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From YouTube: Black History Month Ceremony - 2023
Description
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
A
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A
B
B
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B
B
C
A
D
D
B
B
There
are
a
number
of
other
guests
who
are
joining
us
today.
It's
my
great
honor
and
privilege
to
have
her
honor,
the
lieutenant
governor
of
Alberta
Salma
lahani,
the
deputy
premier
of
Alberta
The
Honorable
kaliche
Madu
MLA
David
Shepard,
representing
the
official
opposition
Sarah
adamako
anich,
founder
of
the
black
Teachers
Association
Charlie
Queen
EXO,
a
spoken
word
artist,
who
will
be
joining
us
later
in
the
ceremony
officers
of
the
legislature,
mla's
former
mlas
and
honored
guests.
B
Thank
you
so
much
for
being
with
us
here
to
celebrate
this
very
very
important
day.
As
we
honor
Black
History
Month
in
Alberta,
may
we
honor
the
incredibly
smart,
creative
Innovative
and
accomplished
African
Canadians
and
African
albertans,
who
have
built
our
nation
and
our
province
into
the
culturally
diverse
place
that
it
is
today
Black
History
Month
is
about
celebrating
the
storied
history
of
How.
African
Americans
came
to
our
Province
for
a
better
life,
not
only
how
they
survived,
but
how
they
thrived.
B
It's
so
important
that
youth
understand
the
rich
history
of
resilience
and
determination.
It
will
inspire
hope
and
provide
guidance
and
help
them
Reach
their
important
goals,
the
courage
and
commitment
of
the
families
that
came
before
them,
finding
a
life
a
to
continue
to
inspire
generations
of
black
youth,
to
dream
bigger
to
do
better
and
to
be
the
very
best
that
they
can
be
in
the
early
part
of
the
20th
century.
Black
Canadians
settled
in
Central
and
Northern
Alberta,
which
led
to
the
founding
of
several
new
communities
such
as
Amber,
Valley,
campsie
and
Keystone.
B
One
such
person
was
Violet
King
Henry,
his
parents
settled
in
Amber
Valley
before
moving
to
Calgary
in
1954.
She
attended
law
school
and
became
the
first
black
woman
to
graduate
law
school
and
be
admitted
to
the
bar,
her
name
now,
honors
the
North
Plaza
of
the
legislature
grounds,
and
it's
my
hope
that
her
story
continues
to
be
told
for
years
to
come
and
is
the
inspiration
that
many
young
black
women
will
look
to
as
they
Forge
a
for
a
forge.
E
Thank
you,
speaker,
Cooper
elected
officials,
distinguished
guests.
All
I
too,
would
like
to
acknowledge
the
beautiful
rendition
of
O
Canada.
Thank
you
for
that
Timothy
and
welcome
to
your
father
and
your
family
and
and
welcome
to
all
all
of
you,
our
distinguished
guests,
in
the
spirit
of
meaningful
reconciliation.
I
would
like
to
acknowledge
all
First
Peoples
who
have
called
this
place
home
for
thousands
of
years
and
who
welcomed
us
here
to
make
our
own
lives.
E
E
Our
Collective
success
is
thanks
to
the
contributions
of
all
of
our
different
communities
that
make
us
the
province
and
country
that
we
are
annual.
Traditions,
like
this
special
month,
give
us
an
opportunity
to
fully
illuminate
the
various
chapters
of
our
history,
bringing
them
to
life
and
adding
much
needed
context
and
perspective,
and
that
includes
learning
about
black
history.
E
Stretching
Back
to
Before
Alberta
became
a
province
other
others
are
part
of
the
very
exciting,
vibrant
and
growing
population
of
New
Canadians,
who
have
so
many
strengths
and
ideas
to
ensure
and
I
have
to
tell
you
that,
as
a
relative
newcomer,
my
own
education,
mine
and
my
husband's
own
education
about
this
amazing
chapter
in
Alberta's.
History
was
thanks
to
one
of
my
husband's
patients
who
grew
up
in
Amber
Valley
and
who
gave
an
excellent
history
lesson
to
my
husband
when
my
husband
kept
asking
him
no.
E
E
A
legend
today
and
thanks
to
filmmaker
Cheryl
Fogo,
will
always
remain
a
proud
Legend
in
Canada.
