The Loyalist Connections Podcast

In this episode of the Loyalist Connections podcast, hosts Itai Kuwodza and Graham Nickerson discuss the significant influence and contributions of Black Women, particularly African Nova Scotian Women, in instigating social change with special guest Dr. Rachel Zellers, a professor in Social Justice and Community Studies, the discussion covers topics such as the maternal influence in activism, the impact of Afrocentric learning, the...

In this episode of the Loyalist Connections Podcast, Laurice Downey and special host Graham Nickerson discuss Capacity Building from an Urban Perspective with special guests Rodney Small and Andre Anderson. This episode explores social entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship in the filmmaking industry, highlighting opportunities and experiences.

Rodney shares his deep connections to African Nova Scotian Communities and how his backg...

We're starting where it all began!

In this episode our hosts and their special guest Graham Nickerson discuss some of the key cultural traditions, practices and connections between the Black Loyalists that settled in Birchtown and Shelburne.

These communities were made of Black people across the region who represented different cultural, religious, and linguistic backgrounds that they transported on to their new homes. Our guest sp...

In this episode of the Loyalist Connections podcast, Laurice Downey and special guest hosts Graham Nickerson introduce a discussion on cultural preservation, food sovereignty, and Afrocentric learning with special guests Wendie Wilson.

Wendie shares her background as an artist, writer, educator, and advocate for BIPOC educators. The conversation covers African Nova Scotian culture, traditional foods, the significance of storytellin...

In episode of the Loyalist Connections Podcast, Laurice Downey and special guest host Graham Nickerson, discuss the deeply rooted history of Activism and Advocacy within the African Nova Scotian community featuring special guests Dr. Isaac Saney and Irvine Carvery.

The episode sheds light on their personal connections to community activism, discussing key figures such as Rocky Jones and organizations like the Black United Front.

Th...

In this episode of the Loyalist Connections Podcast, Sean Smith and special guest host Itai Kuwodza, discuss Capacity Building from a Rural Perspective, featuring special guests Andrea Davis and Shekara Grant.

Topics include the importance of understanding one's history, identity, community engagement, storytelling, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

This episode highlights their personal experiences, community initiatives,...

In this episode of the Loyalist Connections Podcast, Laurice Downey and Shawn Smith explore the history of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, focusing on resilience, cultural preservation, and the impact of storytelling.

Featuring key insights from special guests Douglas Rock and Chuck Smith, discussing their personal narratives, the struggle against institutional racism, and the significant contributions of the African Nova Scotian...

Season 3 of the Loyalist Connections Podcast kicks-off with a focus on the Cultural Preservation and Capacity Building Forum we held in February. In this trailer Laurice and Shawn discuss the two-day event that brought together students, educators, and community members together to explore Black and African Nova Scotian Cultural Preservation and Community Capacity Building.

Highlights include the involvement of historians, the inte...

Vanessa Fells, a distinguished community voice, guides us through the multifaceted layers of systemic racism, from its roots in the transatlantic slave trade to its present-day manifestations.  Shawn and Laurice, join Vanessa in a journey that uncovers uncomfortable truths and powerful stories that resonate deeply within the Black community. 

Dive into a profound exploration of anti-Black racism in Nova Scotia in our latest episode...

Experience the essence of the Loyalist Connections in this heartwarming episode where community, ancestry, and connection come alive. Join Shawn and Laurice along with guests Beatrice and Bernice, as they weave an intricate tapestry of stories that define the spirit of Black communities. 

In this episode, we delve into how storytelling is not just a pastime but a lifeline in these communities, serving as a vessel for preserving cul...

In this captivating episode, we venture beyond the surface of connections to explore the rich African Nova Scotian history in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia. Join Shawn and Laurice, and our special guest Juanita Peters, as they illuminate the stories woven into this small yet significant community. 

Weymouth Falls is not just a place of picturesque landscapes and fertile farmland; it's a symbol of the rural Canadian experience, where ...

Join our hosts Shawn and Laurice as they welcome Curtis Whiley, who guides us through the life and soul of Upper Hammonds Plains. This episode is not just a history lesson; it's a celebration of the struggles and triumphs of African Nova Scotian residents and communities in securing their land rights, protecting their heritage, and creating a vibrant, unified community. 

Discover the local history of the Whiley Box Factory, the fir...

Join us as we explore the contrasting realities of Greenville, Nova Scotia, through the eyes of Troy Lawrence.

This episode highlights the lived experience of moving to a predominantly white community, unraveling the layers of both subconscious and conscious racial segregation. Troy explains how subconscious segregation manifests as an automatic, often unnoticed division along racial lines, while conscious segregation is a more ove...

In this episode, our hosts Shawn and Laurice, alongside historian Graham Nickerson, continue their journey and uncover the often-overlooked history of Saint John, New Brunswick and deep ties to the Black Loyalist migration.   

From skilled tradespeople to labourers and entrepreneurs, their work fuelled the growth of Saint John's economy, leaving an indelible mark on its history. This episode aims to shift the historical lens, bring...

North Preston is one of the oldest and largest Indigenous Black populations whose residents are the ancestors of Black Loyalists (1783), The Jamaican Maroons (1796) and the Black Refugees from the War of 1812 who all settled in Atlantic British North America at different times. The conversation with Nevell Provo weaves the legacy of the regions past to the present as we discuss a better projection of the community’s future. With Ne...

Join us and our special guest Bruce Johnson who is a current resident of Yarmouth, one of the 300 African Nova Scotians residing in the County. Bruce and our hosts dive into the historic racial environment of Yarmouth where the status of Black people started as slaves, who arrived in 1760 with the New England Planters. The status of Black people in the region further shifted with the introduction of Black Loyalists. They discuss th...

Come learn about Whitney Pier with us and our special guest Bradley Sheppard. Whitney Pier was the home to several black Caribbean immigrants who came to Cape Breton in search of work for the Dominion Iron and Steel Company. This episode starts important conversations about the transportation and then planting of Black bodies to perform as surrogates in the building of communities. Additionally, if you are a fan of the late great B...