Collective Memory, Nation-building and Shared Identities

Building Memory & Shaping National & International Identities by reclaiming “history” Notions of shared history (“facts”) as shared identities Notions of shared history (“facts”) as shared identities Recall Recall film about Head Tax film about Head Tax Shared identities and lineages (Zerubavel) Shared identities and lineages (Zerubavel)

Other ways of thinking about historical connections

Human Descent Models Monogenist Monogenist Polygenist Polygenist

A Case Study : African Heritage, Nova Scotia Communities and the Cultural Future

Historical context (recent) Destruction of Africville in the 1970s Video clip from Remember Africville– before (settlement) & after (small park with monument) destruction of the community Video clip from Remember Africville– before (settlement) & after (small park with monument) destruction of the community

Government Policy & Public Administration Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs

Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage as Sites of Memory Heritage preservation BEYOND PHYSICAL “things” Heritage preservation BEYOND PHYSICAL “things” Continuing uses & meanings – ideas for contemporary ways of “performing” culture & historic practices Continuing uses & meanings – ideas for contemporary ways of “performing” culture & historic practices Communicating values & techniques (skills) Communicating values & techniques (skills) Youth Sailing Workshop In connection with “Amistad” sailing

Example: Re-recreation of “Amistad” voyage (but in the other direction)

Changes in Grade School Curriculum

Collective Memory as Cultural Mediation Not just about rethinking ‘representations’ Not just about rethinking ‘representations’ Not a chain of information flowing unchanged from one point to another Not a chain of information flowing unchanged from one point to another production, mediation, reception production, mediation, reception Tangible & intangible heritage as sites of cultural memory Tangible & intangible heritage as sites of cultural memory

New Perspectives in Theories of Cultural Mediation Core notions: Core notions: active agency, appropriation (make it your own) active agency, appropriation (make it your own) lived experience & grounded practice lived experience & grounded practice Networks of collaboration, different perspectives Networks of collaboration, different perspectives Material & symbolic dimensions— Material & symbolic dimensions— cultural heritage implications (material culture important too) cultural heritage implications (material culture important too)

Case Study: Black Loyalist Heritage Preservation in Nova Scotia, Canada Black Loyalist Heritage Preservation in Nova Scotia, Canada

Part 1: Black Loyalist History 1770s– conflict in British Colonies in the New World-- War of Independence (American Revolution) 1770s– conflict in British Colonies in the New World-- War of Independence (American Revolution) Loyalists (Tories) vs. Rebels (Patriots, Sons of Liberty) Loyalists (Tories) vs. Rebels (Patriots, Sons of Liberty) s/

British Promises British policy (1775-Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation: freedom for slaves owned by rebels who fought for British British policy (1775-Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation: freedom for slaves owned by rebels who fought for British Philipsburg Proclamation, 1779) : Philipsburg Proclamation, 1779) : encourage slaves owned by rebels to flee encourage slaves owned by rebels to flee Why? economic warfare, service to armed forces Why? economic warfare, service to armed forces Promise of freedom Promise of freedom

Roles of Black Loyalists Many military units as musicians, guides Many military units as musicians, guides Army & navy Army & navy Black Regiments: The Black Pioneers, the Guides, the Jersey Shore volunteers, the King’s American Dragoons etc. Black Regiments: The Black Pioneers, the Guides, the Jersey Shore volunteers, the King’s American Dragoons etc.

Certificates of Freedom 1783-Treaty of Paris stipulated British evacuate without “carrying away any Negroes or other Property of the American Inhabitants” 1783-Treaty of Paris stipulated British evacuate without “carrying away any Negroes or other Property of the American Inhabitants” C. of F: Certified that holder was free at time of Treay of Paris C. of F: Certified that holder was free at time of Treay of Paris Log of Black Loyalists planning to leave : Carleton’s Book of Negroes Log of Black Loyalists planning to leave : Carleton’s Book of Negroes

Black Loyalists British left the U.S. with Loyalists—about 3,500 came to Nova Scotia & New Brunswick British left the U.S. with Loyalists—about 3,500 came to Nova Scotia & New Brunswick

Birchtown, Nova Scotia 1783 Probably largest community of free North Americans of African ancestry on continent Probably largest community of free North Americans of African ancestry on continent

Harsh Conditions

Struggles & Race Riot late summer and fall arrivals late summer and fall arrivals Little experience with cold climate (48 BL African born) Little experience with cold climate (48 BL African born) Rocky land, little topsoil, dense woods Rocky land, little topsoil, dense woods Lack of supplies Lack of supplies Black Loyalist land grants delayed Black Loyalist land grants delayed Race riot Race riot

Continued Hardships, Emigration Bad weather, crop failures, severe winters Bad weather, crop failures, severe winters Sierra Leone Company offered free passage to Africa to 1200 Black Loyalists Nova Scotia Sierra Leone Company offered free passage to Africa to 1200 Black Loyalists Nova Scotia