We
need
to
ensure
that
everyone
can
see
themselves
and
feel
a
sense
of
belonging
in
our
history
in
our
society
today
and
in
the
years
to
come.
Every
aspect
of
black
history
that
we
explore
opens
a
new
door
to
learning,
to
meaningful
dialogue
and
to
a
more
inclusive
future
for
all
as
his
majesty
the
king's
representative
in
Albert,
and
that
took
quite
a
bit
of
practicing
because
we
were
used
to
saying
the
Queens.
E
I
would
like
to
extend
my
heartfelt
thanks
again
to
speaker,
Cooper
and
his
staff
for
bringing
us
all
together
here
today
and
I
would
also
like
to
recognize
and
think
the
wonderful
Community
leaders,
Advocates
and
volunteers
across
Alberta,
who
are
doing
so
much
to
honor
all
of
our
history
and
to
build
upon
the
rich
diversity
of
our
province.
I
hope
that
this
month
affords
everyone,
many
opportunities
to
learn
and
to
take
pride
in
our
shared
past,
present
and
future,
and
with
that
I'd
like
to
say,
Black,
History
Month
ends
on
February
28th
this
year.
E
B
Thank
you
so
much
your
honor.
Let
me
just
say
thank
you.
I
know
that
you
take
so
much
time
to
ensure
that
you're
here
on
these
special
occasions,
and
it
really
does
mean
a
lot
to
me
and
members
of
the
assembly
that
you
put
aside
time
in
your
schedule
to
make
it
to
these
and
I,
have
had
no
problem
with
the
transition
from.
F
G
G
I
do
want
to
acknowledge
the
presence
of
some
of
my
colleagues
I
see
the
minister
of
Education
Indiana
LaGrange
I,
see
the
minister
of
culture
I,
see
the
minister
of
mental
health
and
addiction
I,
see
The
Honorable,
Dot
lowen
I,
see
some
of
my
colleagues
as
well.
For
my
colleagues,
I
see
The
Honorable,
Lindsay,
blackett,
The,
Honorable,
Christine,
cassinelli
and
I
do
want
to
acknowledge
the
present.
Oh
I
see
The
Honorable
Rick
McIver.
G
Thank
you
so
much
and
if
there's
anyone
I
have
missed,
please
forgive
me
I.
Thank
you
for
being
here.
I
also
see
the
members
of
Her
Majesty's
Loyola
position:
City
Center,
David
Shepherd,
various
Community
leaders
present
here
this
afternoon
from
Somalia
from
Nigeria
from
Kenya
from
Cameroon
Côte
d'ivoire.
Thank
you
so
much
for
for
being
here
as
well,
and
if
there's
any
one
that
I
have
missed
again
I
offer.
My
apologies.
G
I
am
indeed
very
pleased
to
be
here
on
behalf
of
our
Premier
The
Honorable
Danielle
Smith
and
your
government
to
participate
in
this.
Seventh
and
all
black
history
ceremony,
it
is
wonderful
for
us,
as
a
people
that
have
gathered
in
this
hallowed
seat
of
our
democracy,
to
commemorate
the
history,
The
Heritage
Legacy
and
yes,
the
place
of
black,
our
buttons
in
This
Magnificent
province.
G
G
This
black
youths
are
already
making
us
proud.
They
are
supporting
efforts
to
uplift
the
status
of
our
black
brothers
and
sisters
who
have
come
to
Alberta,
who
now
call
this
province
their
home.
You
will
find
them
at
the
the
university
and
college
campuses
around
our
province.
You
will
find
them
studying
hard
for
their
degrees
or
apprenticeship
programs.
G
G
I
worked
for
Legal
Aid
Alberta
I
handled
legal
aid
files.
As
a
lawyer,
I
worked
in
the
public
service
and
I
worked
at
the
University
of
Alberta
Hospital
patient
Food
Services
in
2019
I
joined
active
politics
to
be
able
to
help
build
that
province
of
our
dreams
and
ensure
that
our
voices
are
effectively
heard.
G
Today,
nearly
100
and
30
000,
black
albertans
called
this
province
home
and
the
community
continues
to
grow.
While
we
continue
to
fight
racism
and
systemic
discrimination
and
the
work
to
improve
the
lives
of
black
people
in
this
province.
Let
me
assure
you
that
this
land
Remains
the
land
of
opportunity.
G
G
G
G
G
C
Well,
thank
you.
