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Honouring the
Story


The lectionary reading from Isaiah this week reminds the reader of the importance of remembering the story of your community. We are all a people of a story. Stories remind us of our identity, and recount for us the joys and challenges of our relationships with one another.

Since 1995, Canada joined other countries around the world in recognizing February as Black History Month. This is an opportunity for us to learn part of our Canadian story many of us know very little about. It is an invitation to honour the legacy of Black people in Canada, and their continued contributions to our Canadian story. This year’s theme is: Black
Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build.


Each year I take it upon myself to learn a new story. This year I stumbled upon the story of the village of Breton. Allan and I pass by Breton every time we go to our family cottage, so I was quite interested in learning this story. Breton, formerly known as Keystone, was established in 1909 by Black American settlers mostly from Oklahoma, seeking refuge from the discriminatory laws and racial hostility in the United States. They responded to the Canadian government’s offer of free land for homesteading. About 1,000 brave Black American families took on the challenge of clearing land for farming in an
unfamiliar, harsh climate. Sadly, they also had to deal with discrimination here in central Alberta. It was not an easy endeavor in the least. Today there are only a few descendants from the original families still living in the Breton area.

I encourage you to take a moment or two this month to learn something new about Black history in Canada. Let’s honour and remember not only their history, but also how their story continues to shape Canadian history: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build.

Peace and joy,
Nancy