Iqaluit holds first ever Black History Month celebration

Even 10 years ago, you'd be hard pressed to find a handful of black people in Nunavut's capital, but this weekend, about 100 Iqaluit residents of all backgrounds turned out for the city's first Black History Month celebration on Sunday.

"We have to celebrate who we are," said Thola Ruskike, who was one of the organizers.  

When she arrived in Nunavut two years ago, there was no Black History Month celebration so she decided to change that.

Bhekinkanyiso Khumalo, who works in IT, was born in Zimbabwe but said he feels right at home in the North.

"The culture of the Inuit people is very similar to the southern Africans," he said. "That's been something very fascinating to me."

Organizers said the event was a smashing success and they're looking forward to next year's edition.

The City of Iqaluit, like the rest of Canada, is becoming increasingly diverse, including immigrants from many corners of the globe, from the former Soviet republics to Eritrea in the horn of Africa.