The Road to Shiloh: The Untold Story of the First Black American Community on the Saskatchewan Prairies

From Jim Crow to the Last Best West

In 1910, twelve African American families from Oklahoma journeyed north to claim the promise of a better life in the Canadian West. Among them was Julius Caesar Lane, a former enslaved man whose legacy, and that of his family, is intertwined with the history of Saskatchewan’s first Black community. The settlement, anchored by Shiloh Baptist Church now a designated Provincial Heritage Property —near Maidstone, became a symbol of resilience, faith, and determination in the face of racial barriers.

In this deeply personal and meticulously researched account, Leander K. Lane—descendant of Julius Caesar Lane—traces his ancestors’ steps through the tumultuous aftermath of slavery in the United States to Canada, documenting the challenges and successes they experienced in their new home.

Drawing from oral histories, historical texts, and never-before-consulted archival documents, Lane vividly brings to life the untold story of the Shiloh community, from their origins in the American South to their enduring impact in Western Canada. This compelling narrative is both a heartfelt family memoir and a vital piece of Canadian history, shedding light on the rich heritage of Black prairie homesteaders and the indomitable spirit of the Shiloh People.

1146907129
The Road to Shiloh: The Untold Story of the First Black American Community on the Saskatchewan Prairies

From Jim Crow to the Last Best West

In 1910, twelve African American families from Oklahoma journeyed north to claim the promise of a better life in the Canadian West. Among them was Julius Caesar Lane, a former enslaved man whose legacy, and that of his family, is intertwined with the history of Saskatchewan’s first Black community. The settlement, anchored by Shiloh Baptist Church now a designated Provincial Heritage Property —near Maidstone, became a symbol of resilience, faith, and determination in the face of racial barriers.

In this deeply personal and meticulously researched account, Leander K. Lane—descendant of Julius Caesar Lane—traces his ancestors’ steps through the tumultuous aftermath of slavery in the United States to Canada, documenting the challenges and successes they experienced in their new home.

Drawing from oral histories, historical texts, and never-before-consulted archival documents, Lane vividly brings to life the untold story of the Shiloh community, from their origins in the American South to their enduring impact in Western Canada. This compelling narrative is both a heartfelt family memoir and a vital piece of Canadian history, shedding light on the rich heritage of Black prairie homesteaders and the indomitable spirit of the Shiloh People.

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The Road to Shiloh: The Untold Story of the First Black American Community on the Saskatchewan Prairies

The Road to Shiloh: The Untold Story of the First Black American Community on the Saskatchewan Prairies

by Leander K. Lane
The Road to Shiloh: The Untold Story of the First Black American Community on the Saskatchewan Prairies

The Road to Shiloh: The Untold Story of the First Black American Community on the Saskatchewan Prairies

by Leander K. Lane

eBook

$31.99 

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Overview

From Jim Crow to the Last Best West

In 1910, twelve African American families from Oklahoma journeyed north to claim the promise of a better life in the Canadian West. Among them was Julius Caesar Lane, a former enslaved man whose legacy, and that of his family, is intertwined with the history of Saskatchewan’s first Black community. The settlement, anchored by Shiloh Baptist Church now a designated Provincial Heritage Property —near Maidstone, became a symbol of resilience, faith, and determination in the face of racial barriers.

In this deeply personal and meticulously researched account, Leander K. Lane—descendant of Julius Caesar Lane—traces his ancestors’ steps through the tumultuous aftermath of slavery in the United States to Canada, documenting the challenges and successes they experienced in their new home.

Drawing from oral histories, historical texts, and never-before-consulted archival documents, Lane vividly brings to life the untold story of the Shiloh community, from their origins in the American South to their enduring impact in Western Canada. This compelling narrative is both a heartfelt family memoir and a vital piece of Canadian history, shedding light on the rich heritage of Black prairie homesteaders and the indomitable spirit of the Shiloh People.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781550599411
Publisher: Brush Education
Publication date: 06/09/2025
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 368
File size: 22 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Leander K. Lane is a retired heavy-duty mechanic and a leading expert in the history of the Shiloh People. He is a founding member of the Shiloh Baptist Church and Cemetery Restoration Society and has served as president since its inception in 2001. His other writing has been featured in Our Canada and Prairies North magazines and the anthology Our Gift of History, Our Stories: Saskatchewan 1905–2005. Leander lives in Edmonton, Alberta, where he was born and raised.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Acknowledgements
Preliminary Notes on the Text
Maps
Introduction
PART I: THE UNITED STATES
1. Discovering My Roots
2. Missouri’s Little Dixie
3. Freedmen in Indian Country
4. The Creek Nation, Indian Territory: The Beginnings of the Original Twelve
PART II: CANADA
5. Saskatchewan: The New Promised Land
6. Negroes Not Wanted: Racism at the Canadian Border
7. Homesteading Between the Rivers: The First Years of the Shiloh People
8. Shiloh Baptist Church and the Church of God
9. Doctors, Illness, and Death on the Prairies
10. Midwives and Birth on the Prairies
11. Creating Eldon School District No. 3613: Racism and the Fight for a Fair Education
12. Leander “Monk” Lane and the Eldon School Board
13. The Shiloh People, 1918 to 1959: Eldon School, Social Life, and the End of an Era
14. Homecoming ’71 and the Restoration of Shiloh Baptist Church
Appendix A: Documenting the Shiloh Baptist Cemetery with the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society
Appendix B: Restoring Shiloh Baptist Church, 2003 to 2007
Notes
Comments on Source Materials
References
Index of Names
Index of Places
About the Author
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