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Transcript: Heroes of the Past | Primary Lesson | TVOkids
A female narrator says, “WELCOME TO
TVOKIDS POWER HOUR OF LEARNING.”
Text reads, “Today’s junior lesson, Heroes
of our past”
Robert says,
“HELLO, BOYS AND GIRLS,
AND WELCOME
TO ANOTHER EXCITING EPISODE OF
TVOKIDS POWER HOUR OF LEARNING.
MY NAME IS ROBERT
AND I'M SO VERY EXCITED AGAIN
TO BE HERE WITH YOU.
UM, WE'VE GOT AN EXCITING DAY
PLANNED FOR YOU TODAY.
UM,
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING
ABOUT ONE OF MY
FAVOURITE SUBJECTS,
AND, UM, I'M WONDERING
IF MAYBE YOU CAN GUESS
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THIS TOPIC IS A VERY, UH,
EXCITING TOPIC.
UH, IT'S A DYNAMIC TOPIC.
UH, IT'S A TOPIC
THAT COULD BE SUPER FAST.
IT'S A TOPIC
THAT COULD BE STRONG.
IT'S A TOPIC
THAT COULD FLY.
IT'S A TOPIC THAT COULD DO
ALL OF THOSE THINGS
OR EVEN
NONE OF THOSE THINGS.
AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU KNOW
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.”
Robert explains,
“I'M TALKING ABOUT HEROES.
THAT'S RIGHT,
BOYS AND GIRLS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT HEROES.
AND I'M WONDERING,
WHEN I SAY THE WORD "HERO",
WHAT DO YOU PICTURE
IN YOUR HEAD?
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF
WHEN I SAY THE WORD "HERO"?
NOW, ARE YOU THINKING
OF A RED CAPE
OR MAYBE A BIG S
ON SOMEBODY'S CHEST?
OR A BAT?
UH, OR DO YOU THINK
OF A SOLDIER, A FIREFIGHTER,
A POLICE OFFICER,
OR MAYBE EVEN NURSES
OR DOCTORS
OR, UH, PARAMEDICS?
THOSE CAN ALL BE
SOME TYPE OF HERO,
AND THOSE ARE REALLY GREAT
EXAMPLES OF HEROES.”
Robert asks,
“UH, WHAT DO ALL THOSE HEROES
HAVE IN COMMON, I WONDER?
WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?
WELL, JUST THINKING
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD,
I THINK THAT THEY PROBABLY
ALL HAVE TO BE PRETTY BRAVE
TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT THEY HAVE TO DO.
UM, THEY HAVE TO BE
VERY GOOD PEOPLE
TO WANT TO BE PUT IN A POSITION
OF HELPING OTHER PEOPLE
THE WAY THAT THEY DO.
UM, AND UH,
THEY DEFINITELY, UH,
HAVE REALLY GREAT TRAITS
LIKE THAT.
BUT I ALSO THINK
THAT, UM,
HEROES CAN BE EVERYDAY PEOPLE
DOING GOOD THINGS.
SO, HEROES CAN BE THOSE PEOPLE
WITH THOSE GREAT UNIFORMS,
BUT THEY CAN ALSO CAN BE PEOPLE
LIKE YOU AND I,
WHO ARE JUST DOING NICE THINGS
FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
AND UM, YOU KNOW,
DOING GREAT THINGS
FOR OUR COMMUNITIES
MAYBE RIGHT AROUND US.
MAYBE, UH,
GIVING TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
GIVING BACK
TO OUR COMMUNITIES.”
Robert adds,
“UM, YOU KNOW,
'CAUSE EVERYBODY,
ESPECIALLY YOU,
BOYS AND GIRLS,
HAVE THE POTENTIAL
OF BEING A HERO.
UH, WE HAVE TO DO IS LOOK
AT THOSE GREAT EXAMPLES
OF HEROES THAT WE KNOW,
AND MAYBE FOLLOW
IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS,
LOOK AT WHAT MAKES THEM
A GREAT HERO
AND, SEE IF WE CAN TRY TO DO
SOME OF THOSE SAME THINGS.
SO, I SPOKE EARLIER
ABOUT SOME OF THE HEROES
AND I SPOKE ABOUT, UM,
YOU KNOW,
MAYBE SOME OF THEM
THAT YOU WERE THINKING OF.
AND I MENTIONED
THE WORD "NURSE",
AND I LIKE TO MENTION
THE WORD "NURSE"
BECAUSE MY OWN SISTER
IS A NURSE.
MY BIG SISTER IS A NURSE,
AND I THINK OF
JUST HOW WONDERFUL SHE IS,
HOW SHE HELPS PEOPLE WHEN
THEY'RE SICK OR THEY'RE HURT.
IT'S GOTTA BE A TOUGH JOB
BECAUSE SOMETIMES
SHE WORKS LATE AT NIGHT,
SOMETIMES SHE HAS TO WORK
EARLY IN THE MORNINGS.
SO, SHE WORKS SHIFT WORK,
AND SHE ALWAYS IS IN A POSITION
OF HELPING OTHER PEOPLE.
AND SO,
WHEN THEY LEAVE HER CARE
THEY ARE FEELING MUCH BETTER
THAN THEY WERE
WHEN THEY ENDED UP IN THE
HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WORKS.
AND SO, I THINK THAT SHE IS
A FANTASTIC HERO.”
Robert continues,
”UM-- OH.
SPEAKING OF NURSES,
I WANT TO CHECK OUT AIMEE.
SHE WANTS TO BE A NURSE
WHEN SHE IS GROWING UP--
WHEN SHE GROWS UP,
I SHOULD SAY.
AND UM, SHE WANTS TO WORK
AS A PART OF A SUPERHERO TEAM
OF DOCTORS AND NURSES
WHO HELP PEOPLE
WHO ARE INJURED AND SICK.
SO, LET'S CHECK IT OUT
RIGHT NOW.”
A girl wearing an orange t-shirt says,
“HI, I'M AIMEE.
IF I COULD BE ANYTHING,
I'D BE AN NURSE!”
A girl swims through a cartoon
underwater world.
A female singer sings,
“IMAGINE
IMAGINE
IMAGINE POWERFUL
IMAGINE COMICAL
IMAGINE MAGICAL
CAN YOU
IMAGINE THAT?”
Text reads “Can you Imagine That!
Starring Aimee.”
Aimee draws a picture on an easel.
She says, “HI, I'M AIMEE.
IF I COULD BE ANYTHING,
I'D BE AN NURSE!”
A drawing of a nurse in purple
scrubs waves.
Aimee continues,
“I WOULD TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE SICK OR INJURED.
THEY WOULD BE MY PATIENTS.
IF I WAS A NURSE,
I WOULD WEAR SCRUBS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL
THE UNIFORM THAT NURSES WEAR.
MINE WOULD BE PURPLE.
SOMETIMES I'D WORK
IN A HUGE HOSPITAL.
WITH DOCTORS,
AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF NURSES.
WE WOULD WORK AS A TEAM,
A SUPERHERO TEAM
TO HELP MAKE PEOPLE BETTER.”
A cartoon man with a bandage around
his head and a thermometer in his
mouth enters the hospital.
(Man sniffling)
Aimee says,
“WHEN SOMEONE
ISN'T FEELING WELL,
OR GETS HURT,
THEY COME TO THE HOSPITAL.
THEY WOULD GET
TO SEE ME FIRST.
I WOULD ASK QUESTIONS
TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
I WOULD DO SOME EASY TESTS,
LIKE TAKING
THEIR TEMPERATURE.
SAY "AAAH!"
SO I CAN CHECK
IF YOU HAVE A FEVER.”
Aimee draws a picture of a horse in
the hospital hallway.
She says,
“AS A NURSE,
I WOULD BE REALLY GOOD
AT MAKING MY PATIENTS
FEEL COMFORTABLE.”
Aimee’s horse drawing comes to life
Aimee adds,
“BECAUSE BEING SICK OR HURT
ISN'T ANY FUN.”
Aimee nods,
She goes on,
“AS A SUPER NURSE,
I WOULD HAVE A SUPER PARTNER
TO MAKE MY JOB SUPER FUN!”
Aimee stands with a drawing of a bear
with a cape.
She says, “SQUIGGLES,
MY GIANT CUDDLY TEDDY BEAR,
WOULD GIVE MY PATIENTS
THE GIGGLES.”
Aimee and Squiggles hug.
Aimee adds,
“I WOULD WANT TO BE
A PEDIATRIC NURSE.
THAT'S A NURSE
WHO HELPS KIDS AND BABIES.”
[Babies crying]
Aimee walks through a nursery.
She continues,
“I WOULD CHECK UP ON THE NEWBORN
BABIES WHO ARE REALLY TINY.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO STAY
IN THE HOSPITAL
A LITTLE LONGER
UNTIL THEY GROW
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I WOULD TAKE
GOOD CARE OF THEM,
LIKE WHEN I HELPED MY MOM
WHEN MY SISTER WAS A BABY.”
Squiggles enters an x-ray machine.
Aimee continues, “I WOULD BE
THE MOST FUN NURSE!
I WOULD KEEP KIDS
HAPPY AND LAUGHING
WHILE THEY WAIT TO DO
THEIR TESTS OR X-RAYS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT
YOUR FUNNY BONE, SQUIGGLES.
OR I COULD BE A NURSE
IN THE OPERATING ROOM,
HELPING THE SURGEON.
SHE'S THE DOCTOR WHO DOES
ALL THE OPERATIONS.”
Aimee hands a doctor
surgical tools in an operating room.
Aimee says,
“I'D HAND THE DOCTOR
ALL THE TOOLS SHE NEEDS
AND THEN I'D CHECK
ON THE PATIENT.
THERE YOU GO, MRS. CLOCK.
ALL BETTER NOW.”
Aimee sits in a classroom.
She continues, “AS A NURSE,
I WOULD VISIT SCHOOLS
AND REMIND KIDS
ABOUT HOW TO STAY HEALTHY.
SQUIGGLES AND I
WOULD TEACH KIDS
TO ALWAYS WASH THEIR HANDS.
OR SNEEZE INTO THEIR ELBOWS
SO WE DON'T SPREAD GERMS.
CAREFUL, SQUIGGLES.
THAT'S WHERE
YOUR FUNNY BONE IS.
THE BEST PART
OF BEING A NURSE
IS SHOWING MY PATIENTS
HOW BRAVE THEY ARE.
OKAY, MR. GIANT.
TIME FOR YOUR SHOT.
THIS IS MEDICINE THAT WILL HELP
KEEP YOU FROM GETTING SICK.
EVEN GIANTS
ARE SOMETIMES AFRAID.
THERE, ALL DONE!
YOU DID IT!
I LOVE BEING ABLE
TO HELP PEOPLE.”
The female singer sings,
“CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO BE
CAN YOU IMAGINE THERE'S
A WORLD FULL OF FANTASY?
AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT
LOTS, IT BECOMES SO REAL
DID YOU KNOW, DID YOU KNOW,
DID YOU KNOW?
THAT YOU CAN DO
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO
IMAGINE THIS OR THAT
THINK OF SOMETHING NEW
AND YOU CAN ALWAYS CHANGE
A THING OR TWO
ANYTHING YOU WANT,
IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU
BA, BA, BA, BA, BA,
BA-DA BA-DA
BA, BA, BA, BA, BA,
BA-DA BA-DA
BA, BA, BA, BA,
BA, BA-DA BA-DA
BA, BA, BA, BA, BA,
BA-DA BA-DA
BA, BA-DA BA-DA
BA, BA-DA BA-DA
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?
I'M AIMEE AND I'M A NURSE.
IMAGINE THAT!”
Aimee says,
“I’M A NURSE, IMAGINE THAT!”
Credits roll. Executive producers, John
Leitch, Michelle Melanson Caperus.
Created by Annick Obansewin.
Supervising Producer, Nadine Henry,
Evecutive Producers, TVO, Patricia Ellingson.
Text reads, “Produced in association with
TVO, TVO Kids, Radical Sheep.”
(Sheep bleating)
Robert says, “WELL, THAT WAS GREAT,
BOYS AND GIRLS.
I GUESS BEING A NURSE
IS KIND OF TOUGH WORK.
AND WORKING WITH A TEAM
LIKE THAT MUST BE FANTASTIC
AND A REWARDING JOB.
SO, UM, BEING A HERO,
I GUESS YOU HAVE
TO BE TOUGH. OKAY?
YOU KNOW WHAT,
BOYS AND GIRLS?
SOMETIMES HEROES ARE NOT JUST
FOUND ALL AROUND US,
BUT THEY ARE ALSO FOUND
IN OUR PAST.
UH, THAT'S RIGHT.
IN OUR OWN HISTORY,
THERE ARE MANY, MANY STORIES.
OUR HISTORY IS FULL OF STORIES
ABOUT HEROES IN OUR PAST.
AND UM, I THINK
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY I LOVE HISTORY SO MUCH,
IS BECAUSE WE GET TO LEARN
ABOUT THESE HEROES
THAT COME OUT OF NOWHERE,
OUT OF SOMETIMES
REALLY AWFUL SITUATIONS,
AND THESE HEROES
COME OUT OF NOWHERE
AND DO THESE
FANTASTIC THINGS.”
Robert continues,
“AND, THEY, UM,
REALLY GO THROUGH A LOT
OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND THEY DO HEROIC THINGS
LIKE THAT,
TO OVERCOME A LOT OF
REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT,
UH, SITUATIONS.
AND SO, I THINK THAT'S
ONE OF THE REASONS REALLY
WHY I LOVE HISTORY IS TO LEARN
ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE.
UM, AND THEY DO IT
WITHOUT TECHNOLOGY.