Mr
Speaker,
your
honor
Deputy
premier,
ministers,
mlas
I,
acknowledge
my
colleagues
who
join
me
here
today:
Emily
Lauren
Dak
from
Edmonton
McClung
Janice
Irwin
from
Edmonton
Highlands
Norwood
in
the
MLA
Rocky
pancholi
from
Edmonton
White
mud
recognize
many
many
Community
leaders
and
Elders
that
I
see
in
this
room.
Thank
you
for
being
here.
Thank
you
for
the
work
you
do
in
our
communities.
C
It
is
an
honor
to
be
here
today
on
the
traditional
territory
of
treaty.
Six
land
of
great
significance
to
the
metis
people
for
the
seventh
official
celebration
of
Black
History
Month
at
the
Alberta
legislature,
has
been
noted.
Our
theme
this
year
is
supporting
black
youth.
Now,
when
you
read
about
black
history
in
Alberta,
you
probably
might
note
that
when
we
share
stories
of
what
black
albertans
have
accomplished,
you
don't
hear
many
stories
about
youth,
I.
C
Suppose
that's
because
we
like
to
talk
about
great
lives,
great
things
accomplished
and
when
you're
young,
your
life
is
just
beginning.
It's
a
foundation
being
laid
for
you
to
someday
build
upon.
We
like
to
talk
about
ends
more
than
beginnings,
but
the
truth
is
great
lives
start
somewhere
when
John
Ware
was
young,
he
was
a
slave,
so
a
Serial
entrepreneur,
Annie
Auntie
Saunders,
some
of
the
earliest
black
settlers
in
Alberta,
Violet
King
Henry,
the
first
black
woman
in
Canada
to
become
a
lawyer,
her
brother
civil
rights
activist,
Ted
King.
C
They
came
here
in
pursuit
of
a
dream
of
a
better
life,
one
free
from
discrimination,
one
where
they
could
live
as
fully
equal
citizens
and
build
a
better
life,
a
better
future
for
their
children,
and
you
know
in
my
work
as
an
MLA
in
every
meeting
and
conversation
I've
had
with
leaders
and
members
of
pretty
much
every
African
or
Caribbean
community
that
calls
our
Province
home.
That's
been
a
common
theme.
C
C
That's
why
black
parents
work
to
get
ahead
many
working,
multiple
jobs,
that's
why
they
found
Community
associations
and
organizations
to
celebrate,
preserve
and
share
their
culture
in
Heritage
their
language,
their
history,
those
first
communities
here
in
Alberta,
Amber,
Valley,
Keystone,
others!
That's
why
they
built
churches
and
schools,
so
they
could
give
their
children
safe
communities
to
grow
in
the
opportunity
to
learn.
C
That's
why
Ted
King
went
to
court
to
fight
discrimination
in
hotels
and
got
the
laws
of
Alberta
changed
so
that
our
children
could
live
more
free
from
discrimination.
That's
why
Hattie
Melton
at
a
restaurant
here
in
Edmonton
hired
young,
black
women
and
men
to
work
there
to
help
them
earn
the
money
they
needed
to
afford
a
post-secondary
education
because
they
believed
in
supporting
black
youth
and
that's
a
spirit.
That's
continued
through
growing
numbers
of
newcomers
from
Caribbean
countries
and
the
nations
of
Africa.
C
C
This
year,
when
I
visited
with
the
many
black
francophone
students
at
a
Cole
de
la
decuber,
when
I
see
the
thousands
of
black
youth
that
were
amongst
the
fifteen
thousand,
who
came
here
to
this
legislature
in
2020
to
declare
that
our
lives
matter
when
I
see
law,
connectionel,
filling
venues
in
our
city
with
young
black
men
and
women,
black
performers,
and
so
so
much
black
Joy
want
to
see
the
Calgary
black
Chambers
stepping
up
with
mentorship
and
scholarship
programs
or
asex
Anza
program.
Empowering
black
youth
to
turn
their
ideas
into
functioning
business.
C
C
That's
where
so
many
of
you
are
doing
today
across
so
many
communities
standing
on
the
shoulders
of
your
elders
like
Mr,
Knoll,
honoring
them
and
taking
their
work
further
standing
up
and
speaking
out,
pushing
for
better
and
putting
your
shoulder
to
the
wheel
to
make
it
happen.
