Roots to Rebellion exhibit sheds light on impact of Underground Railroad on 1830s Pickering

1830s Pickering through the eyes of a fictional 12-year-old Black girl is the subject of a new interactive ‘Roots to Rebellion’ exhibit at Pickering Museum Village.

Roots to Rebellion, which will have its grand opening August 16, “vividly showcases” Pickering in the 1830s from the perspective of Millie, a young girl whose family came to Canada via the Underground Railroad.

As Millie guides guests through the newly renovated Log House and Log Barn in Pickering Museum Village, her story helps shine a light on the harsh realities and profound injustices faced by early Black residents in the early days of Pickering Township.

Exhibit guests will also learn about the Abolition Act of 1834, Pickering’s role in the Upper Canadian Rebellion of 1837 and the impact these historical events had on the community. According to a news release from the pioneer museum, the exhibit aims to “foster a deeper understanding” of the complexities of early Canadian history.

Georgia Fullerton, a Jamaican-Canadian visual artist, expressive arts therapist, arts educator, and public speaker who lives in Ajax, was commissioned to complete a project that turned a historic wagon into a temporary, contemporary artwork. Attendees will be the first to see the wagon, which will serve as the entranceway to the exhibit.

The Roots to Rebellion exhibit opening and the unveiling of the public art will happen Friday, August 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pickering Museum Village, with event parking at the Greenwood Community Centre. Shuttles will also run between the museum and the GO Transit Park & Ride at 3355 Brock Road.

The creation of the exhibit involved partnerships with the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society and Black Mecca Museum, Sharon Temple National Historic Site and Museum, Archives of Ontario, and City of Toronto Museums: Fort York and Mackenzie House. The exhibit was funded by the federal Museum Assistance Program and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.