Based on the diary of Reginald Beatty, Li’l Shadd tells a fictionalized account of the true story of the connection between Dr. Alfred Shadd - one of the first African-Canadian pioneers - and the First Nations community. Dr. Shadd’s character demonstrates the value of Ujima, a Swahili word meaning 'shared work and responsibility', which is an important value in African philosophy and one of the cornerstones of the celebration of Kwanzaa.