|
Region of Waterloo History Museum Campaign
Did you know that Waterloo Region is rich in 200 years of local Black history?
DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS AREA:
- was part of the northern end of the Underground Railroad?
- was home to 2000 Black settlers in the 1840s?
- benefited from Blacks who helped set it up for the economic prosperity it enjoys today?
BE A PART OF HISTORY
WE NEED YOUR STORIES
You can help the Region of Waterloo History Museum adequately represent our local Black history. Topics which will be covered in the museum include: immigration, military service, high school experiences, discrimination and work life. If you have an interesting story about yourself, a relative, or someone who has lived or worked in Waterloo Region, please complete the Region of Waterloo History Museum Exhibit Information Form on our website and return it to us. Or email atinbank@hotmail.com or call 519-622-6444 for a copy of the form.
WE NEED YOUR ARTIFACTS
An artifact is an object that tells about a people's history. Whether you or your family moved to this region 100 years, 50 years or even 5 years ago, you probably have an object that others would love to learn about. That object could be your original plane ticket to Canada , a diary chronicling your migration to Canada , your old school or work uniform, photos of family and friends, an invention you made, or a brochure from an event you attended. Donate these objects to the museum so others can learn about the vibrant Black community we have in this region. To learn more, email atinbank@hotmail.com or call 519-622-6444. Where we are now:
We had our first dialogue with the museum on Wednesday, May 20, 2009. Unfortunately, at that meeting, the museum representatives did not have any more information than they presented at the April 4, meeting. We only had vague details about how Black history would be included. The Core Committee recognizes that if the exhibit is to be truly reflective of this region's Black presence, the dialogue must get more specific if the museum is to be ready for the spring 2011 opening. The Core Committee is committed to a sincere dialogue with the museum and will continue to direct public attention to the need for the genuine representation of the Region's Black history in the permanent exhibit.
We need your stories and artifacts so we can include them in the museum. You can contribute by sharing with us stories about yourself, a relative, or someone who has lived or worked in Waterloo Region. We are also looking for artifacts that show this area's Black history. An artifact is an object that tells about a people's history (i.e.: photos, clothing and tools). We would like to display those artifacts in the museum.
A Brief Background
A s residents of Waterloo Region, we have much to delight in and to be proud of. One recent initiative that we can especially be proud of has been our swift and effective mobilization to ensure the inclusion of local Black history in the Region of Waterloo History Museum's permanent exhibit. Offi cials were persuaded not to make local Black history part of the temporary exhibits but instead to include it in the museum's permanent display. The initial decision seemed to be the result of a general lack of knowledge about the historical presence of Black residents in the area. We have been able to educate the decision makers and in the process garnered the support of the public. The increased understanding of the importance of the contribution of settlers of African heritage caused the initial decision to be reversed.
Black history in Waterloo Region dates back to the 1830s. Then, a group of freeborn American Blacks settled on Crook's Tract in presentday Woolwich Township . By the mid-1840s, 2000 fugitive and free-born Blacks resided in the Queen's Bush Settlement which comprised part of today's Waterloo Region. They were escaping the tyranny of slavery in the U.S. It is known that in parts of Waterloo Region, Black settlement predates White settlement. The inability of the Black settlers to buy land and to work as equal counterparts to their White neighbours contributed to the uprooting of that Black population.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Check out these books at the library:
Linda Brown-Kubisch's “The Queen's Bush Settlement: Black Pioneers 1839-1865”;
Benjamin Drew's “The Refugee: Narratives of Fugitive Slaves in Canada ”; or
Angela E.M. File's “African Hope Renewed: Along the Grand River.”
- Join the Waterloo Historical Society to conduct research on local
Black history.
- Visit the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation learn how you can preserve local Black history here.
____________________________________________________
By Atunike Bankole on behalf of the committee for the Inclusion of the Local Black history in the Permanent Exhibits of the Region of Waterloo History Museum
______________________________________________________________________
Check back here to keep up-to-date with the campaign to include Black history in the Region of Waterloo History Museum.
Exhibition Information Gathering Form
Upcoming Events
Museum Campaign Postcard
Timeline of Local Black History
Recommended Reading
Concept drawing of Museum lobby
See museum's Ground Floor Plan
Visit the Region of Waterloo's site for more details on the museum plans.
Media:
Museum petitioned to mark local black history March 09, 2009
Put Black history in new museum March 25, 2009
Seeking history's secrets: Archeologist joins search for artifacts from Black settlers March 30, 2009
Region's black history to be reflected in new museum: Community leaders encouraged that contributions won't be forgotten April 4, 2009
|
