Black History Month celebrations in Yellowknife will centre on food, community and learning, with events planned throughout February and into early March.
The NWT’s Black advocacy coalition, BACupNorth, kicks off its February events with a community welcome dinner at the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre this Saturday. The evening will feature African and Caribbean dishes, followed by a financial literacy workshop led by a guest expert from Ottawa.
BACupNorth project manager Gilbert Langsi said the workshop responds directly to concerns raised within the Black community, particularly around the relationship between finances and mental well-being in the North.
On February 14, the non-profit will organize a baking workshop at École St Patrick High School focused on teaching youth practical skills such as baking, cake decorating and preparing snacks they can make at home.
While a date isn’t confirmed yet, Langsi said BACupNorth is planning a movie night in collaboration with Collège Nordique Francophone at its downtown campus.
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That will be followed by BACupNorth’s annual gala, which takes place on March 7 at Chateau Nova.
“This is going to bring together people from various walks of life,” he told Cabin Radio. The night will also feature Jully Black, a Jamaican-Canadian singer and songwriter who will come up from Toronto with a team of 13 people “to give us a full display, a full show, a full performance.”
Langsi said tickets for the show are in high demand. He encouraged anyone planning to attend to grab theirs as soon as possible.
Kenshi Goulie-Buddoo, who also hosted last year, is set to be the MC for the gala. She promises an event that’s “loud, layered, and alive,” reflecting the energy and celebration of Black culture in the North.
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The 2025 gala drew around 200 attendees. Goulie-Buddoo expects that number to rise to 300 this year.
While Black History Month is commemorated in the month of February, Goulie-Buddoo said she is Black “yesterday, today and tomorrow.”
“We want these seats filled. Last year, we had an awesome night. It runs from 5pm to 2am. When I MC an event, it’s not scripted, it’s not passive – it’s very active. So if you’re coming to the event, you’re coming to participate. It’s quite the night to remember,” she said.
“We know Jully Black, we know her voice, we know her power, we know her impact … It’s good to be amongst that and be a part of that and witness that. When it comes to Black history, we didn’t survive to sit quietly.
“I am really looking forward to just, to celebrate us. That room will hold space for people of the motherland.”
Correction: February 4, 2026 – 15:04 MT. An earlier version of this story referred to Gilbert Langsi as the president of BACupNorth. He is actually the project manager.