I MEAN, WE HAVE THIS FANTASTIC
TECHNOLOGY AROUND US NOW,
AND I THINK ABOUT
SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT PEOPLE IN THE PAST
MUST HAVE GONE THROUGH
AND THEN I SAY, "WOW!
"THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE,
YOU KNOW,
"CELL PHONES OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT BACK THEN.
"I WONDER HOW THEY
GOT THROUGH LIFE!"
AND UH, IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT
SOME PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH
IN THE PAST.
UH, AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS
THEY MUST HAVE MADE.
THE MUST'VE BEEN
PRETTY TOUGH.”
Robert adds, “AND UH,
SPEAKING OF TOUGH,
I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW,
WE'VE BEEN SITTING AROUND
FOR A LITTLE BIT,
MAYBE A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG.
AND BEFORE WE GET ANY FURTHER,
UM,
UH, IF WE ALL WANT
TO BE HEROES,
MAYBE WE NEED TO GET
KIND OF LIKE, HERO TOUGH.
AND I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE
WE'D DO A LITTLE STRETCH
AND MOVE AROUND,
AND STRENGTHEN OUR BODIES
A LITTLE BIT
LIKE HEROES MUST DO.
UH, SO WHY DON'T YOU
COME FOLLOW ME
AND UM,
WE'LL DO SOME HERO MOVES
AND A LITTLE BIT
OF A HERO WORKOUT?”
Robert holds a thin blue jacket
He says, “OKAY, BOYS AND GIRLS.
I'M STANDING TALL NOW AND
I'VE GOT MY WORKOUT JACKET HERE.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A CAPE.
I'M GONNA PUT IT ON.”
(Superhero theme music playing)
Robert puts on the jacket
He continues,
“OH, I FEEL LIKE A HERO NOW.
NO, I'M JUST JOKING AROUND.
IT'S JUST A NICE JACKET
TO WORK OUT IN.
UH, SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
IS WE'RE GONNA START OFF
JUST LITTLE STEPS,
LITTLE STEPS,
AND I WANT YOU TO JUST PUSH
YOUR HANDS FORWARD LIKE THIS.”
Robert makes a punching motion
with his arms.
He says,
“PUSH YOUR HANDS FORWARD,
WORK OUT THOSE MUSCLES
ON THE TOP OF OUR ARMS.
THERE WE GO.
AND MAYBE UP HIGHER ABOVE”.
Robert punches straight up.
He adds,
“GOOD.
HOW'S IT FEELING?
OH, KEEP THOSE FEET GOING,
KEEP THOSE FEET GOING.
AND THEN
I'M GONNA PUSH DOWN.”
Robert punches toward the floor.
He instructs,
“UP AND DOWN, UP AND DOWN.
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
AND THEN I'M GOING
TO GIVE MYSELF A BIG HUG
TO STRETCH IT OUT.
BIG HUGS, BIG HUGS.”
Robert swings his arms around
his body.
He says,
”OKAY, NOW I'M GONNA BE LIFTING
MY LEGS UP NICE AND TALL,
NICE AND TALL.
MY KNEES ARE GONNA GO UP
NICE AND TALL,
LIKE I'M DOING GIANT STEPS.
LEAPING BUILDINGS.”
Robert raises a fist in the air.
(Chuckling)
Robert adds, “OKAY?
LET'S SEE HOW HIGH
THEY CAN GO.
IN FACT, WHAT WE CAN DO
IS WE CAN DO A CLAP
UNDERNEATH OUR KNEES.
THERE YOU GO!
OR YOU CAN DO IT
ON TOP OF THE KNEE.”
Robert claps as he lifts each knee
one at a time.
Robert says, “WHATEVER ONE
YOU WANT TO DO.
OR, YOU COULD EVEN DO
A LITTLE TAP ON TOP OF YOUR KNEE
AS YOU'RE BRINGING IT UP.
OH, NOW I'M FEELING IT.
AND THEN
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
IS WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE
THE DIRECTION OF OUR LEGS
AND BRING THEM BEHIND US.
BRING THEM BEHIND US.”
Robert slides his feet back, one at a
time, and raises them to his knee.
Robert adds,
“AND I'M TRYING TO BRING MY HEEL
ALL THE WAY BACK TO MY BACK.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE I'M PUSHING
THE GROUND AWAY FROM ME.
THERE YOU GO.
JUST A FEW MORE.
AND NOW WE'RE GONNA GO
DOWN AND UP, DOWN AND UP.
DOWN AND UP.
DOWN AND UP.”
Robert does squats.
He says, “JUST A FEW MORE.
THAT'S IT.
GOOD JOB.
AND THREE,
TWO,
ONE.
GREAT JOB,
BOYS AND GIRLS.
NICE LITTLE WORKOUT
FOR THE SUPERHEROES OUT THERE.”
Robert sits at a desk.
“HEY, THAT WAS GREAT,
BOYS AND GIRLS.
I HOPE YOU FEEL ENERGIZED
AND FOCUSED MAYBE ON--
MAYBE WE COULD FOCUS NOW
A LITTLE BIT NOW
ON WHAT I WAS
TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.
UM, I ALWAYS NEED
TO MOVE AROUND A LITTLE BIT
AND REFOCUS MY BRAIN.
AND UM, YOU KNOW,
STRENGTHEN UP MY BODY
A LITTLE BIT.
AND NOW I FEEL READY TO GO.
UM, WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT HEROES
AND HOW TOUGH
IT MUST HAVE BEEN--
IT MUST BE FOR ALL
THE GREAT THINGS THAT THEY DO.
UH, AND THE HEROES
FROM THE PAST
AND A LOT OF THE GREAT STORIES
FROM THE PAST
IN OUR OWN HISTORY,
AND UH,
HOW WONDERFUL
OUR HISTORY IS
BECAUSE OF SOME
OF THOSE FANTASTIC PEOPLE,
THOSE HEROES
THAT WE HEAR ABOUT.
WHICH BRINGS YOU
TO TELL ME THAT MY, UM,
MY HEROES,
MY FAVOURITE HEROES,
ARE ACTUALLY FROM OUR HISTORY,
ARE FROM OUR PAST.”
Robert continues,
“UH, SO, YOU MIGHT HAVE
FAVOURITE HEROES
FROM ALL AROUND YOU,
BUT SOME OF MY FAVOURITES
ARE FROM THE PAST.
AND UM, ONE OF THEM THAT
I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU TODAY,
BOYS AND GIRLS,
IS ABOUT HARRIET TUBMAN.
NOW, HARRIET TUBMAN--
I'M WONDERING IF ANY OF YOU
HAVE EVER HEARD OF HER BEFORE?
MAYBE SOME OF YOU.
MAYBE NOT.”
(Chuckling)
Robert adds,
“THAT'S OKAY.
HARRIET TUBMAN WAS BORN
A VERY LONG TIME AGO.
HARRIET TUBMAN
WAS BORN IN 1822.
SO, I'M JUST DOING THE MATH
IN MY HEAD RIGHT NOW.
WOW, THAT WAS, UM--
WE'RE IN 2021 RIGHT NOW.
SO, THAT WAS 199 YEARS AGO.
THAT'S ALMOST 200 YEARS AGO.
WOW.
UH, SO YOU MIGHT BE THINKING,
WHO WAS HARRIET TUBMAN
AND WHAT DID SHE DO
THAT WAS SO HEROIC?
WHAT MAKES HER A HERO?
UH, AND UM, WOW.
WAIT UNTIL YOU FIND OUT
ABOUT HARRIET TUBMAN.
UM, SO, UH, HARRIET TUBMAN,
SHE WASN'T A NURSE.
AND I'M PRETTY SURE
SHE DIDN'T WEAR A RED CAPE.
SO, SHE WASN'T THAT KIND
OF A HERO.
BUT SHE WAS
INCREDIBLY COURAGEOUS
AND FACED A LOT OF SCARY THINGS
IN HER LIFE.
YOU SEE, HARRIET TUBMAN
LIVED IN THE UNITED STATES
BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN IT WAS
LEGAL TO OWN PEOPLE AS SLAVES.”
Robert goes on,
“THAT'S RIGHT,
BOYS AND GIRLS.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE
OWNED OTHER PEOPLE AS SLAVES.
AND IT--
IT JUST SOUNDS AWFUL TO US
TO THINK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND IT WAS, UM,
IT WAS IN THE PAST AND UH,
IT'S AN AWFUL PAST
TO THINK ABOUT,
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK
WE SHOULD ALL REMEMBER HAPPENED.
AND I THINK ONE OF
THE WORST THINGS IS, UM,
THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE
WHO WERE SLAVES
WERE SLAVES BECAUSE OF
THE COLOUR OF THEIR SKIN.
SO, IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON
TO GO THROUGH
THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES
AND SEE FARMS AND PLANTATIONS
WITH BLACK SLAVES
WORKING IN VERY,
VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.
AND HAVING VERY LITTLE THINGS
TO EAT,
BEING PUNISHED FOR VERY LITTLE
REASONS OR NO REASONS AT ALL,
AND VERY--
JUST TREATED HORRIBLY.
JUST TREATED HORRIBLY.
AND SO, HARRIET TUBMAN
WAS ONE OF THOSE SLAVES.
YEAH, SHE WAS A SLAVE.
AND LIKE MANY SLAVES,
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE,
LIVING IN CONDITIONS
LIKE THAT,
SHE JUST LIKE--
SHE JUST COULDN'T STAY AROUND.
SHE HAD TO FIND A WAY
TO ESCAPE.
AND SO, SHE WAS SO BRAVE,
SHE FOUND A WAY TO ESCAPE
ALL THE WAY FROM THE SOUTH
OF THE UNITED STATES,
UM, ALL THE WAY--
ALL THE WAY TO CANADA.”
Robert adds,
“AND UM, SHE MADE IT.
SHE WAS SO COURAGEOUS AND SHE
HAD TO DO ALL KINDS OF,
UM, ADVENTUROUS THINGS
AND HIDING,
AND PEOPLE WERE, YOU KNOW,
ON HER SIDE
AND SHE HAD TO HIDE
DURING THE NIGHTTIME,
UM, AND HIDE IN DIFFERENT HOUSES
AND BASEMENTS
AND PROBABLY VERY SCARED,
SCARY SITUATIONS.
UM, BUT SHE MADE IT,
AND SHE MUST HAVE BEEN
SO RELIEVED TO MAKE IT
AND UM, TO BE ABLE
TO COME TO CANADA,
WHERE IT WAS FREE
FOR HER TO BE HER OWN PERSON
AND NOT A SLAVE.
BUT YOU KNOW,
THAT'S NOT WHY I THINK
HARRIET TUBMAN IS A HERO.
I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING
THAT SHE DID ESCAPE,
IT'S AMAZING THAT SHE WAS
THAT COURAGEOUS,
AND THAT ALONE
WAS A VERY HEROIC THING TO DO,
IS TO BE ABLE
TO ESCAPE THAT SLAVERY.
BUT UM, THE REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY HEROIC THING
IS THAT HARRIET TUBMAN
DIDN'T JUST HANG OUT IN CANADA
AND ENJOY HER FREEDOM ALONE.
UM, HARRIET TUBMAN
WAS PART OF A SYSTEM.
AND I DON'T WANT
TO GIVE IT ALL AWAY RIGHT NOW,
BUT UM, WHAT SHE DID
WAS SHE ENDED UP GOING BACK
TO THE UNITED STATES
MANY, MANY TIMES,
AND SHE HELPED OTHER SLAVES,
OTHER BLACK SLAVES
ESCAPE THE UNITED STATES
AND COME TO CANADA,
WHERE SHE HAD
FOUND FREEDOM HERSELF.”
Robert continues,
“SO, INSTEAD OF STAYING
WHERE IT WAS SAFE,
INSTEAD OF SAYING, YOU KNOW,
"I'M SAFE HERE.
"I'M NOT GONNA MOVE ANYWHERE
'CAUSE I'M TOO SCARED,"
SHE WAS SO BRAVE,
SHE CAME BACK TO THE UNITED
STATES MANY TIMES,
HIDING AND ALL THOSE, YOU KNOW,
SCARY THINGS,
JUST TO SAVE OTHER PEOPLE
AND BRING THEM TO FREEDOM
AS WELL.
UM, SO UM, HARRIET TUBMAN
IS QUITE THE HERO
AND UM, YOU KNOW,
OBVIOUSLY, HER BRAVERY AND
COURAGE, UM, IS INCREDIBLE.
AND UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS--
THIS IS A STORY IN HISTORY
THAT'S FILLED WITH SECRETS,
DISGUISES, UH, YOU KNOW,
NEW FRIENDSHIPS.
AND THIS IS WHY I LOVE HISTORY
SO MUCH, BOYS AND GIRLS.
LEARNING ABOUT PEOPLE
AND LEARNING ABOUT ALL THE GREAT
THINGS THAT THEY'VE DONE.
UM, IT REALLY REVEALS
INTERESTING PEOPLE
AND HOW THEY SHAPED
THE WAY THINGS ARE TODAY.
UH, AND UM, HISTORY CAN BE
LIKE UNVEILING A MYSTERY.
AND UH, YOU KNOW,
LOOKING AND UNVEILING A MYSTERY
AND LOOKING FOR CLUES,
AND TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER
THOSE CLUES
TO TELL THE STORY
OF A MYSTERY.
AND I CAN'T THINK
OF ANY BETTER MYSTERY SOLVERS
THAN THE
MYSTERY FILES.”
Robert says,
“SO, LET'S WATCH THIS TOGETHER,
BOYS AND GIRLS,
AND LET'S LEARN A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT HARRIET TUBMAN,
AND EVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE
THAN THAT.