Migration Routes

Other Important Settlement Sites of Nova Scotians of African Heritage

Part 2: Birchtown Today Birchtown Today Harbour and Church Harbour and Church

Birchtown today

Mysterious Mounds Material culture & memory Material culture & memory Purpose? Purpose? Symbolism ? Symbolism ? Then (?) Then (?) Now Now

Mounds

Importance of Archaeological Records of African American History Few written records by ancestors Few written records by ancestors Few material artefacts (poverty) Few material artefacts (poverty) Links to lost connections to origins (example: waistbeads at African Burial Ground– NYC) Links to lost connections to origins (example: waistbeads at African Burial Ground– NYC)

Community Action 1990—Nova Scotia province plans to build a landfill site (dump) on site of the mounds 1990—Nova Scotia province plans to build a landfill site (dump) on site of the mounds Shelburne County Cultural Awareness Society established to preserve Black Loyalist Heritage (Now Black Loyalist Heritage Society) Shelburne County Cultural Awareness Society established to preserve Black Loyalist Heritage (Now Black Loyalist Heritage Society)

Archaeological Digs To authenticate claims for development of Black Loyalist heritage preservation site and document history To authenticate claims for development of Black Loyalist heritage preservation site and document history

Digs

SCCAS (Black Loyalist Heritage Society) Initiative

Sign for Monument

First Monument

Community Leadership Founding member of SCCAS Elizabeth Cromwell Founding member of SCCAS Elizabeth Cromwell Other prominent community members who are Black Loyalist descendents: high school principal, church leaders etc. Other prominent community members who are Black Loyalist descendents: high school principal, church leaders etc.

Participation of Nova Scotia Museum Museum Exhibition Museum Exhibition

Exhibition Curated by Carmelita Robertson Curated by Carmelita Robertson NS Museum of Natural History NS Museum of Natural History Travelling exhibit Travelling exhibit Now in Birchtown Museum Now in Birchtown Museum

material heritage projects: material heritage projects: Commemorative Sites Commemorative Sites Museum Museum Walking trail & boardwalk Walking trail & boardwalk Offices Offices Centre Centre

Other Projects Heritage Education Program (curriculum & extra- curricular) Heritage Education Program (curriculum & extra- curricular) Achievement prizes Achievement prizes Youth skills initiative Youth skills initiative Community centre project Community centre project Black Loyalist Registry Black Loyalist Registry Forms & brochures at meeting Forms & brochures at meeting Research (continuing archaeological digs) Research (continuing archaeological digs)

Connections to International Networks

Black cultural centre (Dartmouth)

Wall honouring African-descended RCMP

Meeting with Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs

But in Arson Attacks

Biography & Collective Memory: The Charleston Connection NS museum Researchers discovery: NS museum Researchers discovery: Ancestors of one slaves of the ancestors of the other in Charleston, S.C. Ancestors of one slaves of the ancestors of the other in Charleston, S.C. Film Loyalities (Canadian Broadcasting Corp., 1998) –screening today -- about Film Loyalities (Canadian Broadcasting Corp., 1998) –screening today -- about their trip to Charleston to visit the plantation where their ancestors lived their trip to Charleston to visit the plantation where their ancestors lived their experiences of the legacy of slavery their experiences of the legacy of slavery

Concluding Remarks: Memory as Mediation biography & collective memory in contemporary cultural practice biography & collective memory in contemporary cultural practice Example of actor-network theory of “mediation practices” Example of actor-network theory of “mediation practices” Community leadership BUT also Community leadership BUT also Multi-faceted, ‘cross-disciplinary ’ networks of collaboration: Multi-faceted, ‘cross-disciplinary ’ networks of collaboration: different kinds of people with different backgrounds training expertise &motivations (architaects, archaeologists, historians, community organizers, filmmakers….) different kinds of people with different backgrounds training expertise &motivations (architaects, archaeologists, historians, community organizers, filmmakers….) Interaction part of meaning-making process Interaction part of meaning-making process

Cultural Preservation as Mediation Cultural heritage preservation NOT just about preservation of objects/material remains Cultural heritage preservation NOT just about preservation of objects/material remains Complex interplay of material and symbolic-- past, present and future– but material culture important Complex interplay of material and symbolic-- past, present and future– but material culture important Collective memory not simply the reconstruction of something that previously existed Collective memory not simply the reconstruction of something that previously existed Preservation efforts vital to contemporary cultural practices— New collective understandings of culture -- enhance lived experience now & build cultural future Preservation efforts vital to contemporary cultural practices— New collective understandings of culture -- enhance lived experience now & build cultural future

Image Credits Black Loyalist Heritage Society Black Loyalist Heritage Society Nova Scotia Museums Nova Scotia Museums Some photos shot by Marontate Some photos shot by Marontate