Uncovering Black History in Niagara’s Theatre Scene

Richard Pierpoint was a slave, taken as a teenager from his home in what is now Senegal. He helped form the Coloured Corps., a unit of free Black men in the Niagara region who fought for the British in the War of 1812.

When it comes to knowing about remarkable people in Black history from Niagara, “you hear about them, and you don’t hear about them,” says Millicent Gordon, artistic director of Awakened Voices Narratives.

Pierpoint’s story will be shared during Awakened Voices Narratives, a live performance that celebrates Canadian Black history through art and storytelling, happening on Feb. 14 at Salem Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Catharines – the church where Tubman, the well-known abolitionist, worshipped.

The performances will take place in St. Catharines, where Pierpoint, who managed to free himself from slavery, was granted 81 hectares in what used to be Grantham Township, which is now part of the city.

The show also ran last Saturday in Fergus, Ont., where Pierpoint received 40 hectares. This land was given to him for his service during the War of 1812 instead of being sent back to Senegal.

Audiences will learn more about figures like Harriet Tubman, Reverend Josiah Henson, Thornton and Lucie Blackburn, Marie-Joseph Angélique and others.

The stories are based on excerpts from books and interviews with lesser-known Black figures in Canadian history retold by poets and actors during this two-hour live performance.

Awakened Voices Narratives will be performing at Salem Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church where prominent abolitionist Harriet Tubman attended services after settling in St. Catharines, Ont. (Diona Macalinga/CBC)

This time around, Awakened Voices Narratives will also introduce two white historical figures including Rev. William King, an abolitionist from Louisiana who established the Buxton settlement located in Chatham-Kent, Ont.

This settlement was built by 15 enslaved individuals who came with King and was seen as a refuge for freedom seekers and free Black people alike.

Mathieu Da Costa’s language interpretation role also highlighted

Gordon graduated with a degree in political science and history from Carleton University before going on to work at various radio stations hosting segments for Black History Month.

Millicent Gordon, artistic director of Awakened Voices Narratives based her scripts on interviews and books including Benjamin Drew’s A North-Side View of Slavery: The Refugee. (Submitted by Millicent Gordon)

While there she noticed that not many Black Canadian figures were recognized which pushed her to research further and produce Awakened Voices Narratives.

“Something we don’t see a lot in Black culture is how the men love their women and will sacrifice a lot for their family,” said Gordon regarding scripted dialogue between married couple John and Ida Little who traveled once freed through St. Catharines, Hamilton and finally Queen’s Bush area in Ontario.

Mathieu Da Costa – known as the first recorded Black man to visit Canada – who assisted with language interpretation between European explorers and First Nations people will also be featured during the performance.

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