ENJOY.”
A dusty box old box has a label
that reads, “Band of Angels”
(E.B. reads label out loud)
E.B. says, “EHMM.
Kyla replies,
“MAYBE IT WAS A ROCK BAND
GREAT AUNT HERMIONE
WAS REALLY INTO.”
E.B. adds,
“I CAN'T IMAGINE GREAT AUNT
HERMIONE AS A ROCKER.”
Aunt Tilly smiles.
(Guitar riff is played)
Kyla replies,
“WELL, LET'S SEE.”
She opens the box. A postcard of a
white chapel lays on top of a pile
of objects inside.
Kyla asks,
“WHAT'S THAT?
SALEM CHAPEL, ST. CATHARINES,
ONTARIO, CANADA.
I WONDER WHO THE WOMAN IS
IN THIS PICTURE.”
Harriet Tubman’s black and white photograph
Is printed on the top right corner of the chapel
postcard.
E.B. asks,
“DOES SHE LOOK LIKE
SOMEONE FROM A ROCK BAND?”
Tilly replies,
“NOT REALLY.”
Aunt Tilly says,
“THERE'S SOMETHING
ON THE BACK!”
Kyla reads,
“STEAL AWAY, STEAL AWAY HOME.”
She adds, “OH.
SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE
PART OF A POEM.
OR SONG LYRICS!”
Aunt Tilly says,
“YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.”
Kyla replies, “MAYBE THE MYSTERY
IS ABOUT MUSIC!”
E.B. pulls a dreamcatcher out of
the box.
He says, “OOH.
CHECK IT OUT.
A FEATHERY THING,
WITH A RED DOT
IN THE MIDDLE.”
E.B. Picks up a lantern out of the box.
He adds, “HMM.
SOME SORT OF A LAMP.
BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
NONE OF THESE THINGS
SEEM TO GO TOGETHER.
HMM.”
Kyla says
“ALL RIGHT.
I'M HEADING
TO THE CHURCH.”
E.B. adds,
“AND UH, I'LL WORK
ON THIS CLUE.”
He picks up the dreamcatcher.
Aunt Tilly says, “AND I'LL TAKE THIS.”
She grabs the lantern.
E.B. says, “OH, YEAH.”
Kyla asks,
“ARE WE READY?”
E.B. replies, “READY!”
Aunt Tilly adds, “YES!”
(Camera shuttering snapping)
A light shines on E.B. and Kyla.
They look at a photograph of
Aunt Hermione.
A female singer sings,
“HISTORY IS FULL OF MYSTERIES
GREAT AUNT HERMIONE
COULD BE HEARD TO SAY
YOU HAVE TO KNOW
WHAT CAME BEFORE
TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD TODAY
SHE WAS GONNA WRITE A BOOK
CALLED MYSTERY FILES
TO TELL WHAT SHE UNCOVERED
BUT TIME RAN OUT,
NEW ADVENTURES CAME FIRST
SO SHE LEFT HER SECRETS
UNDISCOVERED
AUNT TILLY INHERITED
HER BIG OLD HOUSE
FILLED WITH FILES AND CLUES
OF MUMMIES, SPIES,
AND VOYAGERS
SCARY CREATURES TOO
E.B. AND KYLA
WILL COME THROUGH
THEY'LL SOLVE
THE MYSTERY FILESUNRAVEL
ALL THE MYSTERIES
UPLOADED IN HISTORY
TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY FILES.”
A title reads, “The Mystery Files”.
The sun shines brightly on the chapel.
Kyla compares it to the postcard.
She says,
“THIS IS DEFINITELY THE PLACE.”
Kyla runs into the chapel.
A dark-haired woman stands on the
alter of the empty chapel.
She sings,
“STEAL AWAY
STEAL AWAY HOME
I AIN'T GOT LONG
TO STAY HERE”
Kyla turns to a woman sitting beside
her in a pew.
Kyla says, “WOW.
SHE'S AMAZING.”
The woman in the pew agrees,
“OH, THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.”
The dark-haired woman
approaches Kyla.
Kyla says,
“HI.”
The dark-haired woman replies,
“HI, HOW ARE YOU?”
Kyla says, “I'M GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?”
The dark-haired woman responds,
“GOOD.”
Kyla continues,
“I'M INVESTIGATING
A MYSTERY,
AND SOME OF THE WORDS
THAT YOU JUST SANG
ARE WRITTEN ON THE BACK
OF THIS POSTCARD
THAT WE GOT AS A CLUE.”
The dark-haired woman replies,
“YES, "STEAL AWAY HOME".
THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT I WAS SINGING.”
Kyla asks,
“HOW OLD IS THE SONG?”
The dark-haired woman answers,
“IT WAS WRITTEN
IN THE 1800S.”
Kyla says, “DEFINITELY NOT
A ROCK SONG, THEN.”
(Chuckling)
The dark-haired woman responds,
“NO.
THIS IS A CODED
SPIRITUAL.
A SPIRITUAL
IS LIKE A FOLK SONG.”
Kyla asks,
“SO, IT HAS A SECRET CODE
OR A MESSAGE?”
The woman in the pew adds,
“YES, IT DOES.”
Kyla says, “WELL,
IT DEFINITELY SOUNDS
LIKE THEY'RE TRYING
TO GET AWAY FROM SOMETHING,
SINCE IT'S CALLED
"STEAL AWAY".”
The dark-haired woman nods.
She says, “MM-HM.
THEY WERE
GATHERED TOGETHER
AND THEY WERE TAKEN
INTO THE WAGON,
WHICH WAS THE
"STEAL AWAY".
SO, THEY WERE UNDERNEATH
THE WAGON HIDING,
AND "STEAL AWAY HOME"
WAS TO WHERE THEY WERE GOING.”
Kyla asks, “SO, WHO SANG
THESE SONGS?”
The woman in the pew responds,
“ACTUALLY, THEY WERE SUNG
BY ENSLAVED BLACK PEOPLE
IN THE SOUTHERN PARTS
OF THE UNITED STATES.
SO, THEY WERE ACTUALLY
SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE
CONSIDERED AT THE TIME,
WAY BACK IN THE 1800S.
THEY WERE
OPPRESSED PEOPLE.
SOMEONE TOLD THEM
WHEN THEY COULD WORK,
SOMEONE TOLD THEM
WHEN THEY COULD SLEEP,
SOMEONE TOLD THEM
WHEN THEY COULD EAT.”
Kyla says,
“THAT SOUNDS HORRIBLE.
OH, IT WAS
VERY HORRIBLE.”
The dark-haired woman sings,
“WADE IN THE WATER
WADE IN THE WATER,
CHILDREN
WADE IN THE WATER
GOD'S GONNA TROUBLE
THE WATER”
Kyla replies,
“THAT ALSO SOUNDS
LIKE THEY WERE TRYING
TO ESCAPE FROM SOMETHING.”
The dark-haired woman says,
“YOU GOT IT.”
Kyla asks,
“AND THEY WERE TAKING
THE CHILDREN WITH THEM?”
The woman in the pew says,
“YES. AS MANY PEOPLE AS THEY
COULD POSSIBLY GATHER.”
Kyla asks, “I GUESS THE WATER
WAS SAFER?
THERE WEREN'T AS MANY PEOPLE
CHASING THEM?”
The dark-haired woman replies,
“VERY GOOD!
THE REAL STORY IS
THERE WERE DOGS
THAT WERE ON THE HUNT
FOR THEM.
SO, WHEN THEY STARTED TO SAY
"WADE IN THE WATER",
IT MEANT FOR YOU TO GET
INTO THE WATER TO HIDE
BECAUSE A DOG
CANNOT SMELL YOU
WHEN YOU'RE
IN THE WATER.”
(Phone ringing)
Aunt Tilly answers a video call from Kyla
on her laptop.
Aunt Tilly says,
“HEY, KYLA.”
Kyla responds,
“AUNT TILLY,
THIS MYSTERY
MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING
TO DO WITH SLAVES.
CAN YOU FIND OUT
ABOUT THAT?”
Aunt Tilly responds,
“ALREADY LOOKED INTO THAT.
PRETTY MUCH ALL
ANCIENT CULTURES HAD SLAVES,
AND SOME CULTURES HAD SLAVES
EVEN MORE RECENTLY.”
(Beeping)
Aunt Tilly continues,
“ABOUT 400 YEARS AGO,
EUROPEANS WHO CAME TO LIVE
IN NORTH AMERICA
BROUGHT OVER AFRICANS
TO HELP WORK ON THEIR TOBACCO
AND COTTON FARMS.
THEY WERE KIDNAPPED
FROM THEIR HOMELANDS,
BROUGHT TO THE NEW WORLD
AGAINST THEIR WILL,
TREATED AS PROPERTY,
AND FORCED TO WORK.
THEY WERE MADE INTO SLAVES.
SOME SAY AS MANY
AS SIX TO SEVEN MILLION
WERE BROUGHT OVER
IN THE 18TH CENTURY ALONE.”
Kyla replies,
“THAT'S REALLY HARD
TO IMAGINE.”
(Sighing)
Aunt Tilly responds,
“WHAT MIGHT BE EVEN WORSE
IS THAT EVEN MORE
THAN THAT MANY DIED
BECAUSE OF HORRIBLE CONDITIONS
ON THE SLAVE SHIPS
THAT BROUGHT THEM OVER.”
Kyla says,
“WOW.
THAT'S
UNBELIEVABLY SAD.
WHERE DID THE SLAVES WORK?”
Aunt Tilly answers,
“MOST OF THEM
WORKED ON PLANTATIONS
IN THE SOUTHERN US.
THEIR OWNERS MADE SURE THEY WERE
COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON THEM
AND BASICALLY CONTROLLED
THEIR LIVES.
THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED
TO LEARN TO READ OR WRITE,
AND THEY WERE OFTEN BEATEN
FOR REBELLING OR EVEN
FOR NO REASON AT ALL.”
Kyla replies,
“YOU SAID THEY WERE BROUGHT
TO NORTH AMERICA.
WAS IT JUST THE US,
OR CANADA TOO?”
Aunt Tilly responds,
“CANADA HAD SLAVES TOO.
THE FIRST ONES WERE BROUGHT
BY THE FRENCH SETTLERS
IN THE 1600S.
BUT IN 1793,
A LAW WAS PASSED
SO THAT ANY SLAVE
WHO REACHED CANADA
BECAME FREE IMMEDIATELY.
AND A FEW YEARS LATER,
SLAVERY WAS COMPLETELY ABOLISHED
IN CANADA.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT CONTINUED
IN THE SOUTHERN US UNTIL 1865.”
Kyla says,
“NO WONDER THEY WERE HIDING
AND TRYING TO GET AWAY.
I HAVE AN IDEA.
CHECK BACK WITH YOU LATER.”
Kyla turns to the woman in the pew.
She asks,
“ROCHELLE,
DID THE SLAVES
FROM THE SOUTHERN US
COME TO CANADA
AND TO THIS CHURCH?”
Rochelle replies, “YEAH, THEY CAME
TO THIS CHURCH
AND THEY CAME TO
VARIOUS PARTS IN CANADA,
BUT THIS CHURCH
IN PARTICULAR
WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART
OF ANTI-SLAVERY ACTIVITY.”
Kyla asks,
“DID THE WOMAN
IN THIS PICTURE
HAVE SOMETHING TO DO
WITH SLAVERY?”
Rochelle responds, “YES, SHE DID.
COME WITH ME AND
I'LL SHOW YOU MORE.”
Pictures of Harriet Tubman fill a
wood-paneled wall.
Rochelle continues,
“SEE HERE, KYLA?
THIS ENTIRE WALL IS DEDICATED
TO HARRIET TUBMAN,
THE WOMAN THAT'S ON
YOUR POSTCARD.”
Kyla asks,
“WAS SHE A SLAVE?”
Rochelle answers, “SHE WAS.
SHE WAS ENSLAVED
IN MARYLAND,
SHE ESCAPED FROM SLAVERY
IN 1849,
AND THEN SHE EVENTUALLY MADE
HER WAY HERE TO ST. CATHERINES.
IN FACT, SHE ATTENDED
THIS VERY CHURCH
RIGHT HERE
IN CATHERINE'S.”
Kyla asks, “THIS CHURCH
THAT WE'RE AT?”
Rochelle responds,
“ABSOLUTELY.
YES, SHE DID.”
Rochelle responds, “WOW.”
(Call ringing)
Kyla says, “WHAT'S UP, AUNT TILLY?”
Aunt Tilly replies, “HANG ON.
I'LL CONFERENCE IN E.B.”
E.B. says, “HI, GUYS.”
Aunt Tilly continues, “HEY.
I DID AN IMAGE SEARCH
AND THE WOMAN ON THAT POSTCARD
IS HARRIET TUBMAN.”
Kyla says, “I JUST FOUND
THAT OUT TOO.
SHE WORKED
AGAINST SLAVERY
AND ACTUALLY
ATTENDED THIS CHURCH.”
E.B. responds, “COOL!”
Aunt Tilly adds,
“SHE RISKED HER OWN LIFE
TO LEAD SLAVES TO FREEDOM,
RIGHT THERE
IN ST. CATHERINES!
LOOKS LIKE HER FIRST TRIP
TO ST. CATHARINES
WAS IN 1851,
WITH 11 RUNAWAY SLAVES.
FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS,
SHE CONTINUED GUIDING
OR GIVING ESCAPE INSTRUCTIONS
TO HUNDREDS OF SLAVES.”
E.B. says, “WOW!
WHAT A HERO!”
Aunt Tilly replies,
“YEAH. SHE MANAGED TO AVOID
BOUNTY HUNTERS.
THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO CHASE
FUGITIVES AND CRIMINALS
FOR REWARD MONEY.
THEY WERE ALWAYS TRYING
TO CATCH HER.
IT SEEMS THAT SOMETIMES
SHE DISGUISED HERSELF AS A MAN,
AND SOMETIMES
AS AN OLD LADY.”
Kyla responds,
“AMAZING.”
Aunt Tilly replies,
“SHE WAS CALLED
A CONDUCTOR.”
Kyla asks,
“LIKE A MUSIC
CONDUCTOR?”
Aunt Tilly answers, “NO.”
E.B. asks, “LIKE A TRAIN
CONDUCTOR?”
Aunt Tilly replies, “SORT OF.
SHE WAS PART
OF A NETWORK
CALLED THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.”
Kyla asks, “A RAILROAD THAT
WAS UNDERGROUND?
LIKE A SUBWAY?”
E.B. adds,
“COULDN'T REALLY BE A RAILROAD
UNDER THE GROUND, COULD IT?”
Aunt Tilly answers,
“IT WASN'T REALLY
A RAILROAD.
AND IT WASN'T
LITERALLY UNDERGROUND.
THEY CALLED IT THAT
BECAUSE IT WAS SECRET.”
Kyla says, “JUST LIKE THE WORDS
IN THE CODED SONGS!”
Aunt Tilly replies, “EXACTLY.”
Kyla responds,
“THANKS, AUNT TILLY.”
The video call is ended.
Kyla asks Rochelle, ”ARE THERE STILL
FAMILY MEMBERS HERE
OF PEOPLE THAT USED THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NETWORK?”
Rochelle answers, “YES.
IN ST. CATHARINES,
THERE'S ABOUT 30
FAMILY NAMES
THAT ARE STILL
DIRECTLY CONNECTED
TO THE UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD.”
Kyla asks,
“WHAT ABOUT
YOUR FAMILY?”
Rochelle replies, “YES.
THIS IS MY TWO TIMES
GREAT-GRANDPA
ON MY MOTHER'S SIDE,
MY GRANDMA,
AND THEN ON MY GRANDPA'S SIDE,
THERE'S MY GREAT UNCLE.
SO, THEY'RE ALL DESCENDANTS
OF RUNAWAY SLAVES TOO.”
Kyla replies,
“THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
IF THE NETWORK WASN'T
REALLY A RAILROAD,
HOW DID HARRIET TUBMAN
TAKE THE SLAVES NORTH?”
Rochelle says,
“WELL, SOMETIMES SHE WOULD
GUIDE THEM HERSELF,
AND SOMETIMES SHE WOULD
INSTRUCT THEM.
THEY WOULD MOVE
FROM SAFE HOUSE DESTINATION
TO SAFE HOUSE DESTINATION.
SO, IT WAS A NETWORK OF
ANTISLAVERY ACTIVISTS
WHO WERE HELPING RUNAWAY SLAVES
ESCAPE TO FREEDOM.”
The dark-haired woman sing at the alter,
“ SWING LOW,
SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FORTH
TO CARRY ME HOME
I LOOKED OVER JORDAN
AND WHAT DID I SEE?
COMING FORTH
TO CARRY ME HOME
A BAND OF ANGELS
COMIN' AFTER ME
COMING FORTH
TO CARRY ME HOME”
Rochelle says,
“THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL, TERESA.”
Kla says, “HEY!
A BAND OF ANGELS-
THAT'S HERMIONE'S
FILE LABEL!
DO YOU THINK
HARRIET TUBMAN
COULD'VE BEEN
CONSIDERED AN ANGEL?
SHE HELPED
SO MANY PEOPLE.
LIKE A GUARDIAN ANGEL?”
Rochelle replies,
“ABSOLUTELY.
AND SHE DID HELP
A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO, I WOULD SAY MORE LIKE
AN EARTHLY ANGEL.”
Kyla pulls out her phone and starts
A video call with E.B.
(Phone ringing)
She says, “HEY, E.B.
WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO SOLVING
THE "BAND OF ANGELS" MYSTERY.”
E.B. replies, “YEAH, AND ALSO PRETTY COOL
ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT--
TRACK?”
Kyla rolls her eyes.
(Chuckling)
E.B. adds, “WAIT, LET'S HOPE OUR PLANS
DON'T GET--
DERAILED!”
(Foghorn sounding)
E.B. continues,
“HEY,
GUESS WHAT I FOUND OUT.
THIS IS CALLED
A DREAMCATCHER.
I'M DREAMING IT'LL SOLVE
THIS MYSTERY!”
Kyla says, “YOU JUST DON'T STOP,
DO YOU?”
E.B. replies, “NOPE!
ANYWAY, DREAMCATCHERS ARE MADE
BY FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE.
PLUS, THEY'RE FEATHERY,
JUST LIKE THE WINGS
ON AN ANGEL.”
Kyla responds, “THAT'S TRUE.”
E.B. says, “CATCH YOU LATER.”
(Beeping)
E.B. hangs up.
Clouds float over flowers in a field.
The flowers sway in the breeze.
E.B. says,
“BECAUSE DREAMCATCHERS ARE MADE
BY FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE,
I'M ON MY WAY TO MEET SOMEONE
TO HELP ME INVESTIGATE.”
HI, I'M E.B.
NICE TO MEET YOU.”
Dave replies, “MY NAME'S DAVE.”
E.B. responds, “DAVE!
I'M TRYING
TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY
AND I'M GONNA
NEED YOUR HELP.
OKAY.
YEAH.
SO, OUR FIRST CLUES
ARE THIS
DREAMCATCHER HERE
AND THIS PICTURE
OF A POSTCARD.”
Dave replies,
“WELL, THAT POSTCARD
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
BUT A DREAMCATCHER
I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT.”
E.B. says, “ALL RIGHT.”
Dave continues,
“LONG STORY SHORT, IT'S MADE
ON THE IDEA OF A SPIDER WEB.
SO, ANY BAD ENERGY THAT'S COMING
TO YOU DURING THE NIGHTTIME
WILL GET CAUGHT
IN THIS WEB HERE.
BUT THE GOOD ENERGY WILL
BE ABLE TO PASS THROUGH.
IT'LL COME TO YOUR MIND
AND YOU'LL HAVE GOOD DREAMS.”
E.B. asks,
“NOW, DID THE SLAVES USED TO
CARRY THESE THINGS AROUND?”
Dave answers, “NO.
I REALLY DOUBT THAT.”
E.B. replies,
“WELL, OUR MYSTERY FILE LABEL
IS "BAND OF ANGELS",
SO ARE DREAMCATCHERS RELATED
TO ANGELS IN ANY WAY?”
Dave says, “NO.”
E.B. replies, “IT'S GOTTA MEAN
SOMETHING!
DID FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
MEET SLAVES
WHO WERE ESCAPING THROUGH
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD?”
Dave responds,
“ABSOLUTELY,
THEY DID.
THEY WERE A BIG PART
OF THE SYSTEM.”
E.B. says, “AH, OKAY.
SO HOW WERE
FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
ABLE TO HELP SLAVES
FIND THEIR WAY?”
Dave explains,
“IN THE EARLY DAYS
WHEN THE NETWORK WAS
STILL BEING DEVELOPED,
SOMETIMES SLAVES WOULD
ESCAPE AT NIGHT BY BOAT
AND COME ACROSS THE RIVER.
THIS AREA AROUND FORT ERIE CLOSE
TO THE WATER WAS VERY WOODED.
WE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
HAD OUR OWN PATHS
AND KNEW THE LAND
VERY WELL.”
E.B. live streams.
He says, “IT MUST HAVE BEEN
REALLY SCARY FOR SLAVES
JUST BEING DROPPED OFF
IN A TOTALLY STRANGE PLACE
WITH NO FOOD,
NO MAPS,
AND NO IDEA WHERE TO GO.”
E.B. says to Dave,
“SOME PRETTY TALL GRASS.”
Dave replies,
“YOU'VE GOTTA WATCH OUT.
THIS AREA HERE,
WE'VE HAD A CONFIRMED COUGAR.”
E.B. says, “WOW, A COUGAR?”
Dave responds,
“JUST DOWN OVER HERE!
I SAW THE TRACK.”
(Snarling)
A cougar wanders through a forest.
Dave continues,
“NOW, BE CAREFUL HERE.
WE HAVE POISON IVY
COMING UP AGAIN HERE.
SO, DOWN IN THIS AREA HERE IS
WHERE THE BOG ACTUALLY STARTS.”
E.B. says,
“DAVE TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE
SLAVES HAD TO MAKE THEIR WAY
THROUGH THIS AREA,
IT WAS A BOG.
THAT'S WET, MUDDY GROUND
TOO SOFT TO SUPPORT
A HEAVY BODY,
SO IT WAS REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY HARD TO WALK.”
Dave says, “BECAUSE IT WAS SO WET
OUT THERE,
IT WAS A VERY GOOD PLACE
FOR REPTILES TO GROW
AND THERE WAS A LOT
OF RATTLESNAKES
OUT THERE BACK THEN.”
A rattlesnake curls up.
(Rattling)
E.B. asks,
“WELL, WHAT IF A SLAVE
GOT BITTEN BY A RATTLESNAKE?”
Dave answers, “WELL, THERE ARE WAYS
OF HEALING THAT.”
E.B. says, “REALLY?”
Dave continues,
“YES, THERE'S A PLANT
CALLED THE PLANTAIN.”
E.B. explains, “DAVE SHOWED ME WHAT
FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE WOULD DO
IF THE SLAVE THEY WERE GUIDING
GOT BITTEN BY A POISONOUS
SNAKE.
THEY'D HEAT UP
THE PLANTAIN LEAVES
AND GIVE IT TO THEM
TO CHEW.”
E.B. says to Dave,
“OKAY, LET'S PRETEND
I JUST GOT A SNAKE BITE.”
(Snake Rattling)
A snake attacks.
E.B. adds,
“OW! OOH!
SNAKEBITE, REALLY HURTS.
SEE THAT?
JUST PUT IT IN?”
Dave replies,
“JUST PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH
AND CHEW
UNTIL YOU'VE
CHEWED IT UP GOOD.”
E.B. says, “TASTES LIKE SOIL.”
(Chuckling)
E.B. adds,
“LIKE YOU SAID,
IT TASTES VERY EARTHY.”
Dave agrees, “YES, IT DOES
TASTE VERY EARTHY.”
E.B. takes a plantain leaf out of
his mouth.
Dave looks at it and says,
“THAT'S GOOD.”
E.B. asks,
“AND YOU JUST APPLY IT
TO THE BITE?”
Dave says,
“APPLY IT TO THE BITE.
AS SOON AS IT DRIES UP,
YOU'VE GOTTA CHANGE IT,
PUT ANOTHER ONE ON.
SO YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE
LOTS OF THIS ON HAND.”
E.B. asks,
“SO, HOW LONG WOULD YOU
HAVE TO DO THAT FOR?”
Dave answers,
“THREE OR FOUR DAYS,
FOR SURE.”
E.B. says, “REALLY?”
Dave adds,
“DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH
VENOM YOU TOOK.
DO YOU SEE THAT?
LOOKS LIKE MY
SNAKE BITE IS CURED.”
Dave replies,
“OH, LOOK AT YOU.”
E.B. says,
“THAT IS AMAZING!”
Dave says, “YOU'VE GOT
SOME SALIVA THERE.”
E.B. asks, “GOT ANYTHING
FOR MOSQUITOES?”
Dave replies, “IF I DID,
I'D BE A VERY RICH MAN.”
(Chuckling)
E.B. says,
“MAKING A SMOKELESS FIRE
TO AVOID BEING SPOTTED
IS ANOTHER BIG THING
THAT THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
SHOWED THE ESCAPING SLAVES.
DRUMROLL, PLEASE.”
Dave taps his thigh with his hands.
(Grunting)
Dave says, “VERY GOOD.”
E.B. starts a fire.
He says, “BEAUTIFUL.”
Dave asks, “SEE HOW EASILY
IT TAKES THE FIRE?”
E.B. replies, “THAT WAS AMAZING.
LIKE, THAT LITTLE BIT
OF SMOKE,
YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO SEE THAT
FROM OVER THERE.”
E.B. says, “YEAH,
THAT MAKES SENSE.”
The fire grows.
E.B. adds, “OH, WOW.
THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY.”
Dave agrees, “MM-HM.”
E.B. adds, “YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT BAD.
WE'RE NOT CAUSING
A LOT OF SMOKE AT ALL.
YOU KNOW, FROM CLOSE IT MIGHT
SEEM LIKE THERE'S SMOKE
BUT YOU WILL DEFINITELY NOT
BE ABLE TO SEE THAT
FROM FAR AWAY.”
Dave replies, “NO.”
E.B. says, “YOU KNOW, THIS IS
A PRETTY BEAUTIFUL FIRE.”
Dave replies, “IT IS. IT'S GOOD
ENOUGH TO COOK ON.”
E.B. responds, “YEAH!”
E.B. looks at his phone screen.
Aunt Tilly and Kyla appear on it.
(Beeping)
Aunt Tilly says, “HEY, E.B.”
E.B. responds, “HEY, GUYS.
I KNOW HOW TO HEAL A REAL
RATTLESNAKE BITE NOW.”
Kyla says, ‘I DON'T PLAN ON
BEING NEAR ANY.”
Aunt Tilly replies, “DITTO.”
E.B. adds, “JUST SAYING.
BUT LISTEN, I THINK
I'M ONTO SOMETHING.
HARRIET TUBMAN HELPED A LOT
OF SLAVES ESCAPE, RIGHT?”
