A new travelling exhibit titled “We and the Sea” has opened at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown, Nova Scotia [1, 2].
The showcase highlights the often-overlooked role of African Nova Scotians in shaping the province's marine industry. By documenting these contributions, the exhibit seeks to preserve a cultural legacy and provide a more inclusive history of Canada's Atlantic coast [3, 4].
The exhibit explores more than 400 years of maritime history [1]. It focuses on the individuals who worked as seafarers, laborers, and industry leaders, people whose efforts helped build the foundations of Nova Scotia's relationship with the ocean [1, 4].
The event launched on a Saturday [2]. It is hosted at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre, a site dedicated to the history of Black Loyalists who settled in the region [1, 2].
Organizers designed the exhibit to tell the specific stories of those who navigated the waters of the North Atlantic. This effort recognizes the long-term economic and social impact of African Nova Scotian seafarers on the regional economy [3, 4].
As a travelling exhibit, "We and the Sea" is intended to reach a wider audience across the region. This allows the stories of these mariners to move beyond Birchtown and into other communities, fostering a broader understanding of the province's diverse heritage [1, 2].
“The exhibit explores more than 400 years of African Nova Scotian maritime history.”
The launch of "We and the Sea" represents a shift toward integrating marginalized narratives into the official maritime history of Nova Scotia. By centering 400 years of African Nova Scotian contributions, the exhibit challenges traditional historical records that have frequently omitted the role of Black workers in the Atlantic marine industry.
