Black Like Me film festival showcases BIPOC excellence in outdoor recreation

A B.C. groupcommitted to crushing stereotypes about race and outdoor recreation has now launched a film festival coinciding with Black History Month that aims to dojust that.

Colour the Trail, founded by Vancouver residentJudith Kasiamain 2017, is an organization with a mission to inspire Black, Indigenous and people of colour to get out and enjoy nature.

Starting Feb. 8, the group is hostingBlack Like Me Outdoor Edition on itswebsite. The festival lineup is aseries of eight full-length films that showcase Black people excelling at outdoor activities.

"There is no criteria about who can go for a hike," said Kasiama, speaking Wednesday on CBC's The Early Edition.

Kasiam said the media has often portrayed Black people as inactiveand that this misperception contributes to "constant weird stares at ski resorts."

In extremecases, she said,Black people may fearfor their safety in remote outdoor places where help would behard to come by if a hostile interaction occurred.

"We have to begin to have conversations about diversity and equity when it comes to the outdoors," said Kasiama.

She said she thinks marketing decisions over the years neglectedto include Black peoplein thenarrative about who adventures outside, but now, social media is giving the BIPOC community an opportunity to tell their stories.

And startingMonday,films that tell those stories will be available all month online.

A virtual panel discussion will also be held on Colour the Trail's website on Feb. 26.

• Tap here to listen to the complete interview withJudith Kasiama on The Early Edition.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.