African Heritage Month

Every year, Canadians are invited to participate in African Heritage Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of African-Canadians, past and present. Canadians take this time to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Canadians with African heritage who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation we know today. It is also an opportunity for all of us to learn about the wide range of African-Canadian experiences, including dealing with racism, and the vital role this community has played throughout our shared history.

The 2026 theme for African Heritage Month is “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.”

Read Canadian Heritage’s Announcement HERE.

More on this year’s theme is available HERE.

Learn More

Black History Month becomes

African Heritage Month

African Heritage Month in Saskatchewan

In Saskatchewan, Black history is part of Canadian history, world history, and should be recognized year-round. February is a time when many communities pause to honour that history and uplift stories that are often overlooked.

African Heritage Month, observed each February, is a dedicated time to celebrate the heritage, cultures, histories, and contributions from people of African descent.

Why the Name Change in Saskatchewan?

The name African Heritage Month in Saskatchewan reflects a change initiated by members of the African-descent community to better centre heritage, culture, and identity in the month’s celebration. It moves away from the previous title, African Canadian Black History Month, to language that reflects the month’s purpose and spirit.

This community-led change affirms:

  • The importance of celebrating African heritage and cultural contributions
  • Recognition that Black history is part of Canadian history all year long
  • A distinction between ongoing historical recognition and a specific time for celebration and affirmation

What’s Happening in Canada and Beyond

At the national level, Canada continues to officially recognize Black History Month in February, with an annual theme designated by the Government of Canada.

Across the country, provinces and communities celebrate this time in ways that reflect local history and identity. In Nova Scotia, for example, February has been recognized as African Heritage Month since 1996, when the province renamed its Black History Month celebration.

African Heritage Month in Saskatchewan connects to this broader tradition of celebration, recognition, and community affirmation and provides space for education, reflection, and celebration of the richness of African heritage in our province.

2026 Events

January 31, 2026 – SACHM – Launch of African Heritage Month // Event Details HERE.

February 7, 2026 – Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan – BPES Music Show // Event Details HERE.

February 7, 2026 – Blackcellence Network – Black History Month Fireside Chat // Event Poster HERE. Event Registration HERE. 

February 11 to Februray 13, 2026 – Truly Alive – 3rd Annual Saskatchewan Afrocentric Symposium // Event Details HERE.

February 18, 2026 – University of Regina Faculty of Education – Mobilizing Equity Initiatives Beyond Checklists and Performative Acts // Event Details HERE.

February 20, 2026 – Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan – BPES Fashion Show // Event Details HERE.

2026 Events  Continued

February 24, 2026 – The People Bridge Advocacy – Cultural Café returns with a special episode commemorating African Heritage Month // Event Details HERE.

February 26, 2026 – Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission – A Conversation with Leander K. Lane // Event Registration HERE.

February 27, 2026 – SACHM – Wrap up of African Heritage Month hosted by Lieutenant Governor // Event Details HERE.

February 27, 2026 – Southwest Saskatchewan Immigration Partnership – SSIP – Black Thirstory: Honouring 30 Years of Black History & the Thirst for Social Justice // Event Registration HERE.

February 28, 2026 – SACHM – African Heritage Month Kids’ Conference // Event Details HERE. 

February 28, 2026 – Fédération des Francophones – Concert Live Avec Djely Tapa À Saskatoon // Event Details HERE.

Saskatchewan’s Rich African-Canadian History

Saskatchewan is experiencing high levels of immigration.

We welcomed 11,823 permanent residents, 10,891 temporary residents and 110 refugee claimants in 2014. Nigeria is among the top ten source countries for immigrants and six of the top ten source countries for refugees are in Africa.

The First Nations and Métis populations have increased from 92,400 in 2001 to 157,740 in 2011. These trends are expected to continue in the future.

African Heritage Month events are an opportunity to focus on ways all people contribute to our cultural, social, political and economic life. It is also important to foster connections with other ethnic groups in ways that recognize and celebrate differences, while building a cohesive shared Canadian society.

African Heritage Month is an excellent opportunity to remember the negative impacts of racism in the past and present, so that we may move forward with respect and equity.

As a result of further research, collecting and documenting information, the heritage and contribution of people of African descent in Saskatchewan over the last 100 plus years, is now available.

There is more research being done.

Each year, we make bilingual fact sheets, developed by the Saskatchewan African-Canadian Heritage Museum (SACHM), on the history of people with African heritage in Saskatchewan available to all schools in the province, and others who are interested. The purpose is to educate and inform others of the unknown history and experiences of some of the original African-Canadian settlers and newer immigrants.

This resource and the planned school visits will increase awareness in all students, pride in students of African ancestry and foster citizenship based on making our communities welcoming for all people.

With recent increases in immigration, the population of francophone Africans has increased dramatically. La Communauté des Africains Francophones (CAFS) works to build community, meet the needs of newcomers and share the rich culture and history during African-Canadian Black History Month and throughout the year.

The African-Canadian Resource Network (ACRN) is another relatively new organization to support the full integration of people of African-descent in Saskatchewan. ACRN is an action-oriented, resource organization dedicated to supporting the capacity development of the African-Canadian Community in Saskatchewan in strategic areas such as public and business leadership.

Members work toward the vision of “A united African-Canadian Community that adds value to the social, economic, political and cultural well-being of Saskatchewan”.

Learn more at ACRNsask.ca

Did You Know?

Explore some of the important milestones achieved and challenges faced by the first African-Canadian immigrants to join us in our province.

  • 1896

     

    Dr. Alfred Shadd

    Dr. Shadd was the first known Black resident of this province, moving from Ontario in 1896. He was a teacher, doctor, pharmacist, publisher and politician in the Melfort area.

  • 1910

     

    Immigration Begins

    2010 was the 100th Anniversary of the first migration of African American immigrants to Saskatchewan from Oklahoma. Shiloh Church stands near Maidstone as a testament to this community.

  • 1911

     

    Black Immigrants Banned

    Order-in-Council P.C. 1324 was approved on 12 August 1911 by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. The purpose of the order was to ban Black persons from entering Canada for a period of one year because, it read, “the Negro race…is deemed unsuitable to the climate and requirements of Canada.”

  • 1948

     

    Indian Head Rockets

    The Indian Head Rockets were an all Black baseball team that played to full crowds 1948-1955, at a time when African-Americans were banned from US major leagues.

Resources

Government of Canada – Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada Website

This website contains in-depth information about Black History Month including games, quizzes, posters, featured biographies, etc.

www.canada.ca/black-history-month

Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum Inc. (SACHM)

SACHM’s website has a virtual museum that features biographies and photos of Saskatchewan individuals and families with African heritage.

They also created fact sheets that document a hundred years of black history in Saskatchewan.

www.sachm.org

Fact Sheets:

  1. The LaFayette Family
  2. Dr. Alfred Schmitz Shadd
  3. Oklahoma Pioneers and the Shiloh Baptist Church
  4. Historic Timeline
  5. Bibliography for Local Information
  6. Baseball Heroes

Download combined PDF file: Black History Month Fact Sheets by SACHM (pdf)

Read more on SACHM’s Website about the ‘Honouring Tree’ installed in Regina’s Wascana Park here. The ‘Honouring Tree’ “Is a symbol of life, legacy and diversity; through which we remember and honour our past, our heritage and contributions and; the good and not so good times”.

La Communauté des Africains Francophones de Saskatchewan Inc. (CAFS)

This web site contains activities and photos from previous years.

www.cafs-sask.org

Black on Prairies

Black in Saskatchewan 

Anti-Black Racism, Sexism and Systemic Discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Commission

Celebrating Black Leaders

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