"I'm 8th generation Islander (PEI). What are you?"
Anne Maxwell (Nee Ryan), was born July 20, 1954 in Charlottetown, Price Edward Island. Anne talked with us about the history of Black people in PEI and how she can trace her lineage back to two former slaves, David and Keisha Sheppard, who came with the Empire Loyalists. Anne recalls going to her grandmother's house which was on the boundary of the "Bog" which was a Black settlement started in the early 1800's.
Ann was often met with the all too familiar questions, "But where are you from?" And then "But where are your parents from?" And then, "But where are your grandparents from?" that often comes because many don't know that Black people have been in Canada since 1706.
Four of Ann's ancestors, the Mills brothers, played on the West End Rangers as part of the Maritime Coloured Hockey league. In early 2020, Canada Post issued a stamp honouring the Coloured Hockey League.
LINK TO BLACK LOYALISTS
LINK TO THE BOG
LINKS TO COLOURED HOCKEY LEAGUE
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