Black Diasporas Tkaronto-Toronto
Explore our latest exhibition.
Open Wednesday to Saturday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
A Panel on Black-Led Archives
Telling Our Own Stories
As a part of Museum of Toronto’s Black Diasporas Tkaronto-Toronto exhibition, this must-see panel brings together local experts in the field of Black archives.
Led by moderator Channon Oyeniran, panelists Aaron T. Francis, Dr. Natasha Henry-Dixon, and Melissa J. Nelson will discuss and share with the audience about the importance of documenting our histories, oral histories, and community archives.
WHEN
Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 6pm-8pm
TICKETS
Admission is free, donations are encouraged.
Register below.
LOCATION
401 Richmond Street West
Eastern Entrance
Meet the Panel
Aaron T. Francis
Aaron T. Francis is a Balsillie School of International Affairs doctoral student, multidisciplinary artist, and curator. Former Chair of the City of Kitchener’s Arts and Culture advisory committee, he has exhibited his Vintage Black Canada initiative at several galleries across southern Ontario. Starting in 2019, this initiative is a creative, collaborative effort documenting the transnational modern history of Canada’s African diaspora and their cultural contributions to Canadian society.
Dr. Natasha Henry-Dixon
A professor of African Canadian History at York University, Dr. Natasha Henry-Dixon is an award-winning author and curriculum developer. She has numerous publications to her name and is authoring a new manuscript tentatively titled One Too Many: Black People Enslaved in Upper Canada, 1760 – 1834. She was also the President of the Ontario Black History Society (2017-2023).
Melissa J. Nelson
An award-winning archivist and educator, Melissa J. Nelson’s work in Black archival practice preserves Black identity and histories, supporting collective healing and liberation movements. She has received the Association of Canadian Archivists’ New Professional Award (2023) and Ancestry Award (2023). Melissa is currently an Archivist at the Archives of Ontario. Moreover, she runs a consulting practice informing institutions on equitable archival practices, is the Founder and Creative Director for the Black Memory Collective, and is the Creator and Host of the Archives & Things podcast.
Channon Oyeniran
Channon Oyeniran is an honors graduate of the University of Toronto’s History and Caribbean Studies Bachelors and the University of Hull’s Slavery Studies Masters programs as well as a current doctoral student at Queen’s University. Pursuing her passion for Black history and eradicating anti-Black racism, she has served as the Vice-President of the Ontario Black History Society (2017-2023), founding Oyeniran Education Support to support education on Black history.
How to Find Us
Intersections
Find the 401 Richmond on Richmond Street West between Spadina Avenue and Peter Street.
The Building
Find our gallery space at the Eastern Entrance of the building, next to the Spacing Store. This entrance is wheelchair accessible.
The 401 Richmond Building is a bustling hub, we invite you to explore after your time at Museum of Toronto!
Explore More
Content
Derailed: The History of Black Railway Porters in Canada
All aboard! This multimedia digital exhibition produced by Museum of Toronto in collaboration with author/scholar Cecil Foster.