An important site in Dresden has received a provincial award ahead of Black History Month.
Uncle Tom's Cabin recently received the Harriet Tubman Award for Commitment to a Purpose from the Ontario Black History Society.
Steven Cook, the site curator of Uncle Tom's Cabin, said it was an honour to receive the award and stand on a stage where other advocates and historians have stood before.
"We were really honoured to be acknowledged by the society and our colleagues because they're in the trenches with us trying to elevate the stories of African-Canadians and show how their achievements continue to shape our understanding of race, identity, and freedom here in Canada," he said.
Uncle Tom's Cabin. January 29, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Steven Cook).
Cook said that the award along with more exposure through a recently published book Uncle Tom's Journey from Maryland to Canada: The Life of Josiah Henson is expected to attract more people to Uncle Tom's Cabin, especially during Black History Month.
"People are really going to be looking for [Josiah] Henson's story and how they can experience it in person," he said.
Chatham-Kent's historic attractions have fared well in recent years. In 2017, the Harriet Tubman Award was given to Bryan and Shannon Prince for the Buxton National Historic Site and Museum. Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Buxton National Historic Site & Museum and the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum were also featured in the January/February edition of Canadian Geographic.
With Black History Month in February, Cook said they have a few events planned. Uncle Tom's Cabin will be open on Family Day from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. with tours scheduled for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. There will also be a workshop for educators and home-schoolers on February 15 and a presentation by local historians Jim and Lisa Gilbert on February 18.
"We've got a really busy year ahead of us and it's a nice kick off to the year with this Harriet Tubman Award," he said.
Looking ahead, Cook said they're going to redo the orientation video that guests see when visiting Uncle Tom's Cabin and will also add to the current exhibit. They're also getting ready for an Emancipation Day event in August.
"We're about to begin planning it and seeing what interesting speakers, musicians, and food we can bring in," he said.
In the meantime, Cook will have to find a location for the plaque associated with the Harriet Tubman Award somewhere in the newly redone exhibit.
-With files from Cheryl Johnstone