A grassroots movement to preserve historically Black communities through collective land ownership is gaining momentum across Nova Scotia, with several new community land trusts emerging to address housing affordability challenges.
Historic Communities Take Control of Their Future
In Halifax’s north end, community organizer Treno Morton has established the New Roots Community Land Trust, representing approximately 30 members from the Uniacke Square and Mulgrave Park neighborhoods. The initiative aims to give Black residents more influence over development decisions in their historic communities.
‘Stats are everything these days,’ explains Morton, who launched the trust in 2024. ‘We need to present stronger cases to municipal and provincial governments when asking them to give Black residents more power in decisions made about development in their communities.’
Preserving Cultural Heritage Through Land Ownership
In Truro, community activist Lynn Jones has been working to protect an area known as ‘The Marsh’ – once a thriving Black community. Jones has systematically purchased land from relatives to prevent external development that might erase the neighborhood’s cultural significance.
‘I was not selling to developers for them to reap the benefits of a traditional African Nova Scotian community and there be nothing left for the community,’ Jones explains, highlighting the importance of maintaining cultural connections through land ownership.
Addressing Historical Land Title Issues
In Upper Hammonds Plains, a community located 25 kilometers northwest of Halifax, residents have struggled with precarious land titles for over 200 years. Curtis Whiley, a sixth-generation African Nova Scotian, has created the area’s first Black-led Community Land Trust to address these challenges.
The initiative helps residents who have been unable to access government funding for home repairs due to unclear property titles – a common issue in historically Black communities where land ownership documentation has been inconsistent or lost over generations.
Looking Forward
These community land trusts represent a growing movement to preserve African Nova Scotian heritage while addressing contemporary housing challenges. By combining collective ownership with community control, these initiatives offer a promising model for maintaining affordable housing while protecting cultural legacy for future generations.
The trusts are already showing success in bringing together multiple generations of residents to participate in community planning and development decisions, ensuring that historical Black neighborhoods can thrive while maintaining their distinctive character and cultural significance.
