I met Debbie Beaver during our across Canada trip during the summer of 2022 when Debbie, her cousin Myrna, and her brother Paul took us to visit their family's original homesteads and to other Black Historical sites. I am so pleased that her story is episode 5 of Season 3 of the I Am Black History podcast brought to you by InTheBlack:Canada (ITBC) and DeeP Visions Media. Debbiewas born in Barrhead (120 Km NW of Edmonton) Alberta in 1952 and raised on a farm along with her 5 siblings. Debbie's great-grandparents on both sides came to Canada in the early 20th century because of the racial persecution they faced in the southern US. In 2005, along with other descendants of Black settlers - Myrna Wisdom, Alison Crawford, and Alene Holland, Debbie co-founded theBlack Settlers of Alberta and Saskatchewan Historical Society. Debbie worksat the University of Alberta’s Department of Psychologyas a financial assistant.
