Submitted by Agnieszka Wolska
Kalina, Tosia, Emmett and I (Agnieszka) went to visit a place called Amber Valley, north of Edmonton, here in Alberta, last summer.
Amber Valley was the first and most Northerly Black Settlement in this part of Canada, made up of African American Settlers who came to Canada to escape segregation in Oklahoma. The children’s ancestors on Kevin’s side were amongst this community who lived in Amber Valley, and we wanted to find where they were resting.
While we were visiting the grave sites, a Canadian Senator Paula Simons was also visiting at the same time. And during our visit, the Senator and her film crew interviewed my kids and features them in a mini documentary!
This is a beautiful and little known part of the history of our province!
Also, the people depicted on the Canada Post stamp commemorating Amber Valley are also relatives by marriage.
If you are interested in other documentaries and articles, please check out these resources:
Alberta’s Amber Valley one of the biggest Black settlements in Western Canada
We Are the Roots: Black Settlers and their Experience of Discrimination on the Canadian Prairies