Projects:

Breaking the Chains

About

The Augmented Reality Lab and the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on the Global Migrations of African Peoples collaborated on Breaking the Chains: Untold Stories of the Underground Railroad. As part of the larger project the lab worked with undergraduate historians to create the Augmented Reality Freedom Stories app that became part of the Toronto District School Board curriculum.

Augmented Reality Freedom Stories highlights seldom told African Canadian histories from the era of the Canada/US Underground Railroad including Harriet Tubman’s efforts to bring American slaves to freedom in Canada. The Underground Railroad was the largest, most important social justice movement of 19th century North America. Women, men and children from all walks of life, religions and ethnic backgrounds engaged in a secret system to assist those escaping from American slavery in the search of freedom and equality. Thousands traveled the secret routes from “station to station” assisted by “conductors”, usually free African Americans who risked everything to help freedom-seekers on their way. Thousands more came to Canada with little or no assistance at all and their stories have yet to be told.

Desktop Documentation