Challenge Question
How can we recognize and celebrate the linguistic heritages of Black communities in Toronto?
Partner: Canadian Language Museum
Project Summary
There has been little research done on the languages that Black Canadians speak and have spoken in this country since early colonization. Archives Canada states that "The first recorded Black person to arrive in Canada was an African named Mathieu da Costa, who arrived in 1608 to serve as interpreter There has been little research done on the languages that Black Canadians speak and have spoken in Canada since early colonization. Archives Canada states that "The first recorded Black person to arrive in Canada was an African named Mathieu da Costa, who arrived in 1608 to serve as interpreter of the Mi'kmaq language to the governor of Acadia." Da Costa apparently also spoke Dutch, English, and Portuguese, among other languages. Over the centuries since then, there have been many changes in the home countries for Black immigrants and in the languages that they speak. Statistics Canada claims that, according to the 2016 census, Black immigrants have come from over 170 different places, with the Caribbean/Bermuda and Africa accounting for about 46% each and that that "more than 200 ethnic or cultural origins were reported by the Black population in Canada." This research project aims to raise awareness of the rich linguistic contributions to Canadian culture that Black Canadians have made and continue to make. The research team working on this project will devise strategies to mobilize the linguistic heritages of Afro-Diasporic peoples in Canada for a multicultural audience through curatorial exhibits space and online platforms. The team will collaborate to narrow down an area of focus (e.g. languages of Black communities in the GTA today), develop a reading list in collaboration with the project mentor, and decide how they want to collect and present their findings. Possible presentation formats may include an exhibit, a booklet, or a website, so knowledge in technology, design, and/or marketing will be helpful. Research teams might be composed of individuals with an interest or specialization in anthropology and cultural studies, linguistics, literature, Black studies and history, and should bring their curiosity, an interest in languages, in tandem with strong organizational and research skills.
Want to learn more? Click here!Sustainable Development Goals
Partner Video
Organizational Profile
The Canadian Language Museum promotes an appreciation of Canada's rich linguistic heritage: over 60 Indigenous languages, the two official languages of English and French, and the hundreds of languages spoken by more recent immigrants. The Museum has an exhibit space on Glendon College Campus where we host exhibits and special programs, and we reach Canadians across the country through our travelling exhibits, which have been shown from Victoria to St. John's. Our exhibits include: “Canadian English, Eh?,” “Le français au Canada,” “Cree: The People's Language,” “Speaking the Inuit Way,” “Beyond Words: Dictionaries and Indigenous Languages,” “A Tapestry of Voices: Celebrating Canada's Languages,” and “Read Between the Signs: 150 Years of Language in Toronto.” We are currently completing the exhibit “Sign Languages of Canada.”
Partner Website
Learn more about the kind of work the project partner does by browsing their website.
Additional Resources
Key Words
- Languages
- Afro-Diasporic History
- Canadian History
- Museum Curation