The Nova Scotians

The Nova Scotians is the story of over 1000 formally enslaved African Americans who escaped during the American Revolution, ended up in Canada, then continued their journey to Africa, and whose descendants are still scattered throughout the diaspora.

In the first episode of this three-part series, “A Journey to Freedom”, Africans who had been enslaved in America join the British army amid promises of freedom and land after the American Revolution is over.A group of 3000 — now called Black Loyalists — are sent to Nova Scotia to settle there.But after not receiving the land they were promised, a group of almost 1200 decide to petition the British government to go somewhere else.An opportunity with an abolitionist company sees them board 15 ships, and cross many bodies of water to get to Sierra Leone.Host/Producer: Mykella Van Cooten

In the second episode of this three-part series, “From Canada to Sierra Leone”, a group of almost 1200 Black Loyalists take an opportunity to board 15 ships, and cross many bodies of water to get to Sierra Leone.They arrive and settle a British colony there. But soon, just like the Americans, they become dissatisfied with being ruled by the British, and seek independence.Host/Producer: Mykella Van Cooten 

In the last episode of this three-part series, “The Legacy and the Legend”, the original group of almost 1200 —  now called the Nova Scotians — have been in Sierra Leone for over 200 years.They’ve become part of a larger cultural group whose influence has impacted Sierra Leone forever, and is still felt all over the world, through descendants in the diaspora.Host/Producer: Mykella Van Cooten