Thank
you
to
each
and
every
one
of
you
that
is
doing
that
work.
Those
of
you
who
have
joined
us
here
today,
those
watching
online
and
those
throughout
our
communities
in
Alberta.
B
And
today
is
one
of
those
great
days
and
I
I
want
to
extend
a
special
thank
you
to
minister
madu's
office
for
the
great
work
that
they've
done
to
putting
the
ceremony
together
and
also
Mr
Shepard's
office.
They've
been
very
influential
in
coming
together
to
work
to
to
have
this
ceremony
to
have
so
many
folks
from
the
community
come
together
and
I
think
I
think
they
are
deserved
of
our
thank
you.
D
D
D
D
D
B
F
I'm
going
to
start
by
saying,
you're,
a
very
tough
act
to
follow
Timothy,
so
I'm
gonna
do
my
best
good
afternoon.
Everyone
happy
Black,
History
Month,
it's
an
honor
to
be
here
and
I'd
like
to
say
thank
you
to
the
elected
officials
in
the
room
for
the
invitation
to
be
your
community
speaker.
It's
an
honor.
My
name
is
Sarah
adamako
Ansa,
my
pronouns.
Are
she
her
and
I
am
a
privileged
guest
on
treaty
six
territory
within
the
metis
homelands
and
the
metis
nation
of
Alberta
region
4..
F
F
Nationally,
the
theme
for
Black
History
Month
has
been
declared
as
hours
to
tell.
This
theme
represents
both
an
opportunity
to
engage
in
open
dialogue
and
a
commitment
to
learning
more
about
the
stories
in
Black
communities
in
Canada
as
a
black
Canadian
I
believe
we
must
talk
about
our
histories,
successes,
sacrifices
and
triumphs.
F
Additionally,
this
theme
lends
itself
so
beautifully
to
the
idea
of
Storytelling
and
youth
and
telling
your
own
story,
your
history
and
your
narrative
as
it
relates
to
you
this
afternoon,
I'd
like
to
take
a
few
moments
to
tell
you
some
of
my
own
stories
growing
up
in
Edmonton
in
the
90s
was
a
fun
time.
I
was
born
into
a
family
full
of
love,
I
have
four
siblings
Daniel
Samantha,
my
half-sister
Diana
and
my
twin
brother
David.
We
grew
up
as
a
unit
supporting
one
another
in
all
of
our
endeavors.
F
He
did
all
the
things
and
I
was
happy
to
hang
back
still.
We
hadn't
seen
any
teachers
that
looked
like
us,
but
we
had
each
other
to
go
to
for
advice
and
for
care
as
we
had
our
whole
lives.
One
of
the
conversations
we'd
had
was
surrounding
representation.
He
knew
that
I
wanted
to
be
a
teacher
and
I
knew
that
he
wanted
to
be
a
journalist.
Some
may
say
we
got
into
those
professions
because
we
like
to
hear
ourselves
talk
and
we
like
to
dress
fancy
but
contrary
to
popular
belief.
F
Mostly
it's
about
seeing
people
that
look
like
us
in
public
spheres
as
the
main
characters
and
not
as
second
act.
There's
a
lack
of
representation
in
our
school
system
and
oftentimes
people
will
study
in
a
field
that
Society
tells
them
is
appropriate
for
young
black
boys
that
might
be
in
athletics
or
stand-up
comedy
for
young
black
girls
that
might
be
entertainment
or
hairdressing.
What
about
the
young
black
children
that
want
to
be
Educators
themselves
or
newscasters
or
scientists?
F
This
conversation
is
one
that
David
and
I
had
when
we
were
in
high
school.
His
dream
was
to
be
a
news
anchor
because
he
rarely
saw
them.
I've
always
had
dreams
of
being
a
principal,
because
I
hadn't
seen
one
David
never
got
to
live
out
his
news
anchored
dream
he
interned
with
CTV
Edmonton
and
was
set
to
start
with
them,
but
sadly
he
passed
away
on
June,
10th
2013,
just
four
days
shy
of
our
24th
birthday.
F
It
was
then
that
my
determination
to
make
it
as
a
teacher
was
a
flame
that
was
burning
intensely
I
mentioned
all
of
this,
because
I
believe
that
my
leadership
skills
were
truly
honed
and
acquired.
