Restoring the Graves of Black Settlers and Freedom Seekers | The Agenda скачать в хорошем качестве

Restoring the Graves of Black Settlers and Freedom Seekers | The Agenda

Restoring the graves of Black settlers and freedom seekers is an essential part of preserving history. History is written in textbooks, displayed in museums, passed down in family stories. But it's also buried and marked with headstones if you know where to look. In St. Catharines, historian Rochelle Bush and her team are leading efforts to uncover and restore these sacred sites. Their work at Victoria Lawn Cemetery is part of a broader initiative to protect historic Black burial grounds across Ontario, many of which have been neglected for decades. Bush, co-lead of the Salem Chapel Underground Railroad Cemetery Project, joins Jeyan Jeganathan to discuss these ongoing efforts. Across communities like Niagara-on-the-Lake and Canfield, just south of Hamilton, historians are actively working to repair burial grounds and ensure that the contributions of Black settlers and freedom seekers are properly recognized. Reverend Anthony Burns, a former enslaved man who escaped to Canada, is one of the most notable figures buried at Victoria Lawn Cemetery. His story is intertwined with the largest abolitionist revolt in U.S. history. The restoration efforts also include the uncovering of forgotten graves, like that of Amanda Stewart, a niece of Harriet Tubman, whose tombstone was buried beneath tree roots before being rediscovered. The team, with limited funding and relying on private donors, carefully cleans and resets gravestones to preserve them for future generations. Beyond St. Catharines, similar projects are taking place in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Canfield, reflecting a growing movement to honor Black history across Ontario. For Bush, this work is deeply personal, as her own great-great-grandmother, Margaret Harper, is buried in Victoria Lawn Cemetery. The ultimate goal of this project is to establish a free public walking tour, providing visitors with a deeper understanding of the lives of the freedom seekers who overcame the horrors of enslavement to start anew in Canada. Enjoyed this video? There’s more to explore from TVO! Big [If True] - A weekly deep dive into misinformation, conspiracies, and why we believe them:    / @bigiftruetvo   TVO Docs – Watch hundreds of free documentaries, with new titles added monthly:    / @tvo   The Thread - Exploring the connections between local issues, personal experiences, and the community groups making a difference in Ontario:    / @thethreadwithnam   Stay Connected Subscribe to TVO Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theagenda?s... Listen to the podcast: https://www.tvo.org/podcasts/the-agen... Follow on social media: Facebook:   / theagenda   Twitter:   / theagenda   Instagram:   / theagendatvo   Subscribe to TVO Media Education Group newsletters: https://www.tvo.org/newsletters Get the TVO Today app: App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/tvo-tod... Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de... See more ways to access The Agenda with Steve Paikin and TVO Today: https://www.tvo.org/tvo-anytime-anywhere The Agenda with Steve Paikin is TVO Today's flagship current affairs program, devoted to exploring the social, political, cultural, and economic issues that are changing our world. We consistently offer a diversity of viewpoints and in-depth analysis of what lies behind the headlines. See more about The Agenda with Steve Paikin at https://www.tvo.org/theagenda. #BlackHistoryCanada #GraveRestoration #UndergroundRailroad