When you explore local history, you want to hear the authentic voices of the people who lived it. When poet Thandiwe McCarthy started planning a project on Black New Brunswick history, he knew he needed a strong team. He gathered his closest friends and family to tell a story that North America must hear.

Over the past three years, this dedicated group visited 15 Black New Brunswick families with deep generational roots. They documented and shared these vital stories through a project called Still Here. As reported by CBC News, you will find their work showcased in an exhibition, a book, a presentation, and a festival.

Building the Core Team

Thandiwe built a small but highly effective team to bring his vision to life. He brought on his mother, Mary McCarthy, to act as the historian and community liaison. Mary holds a PhD in education and an honorary doctorate from St. Thomas University for her social justice work.

Mary interviewed the families and found people willing to walk this journey with the team. She encouraged her community to tell their own stories because outsiders often hijack or steal them.

“And I’ve tried in my life to raise my head high and say we are valuable people,” Mary said. “We are descendants from the transatlantic slave trade. Our ancestors were enslaved. And that DNA is still in us. And I want that sense of pride and the benefit of those genes to tell the world that we are still here, we are flourishing, and raise our heads high.”

Capturing Authentic Moments

Photography plays an essential role in the Still Here project. Thandiwe reached out to his friend and photographer Gary Weekes to capture the families.

Weekes decided against formal photo shoots. He photographed the families in their homes to preserve their actual everyday lives. Working on this project helped Weekes connect deeply with the identity of Canadian Blackness.

“I’m sort of a bit of an oddity in New Brunswick because I’m Black, I’m Caribbean and I’m English or British by birth,” Weekes said. “And the Canadian Blackness was something that I really didn’t see, because one of the things that we talk about is that the families have married into different races, and that’s a part of the Canadian experience and it’s part of the New Brunswick experience.”

Weekes noted the project gave him a truer sense of his identity in Canada.

Keeping the Project on Track

The fourth member of the team is Jeannie Rediker. She serves as the administrative and financial manager. Rediker kept the group organized throughout the three years of production.

Thandiwe credits the hard work of every individual on the team for the project’s success. He now considers them all part of his own family.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Still Here project?

Still Here is a historical project that documents the stories and legacies of Black New Brunswick families. The project includes an exhibition, a book, a presentation, and a festival.

Who created the Still Here project?

Poet Thandiwe McCarthy created the project alongside historian Mary McCarthy, photographer Gary Weekes, and administrative manager Jeannie Rediker.

How many families are featured in the project?

The team visited and documented the stories of 15 Black New Brunswick families with deep generational roots in the province.