Kyla responds, “YEP.
I THINK SHE MIGHT BE PART
OF THE "BAND OF ANGELS"
FROM OUR FILE LABEL.”
E.B. continues,
“AND I FOUND OUT THAT
FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
HELPED ON THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD TOO.
SO--”
Kyla adds, “THEY COULD BE
CONSIDERED ANGELS TOO!”
Aunt Tilly replies,
“I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING
WITH THIS.”
E.B. says,
“I THINK MAYBE HERMIONE PUT
THE DREAMCATCHER IN THE FILE
BECAUSE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
HELPED SLAVES.
ALSO,
WHEN THE SLAVES REACHED CANADA
AND THEY WERE FREE,
THEY COULD HAVE
SWEET DREAMS.”
Aunt Tilly replies, “BUT THERE'S STILL ONE MORE CLUE.
ALL I FOUND OUT WAS THAT
IT'S AN OLD LANTERN.”
E.B. says, “MAYBE DAVE KNOWS.
I'M ON IT.
HEY, DAVE.
OUR LAST CLUE IS THIS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
HOW IT CONNECTS
TO THE UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD
OR A BAND OF ANGELS?”
Dave responds,
“NO, I CAN'T SAY THAT,
BUT NOT FAR FROM HERE
THERE'S A PLACE
CALLED BERTIE HALL.”
E.B. asks, “BERTIE HALL?”
Dave answers, “YES.
PERHAPS IF YOU GO THERE
AND ASK FOR JIM.”
E.B. replies, “ASK FOR JIM?”
Dave continues,
“YEAH, HE MAY KNOW.”
E.B. says, “ALL RIGHT, WELL,
THANKS SO MUCH, DAVID.
HELPED A LOT.”
E.B. rushes away from Dave.
Dave says, “OH.”
Sunshine peeks through the leaves on
dense trees. Geese float on a river near
a bridge. A boat speeds across the
water’s surface.
E.B. says to his phone,
“THIS IS BERTIE HALL.
I'M HOPING I CAN FIND OUT
WHAT THE LANTERN MEANS
SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT
WHAT MYSTERY
HERMIONE WAS TRYING
TO WRITE ABOUT.”
E.B. turns off his phone. He approaches
a bald man outside Bertie Hall.
E.B. says, “HEY, THERE.
ARE YOU JIM?”
Jim replies, ‘HELLO. I AM.”
E.B. responds, “HI, I'M E.B.
NICE TO MEET YOU.”
Jim says, “NICE TO MEET YOU,
E. B.”
E.B. adds, “THIS IS A VERY
IMPRESSIVE HOUSE.
DOES THIS HOUSE
HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD?”
Jim replies, “ABSOLUTELY.
THIS HUGE HOUSE WAS
A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM.
IT WAS A BEACON FOR PEOPLE
CROSSING THE NIAGARA RIVER.”
E.B. asks, “WHAT DO YOU MEAN?”
Jim responds,
“WELL, COME HERE
AND I'LL SHOW YOU.”
Jim and E.B. approach the river.
E.B. says, “WHOA!
SO, THIS IS
THE NIAGARA RIVER?”
Jim replies, “IT IS.”
E.B. continues,
“AND ON THAT SIDE
IS THE UNITED STATES.”
Jim responds, “THAT IS
THE UNITED STATES.”
E.B. asks,
“SO, SOME SLAVES WERE COME
ACROSS THE RIVER
AND LAND HERE?”
Jim answers,
“YEAH, THEY WOULD'VE
LANDED HERE
BECAUSE IT WAS A
RELATIVELY EASY CROSSING.
AND IF YOU HAD TO WALK
A LONG WAY
FROM WAY DOWN
IN THE UNITED STATES,
THIS IS THE FIRST CHUNK OF
CANADA THAT YOU RUN INTO.”
E.B. takes photographs.
E.B. says, “BUT WAIT.
THERE'S A LOT OF TREES
BLOCKING THE PATH
RIGHT THERE.
HOW WOULD YOU
SEE THE HOUSE?”
Jim replies, “WELL, ALMOST
200 YEARS AGO
THERE WEREN'T
ANY TREES HERE.”
E.B. says, “REALLY?”
Jim continues, “AT ALL.
SO, YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE
THAT HUGE RED AND WHITE HOUSE.
AND IT WOULD BE
BY ITSELF.
THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
ANY OTHER HOUSES.”
E.B. interrupts, “NO NEIGHBOURS?”
Jim continues, “NO NEIGHBOURS.”
E.B. adds,
“THEN THEY MUST'VE BEEN ABLE
TO SEE THIS HOUSE
FROM LIKE,
REALLY FAR AWAY.”
Jim replies, “YEAH, YOU COULD SEE IT
FOR MILES.”
E.B. asks, “HOW DID THEY
GET ACROSS EXACTLY?”
Jim answers,
“WELL, MOST WOULD HAVE
COME ACROSS BY BOAT,
BUT SADLY,
NOT EVERYBODY MADE IT
ACROSS
THE NIAGARA RIVER.”
E.B. says, ‘THAT'S SAD.”
(Harpsichord music playing)
The Niagara River flows gently downstream.
E.B. and Jim enter Bertie Hall. E.B. looks
around. A lantern sits on a window ledge.
E.B. says, “OH.
THERE'S A LANTERN.”
Jim replies, “YEAH.”
E.B. adds, “ONE OF OUR CLUES
TO THE MYSTERY
THAT GREAT AUNT
HERMIONE LEFT
IS THE LANTERN HERE.”
Jim responds,
“YEAH, THESE LANTERNS
BECAME A SYMBOL
FOR UH, FOR FREEDOM.
SO, YOU'D KNOW THIS WAS
A SAFE HOUSE
IF YOU SAW A LANTERN
IN THE WINDOW.”
E.B. replies, “OH! I GET IT.
OKAY, SO THIS IS THE BEACON
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.”
Jim says, “YEAH.”
E.B. adds, “OH, OKAY.
SO, THE SLAVES COMING AT NIGHT
WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE
TO SEE THIS LIGHT
FROM THE WINDOW.”
Jim replies,
“FROM THIS BIG HOUSE,
ABSOLUTELY.”
E.B. asks, “I WAS TOLD
THAT SLAVES HAD TO STAY
OFF THE MAIN ROAD
'CAUSE IT WASN'T SAFE
FOR THEM.
WAS IT SAFE AROUND
THESE PARTS BACK THEN?”
Jim answers, ‘NOT COMPLETELY.
BOUNTY HUNTERS
COULD CROSS THE BORDER
AND USE THE EXCUSE THAT
THESE ESCAPED SLAVES
HAD STOLEN A HORSE.
SO, THEY USED THAT AS AN EXCUSE
TO DRAG PEOPLE AWAY.”
E.B. asks, “WHO OWNED THIS PLACE
BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD?”
Jim replies,
“THE FORSYTH FAMILY BUILT THIS
HOUSE AND LIVED IN IT.
THEY WERE VERY WELL-TO-DO,
OBVIOUSLY,
TO BUILD THIS BIG,
BIG BRICK HOUSE.”
E.B. continues,
“SO, THEY HELPED SLAVES?”
Jim responds, “WELL, YEAH.
THEY WOULD'VE HAD MANY VISITORS
COMING THROUGH HERE,
BUT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN
A GOOD STOP
FOR SOMEONE SEEKING FREEDOM
IN CANADA.
MRS. FORSYTH AND HER SONS
ARE RECORDED AS HELPING
PEOPLE ALONG THE RIVER.”
Jim leads E.B. downstairs, and into the
basement of Bertie Hall.
E.B. says, “WHOA.
THIS-- IS CREEPY.
WHOA-HO-HO!
THIS IS NOT YOUR
EVERYDAY BASEMENT.”
Jim replies,
“NO, IT'S NOT.”
E.B. opens a hidden passageway behind
a wooden shelf.
He says. “NO WAY!
A SECRET ROOM?”
E.B. rushes into a secret room.
He turns on a flashbulb.
E.B. says, “WHOA.
I MEAN,
LOOK AT THIS PLACE.
THIS IS KINDA SPOOKY.”
Jim replies, “IT IS.”
E.B. continues,
“VERY SPOOKY, ACTUALLY.
DO YOU THINK SLAVES
STOPPED IN PLACES LIKE THIS
ON THEIR WAY TO FREEDOM?”
Jim answers, “YEAH.
PLACES A LOT SMALLER
THAN THIS
ALL THROUGH
THE UNITED STATES,
'CAUSE IT WAS DANGEROUS.
UM, PEOPLE COULD BE
HUNTED DOWN.
SO, YOU NEEDED TO HIDE.”
E.B. says in an online video,
“TODAY, THERE ARE RUMOURS
THAT THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED.”
Jim says, “YEAH, I THINK
THE WHOLE PLACE
HAS GOT SOMETHING GOING ON
WITH SPIRITS HERE. YEAH.”
E.B. asks, “REALLY?”
Jim and E.B. leave the secret room.
E.B. says “WOW.
THAT FELT SUPER CREEPY
AND REALLY SAD.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE THE ANSWERS
TO OUR MYSTERY.”
Jim replies, ‘GOOD.”
E.B. adds, “THANK YOU SO MUCH.”
Jim responds, “YOU'RE WELCOME.”
E.B. says, “IT HELPED US A LOT.”
E.B. makes a video on his phone.
He says, “PEOPLE LIKE THE FORSYTH
FAMILY WERE ALSO KIND OF LIKE
ANGELS BECAUSE THEY HELPED
THE SLAVES TOO,
JUST LIKE HARRIET TUBMAN
AND THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE.”
Teresa sings in the chapel,
“COMING FORTH
TO CARRY ME HOME
E.B., Kyla, and Aunt Tilly watch Teresa on the laptop.
They sing with her,
“A BAND OF ANGELS
COMING AFTER ME
COMING FORTH
TO CARRY ME HOME
Aunt Tilly says, “YEAH!”
E.B. says,
“YOU KNOW, THE WAY THE SLAVES
SENT SECRET MESSAGES
THROUGH THOSE SONGS
IS SO AMAZING!”
Kyla adds,
“YEAH, AND IT GAVE THEM HOPE
THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE
LIKE HARRIET TUBMAN,
FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE,
AND OTHERS
LIKE THE FORSYTHS
ALL OUT THERE
HELPING THEM.
IF IT WEREN'T FOR
THE BAND OF ANGELS,
LOTS OF PEOPLE PROBABLY
WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
LIKE ROCHELLE
AT THE CHURCH.”
Aunt Tilly says, “YEAH!”
E.B. replies, “THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
IS REALLY AWESOME.”
Aunt Tilly responds,
“IT WAS. AND YOU KNOW,
BY 1865, IT WASN'T
NECESSARY ANYMORE,
BECAUSE SLAVERY WAS ABOLISHED
IN THE US TOO.”
E.B. says, “HEY,
WE SOLVED ANOTHER ONE
OF GREAT AUNT HERMIONE'S
MYSTERIES!
YES!
OKAY, LET'S RUN IT BACK.”
E.B. presses a button on the laptop.
Teresa's video plays. E.B., Kyla, and
Aunt Tilly join in.
They all sing,
“A BAND OF ANGELS
COMING AFTER ME
COME ON!
COMING FORTH
TO CARRY ME HOME”
(Exaggerated singing)
E.B., Kyla, and Aunt Tilly say,
“MYSTERY SOLVED!
POSTING TO THE
MYSTERY FILES
WEBSITE.”
Credits roll on a computer screen.
Cast Felicia Shulman as Aunt Tilly.
Ethan Burnett as E.B.Kyla Madeira
as Kyla.
A child says “WHEE!”
(Giggling)
Text reads, “TVO Kids, Apartment 11 Productions”
Robert says,
“I DIDN'T REALIZE,
UM, YOU KNOW,
HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED
IN HARRIET TUBMAN'S
HEROIC AND BRAVE MISSION.
UH, THAT'S A FANTASTIC STORY.
AND THE
MYSTERY FILES
REALLY SOLVED A GOOD ONE.
UH, I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED
THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW,
LISTENING AND WATCHING IN
ON THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLES
AND HOW THEY WERE
HELPING THE SLAVES
WHEN THEY WERE COMING
INTO CANADA.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED
TO REMEMBER, BOYS AND GIRLS,
THAT THE LAND WAS NOT THE SAME
BACK THEN AS IT IS NOW.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY WERE
COMING IN OFF THE WATERS
AND IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW,
A STREET WITH A SIDEWALK
AND THEY WERE JUST, YOU KNOW,
WALKING ALONG
AND EVERYTHING IS FINE.
UM, YOU KNOW,
THE LAND WAS VERY DANGEROUS
AND FULL OF REPTILES
AND PERHAPS
OTHER WILD ANIMALS,
AND UM, PLANTS THAT WERE
UNFAMILIAR TO THE SLAVES
AS THEY WOULD BE
COMING THROUGH.
AND WHO BETTER TO KNOW THE LAND
THAN THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE?
AND SO, WHAT A FANTASTIC
PARTNERSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP
THAT MUST'VE BEEN TO HAVE
THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
COME IN AND HELP OUT
AS THEY DID
WITH HARRIET TUBMAN'S CAUSE
FOR THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
WHAT A FANTASTIC PART
OF THAT STORY,
WHAT A GREAT HISTORY.”
Robert continues,
“SEE, THIS IS WHY
I LOVE HISTORY SO MUCH.
YOU KNOW,
FINDING OUT THESE LITTLE--
THESE LITTLE BACKGROUND STORIES
LIKE THIS.