After
my
brother
left,
this
Earth
I
had
to
learn
to
rely
on
my
own
thoughts
and
skills
and
not
to
hide
in
his
shadow.
I
had
to
learn
to
have
my
own
confidence
and
not
hide
behind
his
and
I
learned
what
it
means
to
be
resilient
and
how
to
speak
up
about
things.
F
For
some
of
them
there
was
an
elite
miss
out
of
Mac
oanza
hat
trick
club
that
only
a
few
students
got
the
privy
and
the
privilege
to
be
a
part
of
one
of
the
most
beautiful
parts
of
teaching
is
the
influence
I
got
to
have
in
my
own
classroom,
I
approached
the
curriculum
and
creative
in
current
ways
so
that
our
students
were
learning
what
they
needed
to
learn,
but
in
a
fun
and
modern
way.
If
I
think
back
to
teaching
grade
three
I.
Think
of
a
wonderful
smart,
beautiful
girl
whose
family
has
ancestry
from
Haiti.
F
F
When
I
brought
this
to
her
attention,
she
frowned
and
said,
but
I
want
to
look
like
them
and
gesture
to
a
girl
of
white,
a
table
of
white
girls
in
my
classroom,
because
I'm
stubborn
I
told
her
that
I
would
be
hanging
on
to
the
version
that
she
created
and
her
goal
was
to
make
me
a
new
one.
She
wasn't
happy
about
it,
but
she
complied
when
she
was
done.
I
asked
her
if
she
thought
that
I
should
make
one
that
looks
like
her
original.
She
told
me.
No
miss
a
yours
is
beautiful.
F
Your
hair
is
so
nice,
your
clothes
look
so
good
and
your
skin
looks
amazing.
I
asked
her
why
she
didn't
see
herself
that
way
too.
She
didn't
answer
my
question
but
asked
her
own.
When
you
hang
them
up.
Can
you
put
mine
beside
yours
for
the
rest
of
the
year?
Those
portraits
stayed
in
our
classroom.
On
the
last
day
of
grade,
3
I
gave
the
students
their
portraits
back,
not
expecting
them
to
be
saved
or
cherished
honestly,
I
just
needed.
A
clean
classroom.
F
I
had
the
privilege
of
teaching
this
girl
again
in
grade
six
and
on
her
first
day
of
school,
she
said
to
me:
Miss
adamaco,
do
you
remember
those
portraits
we
made
in
grade
three?
Of
course,
I,
replied,
yes,
but
also
said
we
won't
be
doing
that
again
grade
six
is
a
very
busy
year.
Her
response
is
something
that
I
will
cherish
forever.
F
She
said:
I
still
have
mine,
it's
on
my
wall,
with
affirmations
all
around
it
to
remind
myself
that
I'm,
beautiful
and
that
I
am
smart
and
that
I
am
capable
all
of
the
things
that
make
a
difference.
For
me,
this
is
why
representation
is
so
important
in
our
schools.
We
must
strive
to
allow
students
to
see
themselves
in
public
spheres,
so
they
can
be
inspired
to
go
above
and
beyond.
F
Now
the
same
year,
I
taught
that
girl
and
her
class
was
the
same
year
that
our
world
was
shook.
The
covid-19
pandemic
took
hold
of
humanity
and
shifted
our
view
of
normal.
All
schools
moved
to
a
virtual
classroom
delivery
in
that
particular
classroom.
I
had
31
6th
grade
students
in
the
same
breath,
George
Floyd
was
murdered.
It's
hard
enough
teaching,
31
6th
graders
in
person,
but
31
6th
graders
on
a
virtual
platform,
with
nothing
to
do
but
watch
YouTube
and
Tick,
Tock
and
Instagram.
F
It
was
rough
the
morning
that
the
morning
after
George
Floyd's
murder,
I
asked
my
students
in
attendance
question
as
I
had
every
day
for
my
entire
career,
this
day's
question
was:
does
pineapple
belong
on
pizza,
I
got
to
19
out
of
31
students
until
I
was
challenged,
a
boy
whose
family
has
ancestry
from
Eritrea
said?
Why
are
you
asking
us
this
stupid
question
when
someone
who
looks
like
my
dad
was
killed
last
night,
I
didn't
know
what
to
say
or
do,
but
tell
him
you're
right,
I,
don't
have
the
answers
right
now,
but
I
promise.
