DARTMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH

SUSAN LEBLANC: Mr. Speaker, last week I had the privilege to attend the African Heritage Month celebration at Dartmouth High School, organized by staff and students in association with the African Nova Scotian Music Association, it was a program full of music, dance, and was infused with a spirit of the community.

The celebration began with a traditional libation ceremony led by Ms. Monard and Ms. Winship. There were musical performances by the incredible Zamani Bernard-Millar and Owen Lee, spoken word poetry, and a visiting dance company from Halifax West High School.

In her remarks, guest speaker Delvina Bernard offered the students a little bit of African Nova Scotian history and heritage and reminded everyone in attendance that we need to shift our way of learning about history away from a Eurocentric lens so that all stories and histories get told and all peoples have a chance to connect to their past and present.

Dartmouth High is a great school that celebrates its diverse student population and it is truly an honour to be MLA for so many of its awesome students.