AND FINDING OUT, UM,
THE SACRIFICES THAT OTHER PEOPLE
ARE MAKING.
UM, SO, IT'S REALLY,
REALLY GREAT.
UH, ANOTHER FANTASTIC PART
THAT I REALLY ENJOYED
WAS THE SECRET CODES,
THE CODES WRITTEN
INTO THE SONGS.
UM, I REALLY LOVE MUSIC.
YOU KNOW, MUSIC IS LIKE,
REALLY SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR ME.
AND UM, YOU KNOW,
WRITING SONGS,
WRITING LYRICS OF SONGS,
THE WORDS OF SONGS,
AS A SECRET CODE TO SEND
MESSAGES TO PEOPLE,
UM, THAT'S JUST FANTASTIC.
THAT'S JUST REALLY GREAT.
THAT'S KIND OF LIKE
SPY STUFF,
LIKE, THAT'S REALLY COOL.
UM, SO, THAT WAS
REALLY ENJOYABLE
FOR ME TO WATCH AS WELL.
SO, I ENJOYED THAT
IMMENSELY.
THAT WAS GREAT.”
Robert adds,
“UM, THE OTHER THING
I LIKED WAS, UM,
THE LEAVING THE LAMP
IN THE WINDOW,
SO THE SECRET WAY OF SHOWING
THAT YOU'RE A SAFE HOUSE.
THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE IDEA.
YOU KNOW,
THE SHOWING THAT IT'S OKAY
TO COME INTO
THAT SPECIFIC HOUSE
IF YOU'RE ESCAPING
AND YOU'RE SAFE
AND YOU HAVE FRIENDS ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER
TO BE THERE TO HELP YOU.
AND UM, THAT'S KIND OF
AN INTERESTING WAY,
A SECRET WAY AGAIN ALMOST LIKE
A SPY THING TO DO,
LEAVING A LAMP
IN THE WINDOW.
SO, I THINK
THAT WAS REALLY COOL.
AND THE DREAMCATCHERS.
THE DREAMCATCHER IDEA
I THOUGHT WAS A REALLY COOL,
THAT IN THE EPISODE
THAT WE JUST WATCHED,
THAT THE DREAMCATCHER
WAS SORT OF THE SYMBOL
OF THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN
THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
HELPING OUT
HARRIET TUBMAN'S--
HARRIET TUBMAN AND
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
SO,
I THOUGHT OF DREAMCATCHERS
AND I REALLY THINK DREAMCATCHERS
ARE REALLY WONDERFUL LOOKING.
UM, THEY'RE REALLY GREAT.
AND SO, I THOUGHT, UM,
I THOUGHT I'D ASK,
BOYS AND GIRLS,
DO ANY OF YOU
HAVE DREAMCATCHERS AT HOME?
UM, BECAUSE DREAMCATCHERS
CAN BE FUN TO MAKE,
AND I KNOW SOMETIMES WE MIGHT
NOT HAVE ALL THE MATERIAL
THAT WE NEED AROUND THE HOUSE
TO MAKE SOMETHING,
BUT I THOUGHT MAYBE, UM,
MAYBE WE COULD
DRAW SOMETHING TOGETHER.
AND IT WOULD BE
REALLY FUN TO DO.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW,
IF YOU HAVE SOME PAPER,
AND UM,
MAYBE SOME COLOURS
OR MAYBE A PENCIL, EVEN.
ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE,
WE CAN DRAW--
WE COULD DRAW A DREAMCATCHER
AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN
WITH THAT.”
Robert goes on to say,
“SO, UM, THE FIRST THING
YOU HAVE TO DO IS--
I'M JUST GONNA GO OVER ONE
RIGHT HERE
WITH SOME COLOUR HERE,
'CAUSE I KIND OF HAD ONE
PARTIALLY MADE HERE
BUT I WANNA SHOW OFF MY WORK
HERE WITH SOME COLOUR.
UM, YOU START
BY DRAWING TWO CIRCLES.
JUST TWO CIRCLES. OKAY?
ONE INSIDE OF THE OTHER.
SO, ONE CIRCLE
INSIDE OF THE OTHER.
AND THEN YOU MAKE TWO STRAIGHT
LINES CROSSING IN THE MIDDLE.
OKAY?
ONE HORIZONTAL
AND ONE VERTICAL.
OKAY?
AND SO IT KIND OF
LOOKS LIKE THAT.”
Text reads:
“Step 1, start by drawing 2 circles (one
inside the other). Make two straight lines
across the centre of the circle one going
across horizontally and one going vertically.”
Robert adds,
“SO, THAT'S KIND OF
YOUR FIRST STEP RIGHT THERE.
SO, IT'S GOT THE TWO CIRCLES
AND THE TWO LINES CROSSING.
AND THEN,
WHAT YOU DO NEXT
IS YOU FILL IN THE SPACE
IN BETWEEN THE CIRCLES
WITH TINY LITTLE LINES,
ALMOST LOOKING LIKE THE CIRCLES
ARE BEING JOINED TOGETHER
BY THESE LINES.
SO, YOU SORT OF FILL IT IN
WITH TINY LITTLE LINES.
AND THEN YOU ADD ONE LITTLE BEAD
IN THE CENTRE.
SO, IF I WERE TO GO
AND DO THESE TINY LITTLE LINES
AND COLOUR THEN…
AND THEN PUT MY LITTLE BEAD
IN COLOUR HERE.
AS I SAID, I KIND OF
STARTED DOING THIS EARLIER,
BUT IT KIND OF LOOKS
A LITTLE BIT LIKE THIS.”
Text reads, “Step 2, Fill the space between
the two circles with tiny lines. Add a tiny
bead to the centre.”
Robert continues, “AND YOU CAN SEE
THE LITTLE LINES JOINING.
SO YEAH, IT DOESN'T REALLY
MATTER HOW MANY LINES YOU USE.
YOU JUST KIND OF PUT IN AS MANY
AS YOU THINK YOU SHOULD.
AND IT KIND OF JOINS
THE CIRCLES TOGETHER.
OKAY, AND AGAIN, DON'T FORGET
THE TINY LITTLE BEAD
IN THE CENTRE, UH,
OF THE CROSSED LINES.
AND THEN THE NEXT THING YOU DO
IS YOU DRAW A LIKE,
A PETAL SHAPE,
LIKE A PETAL OF A FLOWER.
OKAY?
AND WHAT YOU DO IS YOU HAVE IT
KIND OF GOING AROUND
ONE OF THE LINES THERE.”
Text reads, “Step 3, draw a petal like shape”.
Robert says,
“AND THEN WHAT YOU
WANT TO DO NEXT IS,
YOU WANT TO DRAW
TWO MORE PETALS
JUST LIKE THE ONE
THAT YOU JUST DID.
Text reads, “Step 4, Draw 2 more petal like
shapes just like you did in step 3”.
Robert adds,
“SO, TWO MORE PETALS.
OKAY, TRY TO KEEP IT
THE SAME SHAPE.
UM,
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT,
BUT TRY TO KEEP IT
THE SAME SHAPE.
AND IT'LL LOOK
KIND OF LIKE THIS.
SO, YOU HAVE
THREE PETALS NOW.
YOU SEE THE POSITION OF IT,
THE PETALS?
AND THEN
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
IS DRAW
THREE MORE PETALS.
SO, THREE MORE PETALS.
AND IT'S IN BETWEEN THE ONES
THAT YOU'VE ALREADY DRAWN.”
Text reads, “Step 5, Draw 3 more petal
like shapes between the ones that you
have already drawn.
Robert says, “NOW, IT KIND OF LOOKS
A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE,
BUT ALL I'VE DONE IS
I'VE DRAWN THE SAME PETAL SHAPES
IN BETWEEN THE ONES
THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE,
IT'S JUST ADDED INTO THOSE.
AND IT'S JUST, AGAIN,
IN BETWEEN THE ONES
THAT I'VE ALREADY DRAWN.
AND THEN MY LAST STEP IS--
AND THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN
GET LIKE, CREATIVE--
YOU'RE GOING TO ADD BEADS
AND OTHER DECORATIONS
LIKE FEATHERS, UH,
AND THINGS LIKE THAT
TO YOUR DREAMCATCHER.
OKAY? SO, UM,
I DREW FIVE SORT OF LINES
WITH BEADS ON THEM,
BUT YOU CAN DO AS MANY
AS YOU'D LIKE.”
Text reads, “Step 6, Add beads and other
decorations such as feathers to your dream
catcher.”
Robert states, “AND AGAIN, YOU CAN DO
WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE
WITH THIS STEP HERE.
OKAY, AND NOTICE ALSO LIKE,
THERE'S A LITTLE DOT HERE,
I PUT A LITTLE DOT HERE
AND HERE AND HERE,
JUST TO KIND OF PUT BEADS
IN THERE
AND THERE AND THERE,
TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE BEADS.
OKAY, IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU HOW
YOU WANT TO SORT OF DECORATE IT.
UM, THAT'S WHAT'S GREAT
ABOUT, UH,
LIKE DOING ART, RIGHT?
IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU CAN
MAKE IT YOUR OWN THING.
BUT THAT'S KIND OF
HOW I DID, UM--
THAT'S KIND OF HOW I DID
MY DREAMCATCHER.
SO, I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED
DOING THAT WITH ME.
SO, UM, YEAH,
THAT WAS KIND OF FUN.
AND UH, WE LEARNED
ABOUT DREAMCATCHERS
JUST IN THAT LAST EPISODE
OF, UH,
THAT WE JUST WATCHED AND UH,
IT'S AMAZING,
THE STORY BEHIND IT
ABOUT HOW IT SORT OF CATCHES
AND FILTERS OUT THE
BAD THOUGHTS, THE BAD DREAMS,
AND UM, MAKES
THE GOOD DREAMS ENTER.
AND THAT'S SUCH
A GREAT CONCEPT.
WE ALL WANT TO HAVE
GOOD DREAMS, OKAY?”
Robert adds,
“SO, TODAY,
BOYS AND GIRLS,
WE TALKED ABOUT ALL KINDS
OF WONDERFUL THINGS,
ALL KINDS
OF INTERESTING THINGS.
WE TALKED ABOUT HEROES,
HOW WE CAN RECOGNIZE HEROES.
UH,
AND WE COULD RECOGNIZE THEM
BY SOME OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS
THAT THEY DO.
NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES.
AND UH,
SOME OF THEM ARE WEARING
UNIFORMS IN HOSPITALS,
SOME OF THEM ARE WEARING
UNIFORMS OUTSIDE.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM
ARE JUST EVERYDAY PEOPLE
DOING WONDERFUL THINGS
FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM
ARE JUST LIKE YOU AND I,
YOU KNOW,
DOING THE RIGHT THING
AT THE RIGHT TIME
FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
WE KNOW THAT BEING A HERO
IS TOUGH WORK.
WE DID OUR, YOU KNOW,
OUR HERO WORKOUT TO PREPARE.
AND THAT WAS LOTS OF FUN.
UH, AND WE TALKED
ABOUT HEROES OF THE PAST.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW HISTORY
IS JUST FULL OF STORIES,
AND HOW, YOU KNOW,
HISTORY SO FUN BECAUSE, UM,
WE CAN LEARN ABOUT HEROES
FROM THE PAST
AND ALL OF THEM,
ALL OF THEIR STORIES THAT
THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PAST
THAT MAKE US THINK, WOW,
THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE STORY
AND UM, WE'RE LEARNING
ABOUT AN ACTUAL PERSON
FROM REAL EVENTS.”
Robert continues,
“AND UM, WE, YOU KNOW,
TODAY WE TALKED ABOUT
HARRIET TUBMAN AND HER BRAVERY
AND HEROICS AND YOU KNOW,
JUST THE SIMPLE FACT THAT SHE
DISGUISED HERSELF AND YOU KNOW,
DID ALL THESE
WONDERFUL THINGS,
AND WAS PART OF A NETWORK
THAT SAVED SO MANY PEOPLE
UH, FROM SLAVERY.
AND YOU KNOW,
SAVED PEOPLE'S LIVES.
AND IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL STORY
AND SHE IS A REAL PERSON.
AND IF YOU SIT BACK AND THINK
SHE'S NOT WEARING A CAPE,
SHE'S NOT, UM, YOU KNOW,
LIKE THAT.
SHE'S NOT FLYING AROUND
IN THE SKY LIKE THAT,
BUT SHE'S, YOU KNOW,
A REAL PERSON WHO ACTUALLY DID
REAL, WONDERFUL THINGS
A LONG TIME AGO AND REALLY
MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE.
AND UM,
IT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLE STORY
AND I THINK LEARNING ABOUT,
UM, YOU KNOW,
THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT
THE SLAVES HAD TO GO THROUGH
TO GAIN THEIR FREEDOM,
DEFINITELY IS AN IMPORTANT
PIECE OF HISTORY.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT
PIECE OF HISTORY
THAT WE ALL NEED TO LEARN,
AND IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT
WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET,
THOSE SACRIFICES.”
Robert concludes,
“WELL, BOYS AND GIRLS,
IT'S BEEN SO VERY WONDERFUL
TO SHARE MY PASSION OF HISTORY
WITH YOU TODAY.
UM, I HOPE YOU ENJOY
THE REST OF YOUR DAY
AND THANK YOU FOR AGAIN
INVITING ME INTO YOUR HOMES,
FOR THIS EPISODE OF
TVOKIDS
POWER HOUR OF LEARNING.
BYE FOR NOW.”
Text reads, “TVO would like to thank all the
teachers involved in the power hour of learning
at the continue to teach the children of Ontario
from their homes.”
Credits read, “TVO Kids Power Hour of Learning. TVO.”
