HISTORY & CURRICULUM
In order to address the gaps in education regarding BC’s African Descent history, as well as race and discrimination, our Society submitted a proposal for a course to be taught as part of BC’s curriculum.
We are proud to say that the Vancouver School Board, in a unanimous vote on November 30, 2020, approved our proposal and will be offering a Grade 11/12 course – African Descent History in British Columbia 12 for the 2021-2022 school year. The course was developed in a partnership with ADSBC’s Dr. Larry Davis, educator; Yasin Kiraga Misago, Executive Director, and; Vancouver School Board District Resource Teacher Raman Gill.
"This course will highlight the missing pages of Black history in BC. It will mainly focus on the Black pioneers in the province, beginning with Sir James Douglas and the migration of hundreds of African American families to BC in 1858. It will explore many of those families’ eventual journeys to other parts of the country, focusing on significant historical experiences and the valuable contributions of Black Canadians. It also presents an overview of the transatlantic slave trade when Africans were first brought to Canada in the 17th and 18th centuries. Emphasis will be placed on the complexity and richness of the contemporary Black community in BC.”
We have put together a comprehensive resource and bibliography page in order to supplement learning and will be adding more online exhibitions as our research continues.
History Program
The African Descent History Education program offers students, teachers and community members a wide range of opportunities to explores arts, culture and the general history of people of African Descent in British Columbia since 1858, Vancouver 1859 and that of Canada since 1608. It also explores current immigration and refugees in Africa or African Caribbean to British Columbia and Canada.
The program also helps students and teachers’ understanding of the General History of Africa and the International decade for people of African Descent in Canada. This program aims to support and promote education through an awareness campaign and education, African Heritage Month and African Descent History School Curriculum in BC Schools. The purpose of this program is to create educational study guides and resource materials for teachers, students and the community for studying about history for people of African Descent in Vancouver, BC and Canada.
This will be used as independent history course on the study of history for people of African Descent life as well as a fully independent unit for African Descent history. It could provide valuable perspectives for students and teachers for the African Descent History. It could provide valuable local perspectives for the community and teachers at large as relevant materials for the understanding of anti-racism, multiculturalism and inter-cultural understanding. This can also be valuable for study and understanding of the UNESCO General History of Africa and UN International Decade for people of African Descent.
Curriculum
African Descent Society BC worked with several schools, teachers, students and school boards across BC and other organisations in different parts of British Columbia to promote African Heritage Month and African Descent History in Vancouver British Columbia and other parts of BC through working with community organisations, schools and students through activities and forums promoting African Descent History.
- In a class discussion, ask students to think about African Americans who have made significant contributions to society. Ask them to think about how these people shaped American culture.
- Tell students that they will research a famous African American and create a poster that explains this person’s contribution(s) to society.
- Students may select one of the subjects from the subject list or they may select a person they are interested in learning more about. Be sure to approve all subjects that the students select on their own.
- Pass out copies of the research outline. Remind students to take careful notes as they research their subject.
- Provide time for students to access the Student Resources in Context and Biography in Context databases to complete their research. Students may also use these resources to select images of their subjects for their posters.
- Once students have completed their research outlines, ask them to write a draft of the information they will include on their posters. This information should be limited to one to two paragraphs and should clearly indicate the contribution(s) their subject has made to society.
- Ask students to peer edit each other’s drafts before creating their posters.
- Have students create their posters. Along with the text, students may also include pictures of their subject or additional visual aids.
- Arrange for students’ posters to be displayed around the school during Black History Month.
- Discuss people of African Descents who have made significant contributions to society with the rest of the class. Think about an African American who interests you or who you would like to learn more about.
- Take a look at the subject list provided by your teacher. Select a subject from this list to research. If you would like to research someone who does not appear on the list, ask your teacher for permission before starting your research.
- Access the Student Resources in Context and Biography in Context databases to locate information on your subject. You will use this information to create a poster that will be displayed around the school during Black History Month.
- Use the outline provided by your teacher to help guide your research.
- When your research is complete, write a draft of the information you will include on your poster. This information should be about one to two paragraphs in length and should clearly indicate the contributions your subject has made to society.
- Once your draft is complete, meet with other students to peer edit your drafts.
- When your draft is edited, create your poster. Your poster may include images of your subject or other visual aids.
- Display your poster around the school so other students can understand the contribution(s) your subject has made to society.
