Dr. [Alvin Curling], master of ceremonies, opened the celebration with "Still I Rise," a poem by Maya Angelou. The Canadian national anthem was sung by Tiffany Gooch followed by the singing of 'Lift Every Voice" by Jemini Campbell. Premier Kathleen Wynne said [Herb Carnegie]'s impact on the community was profound. She spoke of Alexander. Ontario's former lieutenant governor, who lived in his home for 48 years in Hamilton before passing away in 2012. She said the deed for the house read 'no Blacks or Jews shall live here'.
Traditional Maroon culture was, however, determined to be in need of safeguarding and protection because of several factors. Chief among these was the fact that transmission of traditional knowledge from elders to younger generations was not taking place on the scale it was used to and the fact that migration patterns saw large numbers of Maroon youth leaving the traditional sites of settlements. In response, UNESCO was petitioned to assist in safeguarding traditional Maroon culture in Jamaica, in particular, that of the Maroons of Moore Town, who were deemed to be the most remote. In November 2003, UNESCO declared the Maroon Heritage of Moore Town as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This action facilitated the implementation of measures geared toward documenting, for posterity, traditional Maroon cuisine, language, the Kromanti play and the craftsmanship associated with the creation of tools and implements such as their unique Prentin drum, fishpots, spears and the abeng.