TVOKIDS POWER HOUR OF LEARNING.”
Text reads, “Today’s junior lesson, Heroes
of our past”
Robert says,
“HELLO, BOYS AND GIRLS,
AND WELCOME
TO ANOTHER EXCITING EPISODE OF
TVOKIDS POWER HOUR OF LEARNING.
MY NAME IS ROBERT
AND I'M SO VERY EXCITED AGAIN
TO BE HERE WITH YOU.
UM, WE'VE GOT AN EXCITING DAY
PLANNED FOR YOU TODAY.
UM,
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING
ABOUT ONE OF MY
FAVOURITE SUBJECTS,
AND, UM, I'M WONDERING
IF MAYBE YOU CAN GUESS
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THIS TOPIC IS A VERY, UH,
EXCITING TOPIC.
UH, IT'S A DYNAMIC TOPIC.
UH, IT'S A TOPIC
THAT COULD BE SUPER FAST.
IT'S A TOPIC
THAT COULD BE STRONG.
IT'S A TOPIC
THAT COULD FLY.
IT'S A TOPIC THAT COULD DO
ALL OF THOSE THINGS
OR EVEN
NONE OF THOSE THINGS.
AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU KNOW
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.”
Robert explains,
“I'M TALKING ABOUT HEROES.
THAT'S RIGHT,
BOYS AND GIRLS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT HEROES.
AND I'M WONDERING,
WHEN I SAY THE WORD "HERO",
WHAT DO YOU PICTURE
IN YOUR HEAD?
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF
WHEN I SAY THE WORD "HERO"?
NOW, ARE YOU THINKING
OF A RED CAPE
OR MAYBE A BIG S
ON SOMEBODY'S CHEST?
OR A BAT?
UH, OR DO YOU THINK
OF A SOLDIER, A FIREFIGHTER,
A POLICE OFFICER,
OR MAYBE EVEN NURSES
OR DOCTORS
OR, UH, PARAMEDICS?
THOSE CAN ALL BE
SOME TYPE OF HERO,
AND THOSE ARE REALLY GREAT
EXAMPLES OF HEROES.”
Robert asks,
“UH, WHAT DO ALL THOSE HEROES
HAVE IN COMMON, I WONDER?
WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?
WELL, JUST THINKING
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD,
I THINK THAT THEY PROBABLY
ALL HAVE TO BE PRETTY BRAVE
TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT THEY HAVE TO DO.
UM, THEY HAVE TO BE
VERY GOOD PEOPLE
TO WANT TO BE PUT IN A POSITION
OF HELPING OTHER PEOPLE
THE WAY THAT THEY DO.
UM, AND UH,
THEY DEFINITELY, UH,
HAVE REALLY GREAT TRAITS
LIKE THAT.
BUT I ALSO THINK
THAT, UM,
HEROES CAN BE EVERYDAY PEOPLE
DOING GOOD THINGS.
SO, HEROES CAN BE THOSE PEOPLE
WITH THOSE GREAT UNIFORMS,
BUT THEY CAN ALSO CAN BE PEOPLE
LIKE YOU AND I,
WHO ARE JUST DOING NICE THINGS
FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
AND UM, YOU KNOW,
DOING GREAT THINGS
FOR OUR COMMUNITIES
MAYBE RIGHT AROUND US.
MAYBE, UH,
GIVING TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
GIVING BACK
TO OUR COMMUNITIES.”
Robert adds,
“UM, YOU KNOW,
'CAUSE EVERYBODY,
ESPECIALLY YOU,
BOYS AND GIRLS,
HAVE THE POTENTIAL
OF BEING A HERO.
UH, WE HAVE TO DO IS LOOK
AT THOSE GREAT EXAMPLES
OF HEROES THAT WE KNOW,
AND MAYBE FOLLOW
IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS,
LOOK AT WHAT MAKES THEM
A GREAT HERO
AND, SEE IF WE CAN TRY TO DO
SOME OF THOSE SAME THINGS.
SO, I SPOKE EARLIER
ABOUT SOME OF THE HEROES
AND I SPOKE ABOUT, UM,
YOU KNOW,
MAYBE SOME OF THEM
THAT YOU WERE THINKING OF.
AND I MENTIONED
THE WORD "NURSE",
AND I LIKE TO MENTION
THE WORD "NURSE"
BECAUSE MY OWN SISTER
IS A NURSE.
MY BIG SISTER IS A NURSE,
AND I THINK OF
JUST HOW WONDERFUL SHE IS,
HOW SHE HELPS PEOPLE WHEN
THEY'RE SICK OR THEY'RE HURT.
IT'S GOTTA BE A TOUGH JOB
BECAUSE SOMETIMES
SHE WORKS LATE AT NIGHT,
SOMETIMES SHE HAS TO WORK
EARLY IN THE MORNINGS.
SO, SHE WORKS SHIFT WORK,
AND SHE ALWAYS IS IN A POSITION
OF HELPING OTHER PEOPLE.
AND SO,
WHEN THEY LEAVE HER CARE
THEY ARE FEELING MUCH BETTER
THAN THEY WERE
WHEN THEY ENDED UP IN THE
HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WORKS.
AND SO, I THINK THAT SHE IS
A FANTASTIC HERO.”
Robert continues,
”UM-- OH.
SPEAKING OF NURSES,
I WANT TO CHECK OUT AIMEE.
SHE WANTS TO BE A NURSE
WHEN SHE IS GROWING UP--
WHEN SHE GROWS UP,
I SHOULD SAY.
AND UM, SHE WANTS TO WORK
AS A PART OF A SUPERHERO TEAM
OF DOCTORS AND NURSES
WHO HELP PEOPLE
WHO ARE INJURED AND SICK.
SO, LET'S CHECK IT OUT
RIGHT NOW.”
A girl wearing an orange t-shirt says,
“HI, I'M AIMEE.
IF I COULD BE ANYTHING,
I'D BE AN NURSE!”
A girl swims through a cartoon
underwater world.
A female singer sings,
“IMAGINE
IMAGINE
IMAGINE POWERFUL
IMAGINE COMICAL
IMAGINE MAGICAL
CAN YOU
IMAGINE THAT?”
Text reads “Can you Imagine That!
Starring Aimee.”
Aimee draws a picture on an easel.
She says, “HI, I'M AIMEE.
IF I COULD BE ANYTHING,
I'D BE AN NURSE!”
A drawing of a nurse in purple
scrubs waves.
Aimee continues,
“I WOULD TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE SICK OR INJURED.
THEY WOULD BE MY PATIENTS.
IF I WAS A NURSE,
I WOULD WEAR SCRUBS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL
THE UNIFORM THAT NURSES WEAR.
MINE WOULD BE PURPLE.
SOMETIMES I'D WORK
IN A HUGE HOSPITAL.
WITH DOCTORS,
AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF NURSES.
WE WOULD WORK AS A TEAM,
A SUPERHERO TEAM
TO HELP MAKE PEOPLE BETTER.”
A cartoon man with a bandage around
his head and a thermometer in his
mouth enters the hospital.
(Man sniffling)
Aimee says,
“WHEN SOMEONE
ISN'T FEELING WELL,
OR GETS HURT,
THEY COME TO THE HOSPITAL.
THEY WOULD GET
TO SEE ME FIRST.
I WOULD ASK QUESTIONS
TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
I WOULD DO SOME EASY TESTS,
LIKE TAKING
THEIR TEMPERATURE.
SAY "AAAH!"
SO I CAN CHECK
IF YOU HAVE A FEVER.”
Aimee draws a picture of a horse in
the hospital hallway.
She says,
“AS A NURSE,
I WOULD BE REALLY GOOD
AT MAKING MY PATIENTS
FEEL COMFORTABLE.”
Aimee’s horse drawing comes to life
Aimee adds,
“BECAUSE BEING SICK OR HURT
ISN'T ANY FUN.”
Aimee nods,
She goes on,
“AS A SUPER NURSE,
I WOULD HAVE A SUPER PARTNER
TO MAKE MY JOB SUPER FUN!”
Aimee stands with a drawing of a bear
with a cape.
She says, “SQUIGGLES,
MY GIANT CUDDLY TEDDY BEAR,
WOULD GIVE MY PATIENTS
THE GIGGLES.”
Aimee and Squiggles hug.
Aimee adds,
“I WOULD WANT TO BE
A PEDIATRIC NURSE.
THAT'S A NURSE
WHO HELPS KIDS AND BABIES.”
[Babies crying]
Aimee walks through a nursery.
She continues,
“I WOULD CHECK UP ON THE NEWBORN
BABIES WHO ARE REALLY TINY.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO STAY
IN THE HOSPITAL
A LITTLE LONGER
UNTIL THEY GROW
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I WOULD TAKE
GOOD CARE OF THEM,
LIKE WHEN I HELPED MY MOM
WHEN MY SISTER WAS A BABY.”
Squiggles enters an x-ray machine.
Aimee continues, “I WOULD BE
THE MOST FUN NURSE!
I WOULD KEEP KIDS
HAPPY AND LAUGHING
WHILE THEY WAIT TO DO
THEIR TESTS OR X-RAYS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT
YOUR FUNNY BONE, SQUIGGLES.
OR I COULD BE A NURSE
IN THE OPERATING ROOM,
HELPING THE SURGEON.
SHE'S THE DOCTOR WHO DOES
ALL THE OPERATIONS.”
Aimee hands a doctor
surgical tools in an operating room.
Aimee says,
“I'D HAND THE DOCTOR
ALL THE TOOLS SHE NEEDS
AND THEN I'D CHECK
ON THE PATIENT.
THERE YOU GO, MRS. CLOCK.
ALL BETTER NOW.”
Aimee sits in a classroom.
She continues, “AS A NURSE,
I WOULD VISIT SCHOOLS
AND REMIND KIDS
ABOUT HOW TO STAY HEALTHY.
SQUIGGLES AND I
WOULD TEACH KIDS
TO ALWAYS WASH THEIR HANDS.
OR SNEEZE INTO THEIR ELBOWS
SO WE DON'T SPREAD GERMS.
CAREFUL, SQUIGGLES.
THAT'S WHERE
YOUR FUNNY BONE IS.
THE BEST PART
OF BEING A NURSE
IS SHOWING MY PATIENTS
HOW BRAVE THEY ARE.
OKAY, MR. GIANT.
TIME FOR YOUR SHOT.
THIS IS MEDICINE THAT WILL HELP
KEEP YOU FROM GETTING SICK.
EVEN GIANTS
ARE SOMETIMES AFRAID.
THERE, ALL DONE!
YOU DID IT!
I LOVE BEING ABLE
TO HELP PEOPLE.”
The female singer sings,
“CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO BE
CAN YOU IMAGINE THERE'S
A WORLD FULL OF FANTASY?
AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT
LOTS, IT BECOMES SO REAL
DID YOU KNOW, DID YOU KNOW,
DID YOU KNOW?
THAT YOU CAN DO
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO
IMAGINE THIS OR THAT
THINK OF SOMETHING NEW
AND YOU CAN ALWAYS CHANGE
A THING OR TWO
ANYTHING YOU WANT,
IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU
BA, BA, BA, BA, BA,
BA-DA BA-DA
BA, BA, BA, BA, BA,
BA-DA BA-DA
BA, BA, BA, BA,
BA, BA-DA BA-DA
BA, BA, BA, BA, BA,
BA-DA BA-DA
BA, BA-DA BA-DA
BA, BA-DA BA-DA
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?
I'M AIMEE AND I'M A NURSE.
IMAGINE THAT!”
Aimee says,
“I’M A NURSE, IMAGINE THAT!”
Credits roll. Executive producers, John
Leitch, Michelle Melanson Caperus.
Created by Annick Obansewin.
Supervising Producer, Nadine Henry,
Evecutive Producers, TVO, Patricia Ellingson.
Text reads, “Produced in association with
TVO, TVO Kids, Radical Sheep.”
(Sheep bleating)
Robert says, “WELL, THAT WAS GREAT,
BOYS AND GIRLS.
I GUESS BEING A NURSE
IS KIND OF TOUGH WORK.
AND WORKING WITH A TEAM
LIKE THAT MUST BE FANTASTIC
AND A REWARDING JOB.
SO, UM, BEING A HERO,
I GUESS YOU HAVE
TO BE TOUGH. OKAY?
YOU KNOW WHAT,
BOYS AND GIRLS?
SOMETIMES HEROES ARE NOT JUST
FOUND ALL AROUND US,
BUT THEY ARE ALSO FOUND
IN OUR PAST.
UH, THAT'S RIGHT.
IN OUR OWN HISTORY,
THERE ARE MANY, MANY STORIES.
OUR HISTORY IS FULL OF STORIES
ABOUT HEROES IN OUR PAST.
AND UM, I THINK
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY I LOVE HISTORY SO MUCH,
IS BECAUSE WE GET TO LEARN
ABOUT THESE HEROES
THAT COME OUT OF NOWHERE,
OUT OF SOMETIMES
REALLY AWFUL SITUATIONS,
AND THESE HEROES
COME OUT OF NOWHERE
AND DO THESE
FANTASTIC THINGS.”
Robert continues,
“AND, THEY, UM,
REALLY GO THROUGH A LOT
OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND THEY DO HEROIC THINGS
LIKE THAT,
TO OVERCOME A LOT OF
REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT,
UH, SITUATIONS.
AND SO, I THINK THAT'S
ONE OF THE REASONS REALLY
WHY I LOVE HISTORY IS TO LEARN
ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE.
UM, AND THEY DO IT
WITHOUT TECHNOLOGY.
