Cooking up culinary pride

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This article was published 01/02/2024 (793 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg is getting ready to kick off its 43rd annual Black History Month Celebration with the theme Strength Behind Us, Greatness Ahead of Us.

Black History Manitoba gets things underway tomorrow as it takes over the Manitoba Museum for First Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m. with entertainment, music, community vendors and food.

A host of events is planned for the month, including a movie night at the Afro Caribbean Association of Manitoba on Feb. 10, BHM History Lesson and Family Day at the Jamaican Cultural Centre on Feb. 19, and a cooking demonstration on by chef Rob Thomas on Feb. 22.

There will also be special BHM Night on Feb. 20 when the Winnipeg Jets play the Minnesota Wild at Canada Life Centre, with entertainment and a special menu devised by Thomas available at the concessions.

“Celebrating Black History Month is an intentional act and it is necessary in order for our stories to be heard, and by sharing more about who we are and what we have, it allows others to form an organic connectivity with others around them,” says Rhonda Thompson, treasurer of Black History Manitoba.

“As we bring all those stories together, we truly build a tapestry that is beautiful because each of our own words and backstory is included in the main-frame makeup.”

For Thomas, cooking is a way to stay connected to his roots. The chef will be preparing a number of dishes during his cooking session.

“I have been out in the Caribbean since December and have had some influence from this part of the world,” says Thomas, who is currently working in Turks and Caicos.

“One of the dishes I definitely want to do is macaroni pie; it is a Caribbean staple and is very different from the mac and cheese we all know and love.”

For Thomas, Black History Month is a chance to uphold and uplift voices of the Black community in the province

“Winnipeg is a small city; oftentimes when I meet people abroad, they automatically assume that I am from Toronto, but it’s important that make our presence known, to hold on to some pride of what it means to be a Black person living here,” he says.

“I am so glad to be able to support Black History Month and to talk about my culture. It’s a great platform and I am really thankful to be able to do this.”

For a full list of events taking place across the month visit bhmwinnipeg.com.

av.kitching@winnipegfreepress.com