Promise Land Project and Symposium

This summer I'll have the opportunity to join the Promise Land Project as a research assistant under the direction of Dr Nina Reid Maroney of Huron College. The project I'm part of is a five-year $997,784 Community University Research Alliance (CURA) grant from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for work on the significance of black history in the Promised Land communities. It is a collaborative venture involving both universities and the community.

As a wonderful orientation to the project, I was invited to attend the Promise Land Symposium which took place on March 13 to the 15th 2009, at St Clair College in Chatham Ontario. During this event I was able to meet the project team which includes both national and international researchers and supporters. I had the opportunity to meet and listen to lectures from Dr. Boulou Ebanda de B’béri from the University of Ottawa, Marie Carter of the Dresden Community, and Devin Andrews project coordinator among many other talented and dedicated team members.

This event was an opportunity for those involved in the project and the public to share their research and thoughts on the anti slavery movement of South-western Ontario in the Nineteenth Century as well as contemporary issues of cultural identity.

For my contribution over the summer, I will be completing the database of African American Canadian land settlement in South Western Ontario, work which began last year. Once this is complete I will transfer this data to a geo mapping program. The idea behind this project, is that links and connections will show themselves if they are presented visually and spatially though mapping.

If anyone is interested in learning more about the abolitionist movement in South-western Ontario I have put a display together at Huron College. It is located in the basement of the Administration wing across from the Huron Diocese Archives. And will be there to view until next month.