Standing On Their Shoulders

Standing on Their Shoulders is an initiative to highlight, preserve, and pass on the Black, English-Speaking history of Montreal’s Little Burgundy district. Little Burgundy, in the South-West of Montreal, was the first home of the Black community in the city, which centred itself there in the late 1800s.

Standing on Their Shoulders has passed on this history through workshops, walking tours, discussion groups, and through the creation of 20 short films by Black youth. These youth used their talents and their commitment to Black heritage to create 20 outstanding short films. Each short film focuses on a different aspect of Little Burgundy’s Black history, and is told through one youth or one group’s unique perspective. Using dance, illustration, spoken word, journalism, painting, and more, these youth have a body of work which will bring Little Burgundy’s history to future generations, and which celebrates the great people on whose shoulders we stand.

Thanks to our sponsors and partners

This project has been funded by the Government of Canada. We also acknowledge that without our great partners, this project couldn’t be possible. A special thanks to our partners in Little Burgundy; Youth In Motion, Desta Black Youth Network, Tyndale St. Georges Community Centres. We also acknowledge the Black History Month Round Table, Concordia University’s Centre for Ethnographic Research and Exhibition in the Aftermath of Violence, Aspire Canadian Cultural Alliance & Foundation, and the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network.