A new exhibit is honouring African Nova Scotians who helped shape the province’s marine industry. The exhibit is called “We and the Sea,” and can be found inside the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic in the heart of Lunenburg, N.S. “People of African descent have been living and working in and around Nova Scotian waters for over 400 years, but far too often their stories have been left out or haven’t been as highlighted to quite the extent that they deserve,” says Adrian Morrison, the museum’s collections curator. “This exhibit is part of a larger partnership aimed at elevating those stories and beginning to correct some of the inequities but also provide a more accurate and true understanding of Nova Scotia’s marine industry and maritime heritage,” he says. The exhibit features illustrations of fishers, sailors and shipbuilders. “What we’ve tried to do is highlight individuals from many different walks of life,” says Morrison. “You will see illustrations of early settlers…women who live within coastal communities, men and boys that worked at sea, women and girls that worked in fish processing facilities and naval heroes.” The project was created in partnership with The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown, N.S., and the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia in Cherry Brook. The travelling exhibit will make its way around the province. “I hope (people) take away the fact that this was the livelihood and this was the spirit of the community, of the Black community at one time,” says Andrea Davis, executive director of the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre. The exhibit will be on display in Lunenburg until October, before heading to the Black Cultural Centre. “The comments that we receive from our visitors and from community partners and from beyond, really to me just sort of highlight just how much interest there was in these subjects and just how overdue this exhibit is,” says Morrison. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