F
You
we'll
come
back
to
this
conversation,
because
it's
important
I
called
my
friend
Andrew
Parker,
a
teacher
at
Emmy
lizard
high
school,
with
ancestry
from
Jamaica
and
Grenada
and
told
him
my
plight.
He
responded
by
telling
me
that
he
had
the
exact
same
struggle
and
he
teaches
High.
School
I
realized
that
if
we
as
two
black
teachers
were
struggling
with
this
conversation,
then
our
non-black
colleagues
must
be
having
a
hell
of
a
time
doing
so
that's
when
the
Black
Teachers
Association
of
Alberta
was
born.
F
F
I
knew
we
were
on
the
right
path.
This
Association
is
completely
voluntary
and
one
of
the
greatest
accomplishments
of
my
life.
To
date,
it's
been
a
pillar
in
connecting
black
teachers
across
the
province.
Looking
for
other
black
teachers
to
relate
to
bounce
ideas,
off
of
vent
sometimes
have
conversations
and
connect.
The
BTA
is
a
family
with
people
from
everywhere
and
ancestry
from
everywhere.
This
is
where
supporting
our
students
starts
by
supporting
our
Educators
and
our
school
staff.
F
F
It
was
so
difficult
to
not
scream
from
the
rooftops
how
exciting
this
opportunity
was
for
me
and
to
be
honest,
it
still
is
a
year
and
a
half
in
the
job
has
afforded
me
so
many
learning
opportunities
and
the
ability
to
help
teachers,
not
just
here
in
Edmonton
but
nationally
in
my
role,
I've,
created
a
program
that
I've
titled
past
the
mic.
Let's
talk
about
racism,
it's
a
program
designed
for
teachers
to
be
able
to
speak
about
these
issues
of
anti-racism,
microaggressions,
intersectionality
and
allyship
with
Grace.
F
The
inspiration
for
the
program
is
storytelling
and
allowing
people
to
have
the
microphone
to
tell
their
own
stories.
I
had
the
opportunity
to
sit
down
with
three
amazing
Canadians
Don
Richardson
Wilson,
an
Olympic
athlete
in
the
sport
of
bobsled
from
Edmonton
gurdeep
Pander,
a
dancer
and
motivational
speaker
from
the
Yukon
and
Dimitri
nanakote
a
drag
queen
from
Montreal
Quebec.
My
goal
is
to
help
teachers
speak
about
all
of
these
things.
Microaggressions
bias,
intersectionality
racism
with
Grace
teachers
are
fearful
to
talk
about
these
Topics
in
a
curriculum
that
doesn't
reflect
these
topics
at
all.
F
It
was
important
to
me
to
find
a
place
for
students
to
learn
about
these
things
in
order
to
make
conscious
choices
about
how
to
be
anti-racist
and
Ally
to
their
peers,
who
are
racialized
or
victimized
based
on
gender
or
preference,
and
just
to
be
an
all-around
good
person.
I
look
forward
to
the
launch
of
this
project
in
the
coming
days,
so
what
work
needs
to
be
done
as
edmontonians
we've
come
a
long
way
in
focusing
on
black
Joy
black
excellence
and
black
happiness,
but
we
still
have
a
long
way
to
go.
F
Our
students
need
to
feel
supported
in
all
of
their
Endeavors.
If
we're
talking
about
supporting
our
youth,
it
goes
beyond
what
they're
doing.
In
our
classrooms,
they
need
to
feel
as
though
they
have
the
support
of
their
Educators
law
enforcement,
elected
officials
and
others
in
public
spheres
to
put
an
end
to
discriminatory.
Acts
students
want
to
feel
like
the
learning
that
they
do
in
the
classroom
reflects
them
and
not
Genghis
Khan.
They
want
to
see
main
characters
that
look
like
them
on
bookshelves
in
their
classrooms
and
school
hallways.
F
They
want
to
learn
about
black
musicians
and
black
artists.
They
want
job
opportunities
and
black
owned
businesses
and
the
ability
to
learn
from
their
Elders
about
their
own
history,
their
language
and
their
traditions.
Students
and
youth
can't
do
that
alone.
It's
up
to
us
in
this
room
and
Beyond
to
advocate
for
the
children
we
interact
with
and
see
each
and
every
day
to
let
them
know
that
we
see
them,
we
hear
them
and
we
will
support
them
as
best
we
can.
