How do you tackle Canadian Black History in a fun, engaging and age-appropriate way? Black History Matters is a Presentation House Theatre program that uses the arts to impact unintended bias in K-7 students by homing in on three core competencies: communication, critical thinking, and personal and social development.

Created by a theatre artist, Black History Matters is a fully researched and resourced program that works with students to create a truthful awareness of Black Canadians that is needed in our schools on an ongoing basis by using the arts to inspire and educate. Evoking the Sankofa bird and its meaning we look to the past to inform our future.

Students are asked to question, comment, and connect with the material that is presented and see how it interconnects with the world around them.  This approach, delivered by experienced Black artist educators, provides a firm foundation of understanding BC’s true history, which is critical to anti-racist knowledge. The emphasis on creative-based education creates positive associations for years to come.  This program and approach fit in perfectly with PHT’s value of using creative expression to build bridges between cultural groups.

Questions? Call us at 604-990-3473 or email Giselle Clarke-Trenaman at tech@phtheatre.org

Multimedia: Content is delivered via a variety of mediums to maximize engagement and learning. Students will be exposed to music, visual images, oral stories and video. 

Interactive: We know that learning is best when there is two-way participation between audience and presenter. The content is structured to encourage students to ask questions and in turn presenters ask students big picture and wondering questions throughout.

Presenters: Our presenters are seasoned deliverers of the Black History Matters content and are deeply versed in inter-cultural, racial and colonial subjects. They are also Black Canadians, spanning cultural heritages from around the globe, including Senegal, Barbados and America lending not only representation but authenticity to the program. Presenters have also been trained in public speaking, group processes and children’s pedagogy. 

Material: The main focus is on Black Canadians and the excellence that they bring to Canada and the world.  Those who are featured change each year allowing teachers and students exposure to Black Canadian Excellence.

The Sankofa symbolizes the Akan people’s quest for knowledge with the implication that the quest is based on critical examination, and intelligent and patient investigation.

The symbol is based on a mythical bird with its feet firmly planted forward with its head turned backwards. Thus, the Akan believe the past serves as a guide for planning the future. To the Akan, it is this wisdom in learning from the past which ensures a strong future. The Akans believe that there must be movement and new learning as time passes. As this forward march proceeds, the knowledge of the past must never be forgotten.

The Akan are a tribe from Ghana in Africa.

Black History Matters is approved and supported by the BC Black History Awareness Society.