There aren’t a lot of dedicated spaces for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in Nova Scotia. One community group wanted to change that.

They decided to create a cottage retreat for BIPOC in Birchtown, Nova Scotia, a site of significant Black history. It would be owned and run by the community, a place where they could rest, relax and have access to nature. They raised money through donations and memberships. 

But now some of the organizers of Buy Black Birchtown are speaking out, saying they were promised a safe space for the community - but instead were betrayed. 

Clarification: Shekara Grant became involved with Buy Black Birchtown via the Change is Brewing Collective in early 2021, not in 2020 as some listeners may have concluded.

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Cherise Seucharan (Reporter), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor & Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)

Further reading:

• Black professional women are exhausted. They’re finally claiming the time to rest. The Washington Post, August 2021
• Who were the Black Loyalists?, Black Loyalist Heritage Centre
• Reported hate crimes jumped across Nova Scotia in 2020, most involving race, CBC News, March 2022

Additional music by Audio Network

Sponsors: Douglas, Freshbooks

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