contemporary visitor and contains the following: "One cannot envision the
future without understanding the past" THE AFRICENTRIC HERITAGE PARK IS
DEDICATED TO OUR CHILDREN. August 13, 2000.
(Click on picture for a larger view of monument)Click here to view other pictures of the park.
Copyright © 2001 Ward One Social &
Recreation Centre. All rights reserved.
Any questions or comments concerning this website, please contact berkleydesmond
hotmail.com