F
There
are
many
Grassroots
organizations
and
black
owned
businesses
to
support
in
the
city,
not
just
in
February
but
all
year
round.
Your
continued
support
to
this
to
the
success
of
racialized
entrepreneurs
will
help
the
city
flourish
and,
in
turn,
will
help
our
future
generation
of
children
be
a
part
of
the
Legacy
that
black
Canadians
hold
when
black
stories
are
manipulated
and
told
for
them
black
Futures
don't
stand
a
chance.
F
Whoever
tells
the
story
controls
the
narrative
I
challenge
all
of
you
in
this
room
to
take
a
moment
to
listen
to
the
story
of
someone
who
doesn't
look
like
you,
you
may
learn
something
this
month
and
every
month.
Let
us
be
courageous
and
proud
of
our
youth
and
encourage
them
to
tell
their
stories
and
shape
our
futures.
Thank
you.
B
B
H
I
can't
even
begin
to
tell
you
how
many
times
I've
been
asked
how
in
the
world
are
you
so
excellent?
They
may
not
have
always
used
those
exact
words.
Sometimes
it's
so
amazing,
so
talented
other
times,
it's
just
the
greatest,
but
you're
picking
up,
what's
being
said,
excellence,
a
common
Trope
that
elopes
from
the
witness
to
the
flow
of
what
many
May
Define.
As
my
blackness,
you
see
what
they're
referring
to
is
black
excellence.
H
What's
natural
to
me
often
comes
natural
to
us
and
which
average
to
me
is
for
them
sometimes
something
far
far
above
and
no,
we
are
not
in
little
ponds
as
big
fish.
We
are
Big
Fish,
Point
Blank
period
like
the
whales
of
the
sea,
graceful
and
resilient
simplistic,
yet
brilliant,
a
testament
to
the
existence
of
ancient
wisdom
carried
through
the
Divine
intelligence
of
DNA
and
genetics.
We
are
born
excellent.
H
H
H
H
H
How
strong
is
your
faith
and
knowing
that
you
are
a
child
of
the
Divine
How
Deeply?
Do
you
know
that
your
courage
can
surpass
any
sort
of
fear
or
that
your
laughter
brings
joy
to
even
the
darkest
of
nights?
My
young
black
boy,
just
the
thought
of
you,
makes
me
smile
I.
Want
you
to
know
that
I
am
proud
of
you,
especially
when
you
cry
that
your
strength
is
not
in
the
denial
of
your
pain.
You
do
not
need
to
be
superhuman
to
be
loved.
Just
the
same
to
be
human
is
enough.
H
H
H
Your
energy
lingers
on
my
soul.
Your
presence
reminds
me
what
it
is
to
be
human
to
be
whole
to
feel
the
woes.
The
triumphs,
the
Sorrows,
the
Heavenly
calls
for
Your
Excellence,
sorry
I
mean
our
excellence
is
not
rooted
in
our
Blackness,
but
in
our
Humanity
we
are
human
as
human
as
human
can
be
Now.
Isn't
that
an
excellent
thing?
B
Thank
you
so
much
Charlie
Queen
XO,
it's
just
an
incredible
reflection
for
us
all
and
thank
you
for
your
ongoing
work
and
the
way
that
you
impact
both
young
men
and
women
of
our
community
I
want
to
extend
my
sincere
thank
you
to
each
and
every
one
of
our
guests
for
joining
us
here
today.
To
share
your
stories.
B
There
are
many
activities
all
over
the
province
taking
place
to
celebrate.
Black
History,
Month
I
would
encourage
you
to
participate
them
in
them.
If
you
can,
for
those
of
you
who
are
able,
please
support
a
locally
owned
black
business
or
find
ways
to
reach
out
to
a
community
member
that
you
don't
know
and
learn
just
one
thing
about
their
story,
because
all
too
often
we
share
so
much
in
common,
but
we
yet
we
reach
out
to
find
out
what
those
common
things
are
and,
as
I
mentioned
earlier,
we
often
have
one
common
goal.
B
Many
ways
to
accomplish
that,
but
I
firmly
believe
that,
together
those
goals
of
being
better
of
being
together
of
reducing
barriers
and
breaking
down
walls,
that
together,
we
can
accomplish
those
things
and
our
Province,
our
country
and
our
world
will
be
better
for
it.
May
God
bless
you
and
may
God
bless
Alberta.