I MEAN, WE HAVE THIS FANTASTIC
TECHNOLOGY AROUND US NOW,
AND I THINK ABOUT
SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT PEOPLE IN THE PAST
MUST HAVE GONE THROUGH
AND THEN I SAY, "WOW!
"THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE,
YOU KNOW,
"CELL PHONES OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT BACK THEN.
"I WONDER HOW THEY
GOT THROUGH LIFE!"
AND UH, IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT
SOME PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH
IN THE PAST.
UH, AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS
THEY MUST HAVE MADE.
THE MUST'VE BEEN
PRETTY TOUGH.”
Robert adds, “AND UH,
SPEAKING OF TOUGH,
I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW,
WE'VE BEEN SITTING AROUND
FOR A LITTLE BIT,
MAYBE A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG.
AND BEFORE WE GET ANY FURTHER,
UM,
UH, IF WE ALL WANT
TO BE HEROES,
MAYBE WE NEED TO GET
KIND OF LIKE, HERO TOUGH.
AND I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE
WE'D DO A LITTLE STRETCH
AND MOVE AROUND,
AND STRENGTHEN OUR BODIES
A LITTLE BIT
LIKE HEROES MUST DO.
UH, SO WHY DON'T YOU
COME FOLLOW ME
AND UM,
WE'LL DO SOME HERO MOVES
AND A LITTLE BIT
OF A HERO WORKOUT?”
Robert holds a thin blue jacket
He says, “OKAY, BOYS AND GIRLS.
I'M STANDING TALL NOW AND
I'VE GOT MY WORKOUT JACKET HERE.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A CAPE.
I'M GONNA PUT IT ON.”
(Superhero theme music playing)
Robert puts on the jacket
He continues,
“OH, I FEEL LIKE A HERO NOW.
NO, I'M JUST JOKING AROUND.
IT'S JUST A NICE JACKET
TO WORK OUT IN.
UH, SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
IS WE'RE GONNA START OFF
JUST LITTLE STEPS,
LITTLE STEPS,
AND I WANT YOU TO JUST PUSH
YOUR HANDS FORWARD LIKE THIS.”
Robert makes a punching motion
with his arms.
He says,
“PUSH YOUR HANDS FORWARD,
WORK OUT THOSE MUSCLES
ON THE TOP OF OUR ARMS.
THERE WE GO.
AND MAYBE UP HIGHER ABOVE”.
Robert punches straight up.
He adds,
“GOOD.
HOW'S IT FEELING?
OH, KEEP THOSE FEET GOING,
KEEP THOSE FEET GOING.
AND THEN
I'M GONNA PUSH DOWN.”
Robert punches toward the floor.
He instructs,
“UP AND DOWN, UP AND DOWN.
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
AND THEN I'M GOING
TO GIVE MYSELF A BIG HUG
TO STRETCH IT OUT.
BIG HUGS, BIG HUGS.”
Robert swings his arms around
his body.
He says,
”OKAY, NOW I'M GONNA BE LIFTING
MY LEGS UP NICE AND TALL,
NICE AND TALL.
MY KNEES ARE GONNA GO UP
NICE AND TALL,
LIKE I'M DOING GIANT STEPS.
LEAPING BUILDINGS.”
Robert raises a fist in the air.
(Chuckling)
Robert adds, “OKAY?
LET'S SEE HOW HIGH
THEY CAN GO.
IN FACT, WHAT WE CAN DO
IS WE CAN DO A CLAP
UNDERNEATH OUR KNEES.
THERE YOU GO!
OR YOU CAN DO IT
ON TOP OF THE KNEE.”
Robert claps as he lifts each knee
one at a time.
Robert says, “WHATEVER ONE
YOU WANT TO DO.
OR, YOU COULD EVEN DO
A LITTLE TAP ON TOP OF YOUR KNEE
AS YOU'RE BRINGING IT UP.
OH, NOW I'M FEELING IT.
AND THEN
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
IS WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE
THE DIRECTION OF OUR LEGS
AND BRING THEM BEHIND US.
BRING THEM BEHIND US.”
Robert slides his feet back, one at a
time, and raises them to his knee.
Robert adds,
“AND I'M TRYING TO BRING MY HEEL
ALL THE WAY BACK TO MY BACK.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE I'M PUSHING
THE GROUND AWAY FROM ME.
THERE YOU GO.
JUST A FEW MORE.
AND NOW WE'RE GONNA GO
DOWN AND UP, DOWN AND UP.
DOWN AND UP.
DOWN AND UP.”
Robert does squats.
He says, “JUST A FEW MORE.
THAT'S IT.
GOOD JOB.
AND THREE,
TWO,
ONE.
GREAT JOB,
BOYS AND GIRLS.
NICE LITTLE WORKOUT
FOR THE SUPERHEROES OUT THERE.”
Robert sits at a desk.
“HEY, THAT WAS GREAT,
BOYS AND GIRLS.
I HOPE YOU FEEL ENERGIZED
AND FOCUSED MAYBE ON--
MAYBE WE COULD FOCUS NOW
A LITTLE BIT NOW
ON WHAT I WAS
TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.
UM, I ALWAYS NEED
TO MOVE AROUND A LITTLE BIT
AND REFOCUS MY BRAIN.
AND UM, YOU KNOW,
STRENGTHEN UP MY BODY
A LITTLE BIT.
AND NOW I FEEL READY TO GO.
UM, WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT HEROES
AND HOW TOUGH
IT MUST HAVE BEEN--
IT MUST BE FOR ALL
THE GREAT THINGS THAT THEY DO.
UH, AND THE HEROES
FROM THE PAST
AND A LOT OF THE GREAT STORIES
FROM THE PAST
IN OUR OWN HISTORY,
AND UH,
HOW WONDERFUL
OUR HISTORY IS
BECAUSE OF SOME
OF THOSE FANTASTIC PEOPLE,
THOSE HEROES
THAT WE HEAR ABOUT.
WHICH BRINGS YOU
TO TELL ME THAT MY, UM,
MY HEROES,
MY FAVOURITE HEROES,
ARE ACTUALLY FROM OUR HISTORY,
ARE FROM OUR PAST.”
Robert continues,
“UH, SO, YOU MIGHT HAVE
FAVOURITE HEROES
FROM ALL AROUND YOU,
BUT SOME OF MY FAVOURITES
ARE FROM THE PAST.
AND UM, ONE OF THEM THAT
I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU TODAY,
BOYS AND GIRLS,
IS ABOUT HARRIET TUBMAN.
NOW, HARRIET TUBMAN--
I'M WONDERING IF ANY OF YOU
HAVE EVER HEARD OF HER BEFORE?
MAYBE SOME OF YOU.
MAYBE NOT.”
(Chuckling)
Robert adds,
“THAT'S OKAY.
HARRIET TUBMAN WAS BORN
A VERY LONG TIME AGO.
HARRIET TUBMAN
WAS BORN IN 1822.
SO, I'M JUST DOING THE MATH
IN MY HEAD RIGHT NOW.
WOW, THAT WAS, UM--
WE'RE IN 2021 RIGHT NOW.
SO, THAT WAS 199 YEARS AGO.
THAT'S ALMOST 200 YEARS AGO.
WOW.
UH, SO YOU MIGHT BE THINKING,
WHO WAS HARRIET TUBMAN
AND WHAT DID SHE DO
THAT WAS SO HEROIC?
WHAT MAKES HER A HERO?
UH, AND UM, WOW.
WAIT UNTIL YOU FIND OUT
ABOUT HARRIET TUBMAN.
UM, SO, UH, HARRIET TUBMAN,
SHE WASN'T A NURSE.
AND I'M PRETTY SURE
SHE DIDN'T WEAR A RED CAPE.
SO, SHE WASN'T THAT KIND
OF A HERO.
BUT SHE WAS
INCREDIBLY COURAGEOUS
AND FACED A LOT OF SCARY THINGS
IN HER LIFE.
YOU SEE, HARRIET TUBMAN
LIVED IN THE UNITED STATES
BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN IT WAS
LEGAL TO OWN PEOPLE AS SLAVES.”
Robert goes on,
“THAT'S RIGHT,
BOYS AND GIRLS.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE
OWNED OTHER PEOPLE AS SLAVES.
AND IT--
IT JUST SOUNDS AWFUL TO US
TO THINK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND IT WAS, UM,
IT WAS IN THE PAST AND UH,
IT'S AN AWFUL PAST
TO THINK ABOUT,
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK
WE SHOULD ALL REMEMBER HAPPENED.
AND I THINK ONE OF
THE WORST THINGS IS, UM,
THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE
WHO WERE SLAVES
WERE SLAVES BECAUSE OF
THE COLOUR OF THEIR SKIN.
SO, IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON
TO GO THROUGH
THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES
AND SEE FARMS AND PLANTATIONS
WITH BLACK SLAVES
WORKING IN VERY,
VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.
AND HAVING VERY LITTLE THINGS
TO EAT,
BEING PUNISHED FOR VERY LITTLE
REASONS OR NO REASONS AT ALL,
AND VERY--
JUST TREATED HORRIBLY.
JUST TREATED HORRIBLY.
AND SO, HARRIET TUBMAN
WAS ONE OF THOSE SLAVES.
YEAH, SHE WAS A SLAVE.
AND LIKE MANY SLAVES,
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE,
LIVING IN CONDITIONS
LIKE THAT,
SHE JUST LIKE--
SHE JUST COULDN'T STAY AROUND.
SHE HAD TO FIND A WAY
TO ESCAPE.
AND SO, SHE WAS SO BRAVE,
SHE FOUND A WAY TO ESCAPE
ALL THE WAY FROM THE SOUTH
OF THE UNITED STATES,
UM, ALL THE WAY--
ALL THE WAY TO CANADA.”
Robert adds,
“AND UM, SHE MADE IT.
SHE WAS SO COURAGEOUS AND SHE
HAD TO DO ALL KINDS OF,
UM, ADVENTUROUS THINGS
AND HIDING,
AND PEOPLE WERE, YOU KNOW,
ON HER SIDE
AND SHE HAD TO HIDE
DURING THE NIGHTTIME,
UM, AND HIDE IN DIFFERENT HOUSES
AND BASEMENTS
AND PROBABLY VERY SCARED,
SCARY SITUATIONS.
UM, BUT SHE MADE IT,
AND SHE MUST HAVE BEEN
SO RELIEVED TO MAKE IT
AND UM, TO BE ABLE
TO COME TO CANADA,
WHERE IT WAS FREE
FOR HER TO BE HER OWN PERSON
AND NOT A SLAVE.
BUT YOU KNOW,
THAT'S NOT WHY I THINK
HARRIET TUBMAN IS A HERO.
I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING
THAT SHE DID ESCAPE,
IT'S AMAZING THAT SHE WAS
THAT COURAGEOUS,
AND THAT ALONE
WAS A VERY HEROIC THING TO DO,
IS TO BE ABLE
TO ESCAPE THAT SLAVERY.
BUT UM, THE REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY HEROIC THING
IS THAT HARRIET TUBMAN
DIDN'T JUST HANG OUT IN CANADA
AND ENJOY HER FREEDOM ALONE.
UM, HARRIET TUBMAN
WAS PART OF A SYSTEM.
AND I DON'T WANT
TO GIVE IT ALL AWAY RIGHT NOW,
BUT UM, WHAT SHE DID
WAS SHE ENDED UP GOING BACK
TO THE UNITED STATES
MANY, MANY TIMES,
AND SHE HELPED OTHER SLAVES,
OTHER BLACK SLAVES
ESCAPE THE UNITED STATES
AND COME TO CANADA,
WHERE SHE HAD
FOUND FREEDOM HERSELF.”
Robert continues,
“SO, INSTEAD OF STAYING
WHERE IT WAS SAFE,
INSTEAD OF SAYING, YOU KNOW,
"I'M SAFE HERE.
"I'M NOT GONNA MOVE ANYWHERE
'CAUSE I'M TOO SCARED,"
SHE WAS SO BRAVE,
SHE CAME BACK TO THE UNITED
STATES MANY TIMES,
HIDING AND ALL THOSE, YOU KNOW,
SCARY THINGS,
JUST TO SAVE OTHER PEOPLE
AND BRING THEM TO FREEDOM
AS WELL.
UM, SO UM, HARRIET TUBMAN
IS QUITE THE HERO
AND UM, YOU KNOW,
OBVIOUSLY, HER BRAVERY AND
COURAGE, UM, IS INCREDIBLE.
AND UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS--
THIS IS A STORY IN HISTORY
THAT'S FILLED WITH SECRETS,
DISGUISES, UH, YOU KNOW,
NEW FRIENDSHIPS.
AND THIS IS WHY I LOVE HISTORY
SO MUCH, BOYS AND GIRLS.
LEARNING ABOUT PEOPLE
AND LEARNING ABOUT ALL THE GREAT
THINGS THAT THEY'VE DONE.
UM, IT REALLY REVEALS
INTERESTING PEOPLE
AND HOW THEY SHAPED
THE WAY THINGS ARE TODAY.
UH, AND UM, HISTORY CAN BE
LIKE UNVEILING A MYSTERY.
AND UH, YOU KNOW,
LOOKING AND UNVEILING A MYSTERY
AND LOOKING FOR CLUES,
AND TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER
THOSE CLUES
TO TELL THE STORY
OF A MYSTERY.
AND I CAN'T THINK
OF ANY BETTER MYSTERY SOLVERS
THAN THE
MYSTERY FILES.”
Robert says,
“SO, LET'S WATCH THIS TOGETHER,
BOYS AND GIRLS,
AND LET'S LEARN A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT HARRIET TUBMAN,
AND EVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE
THAN THAT.
ENJOY.”
A dusty box old box has a label
that reads, “Band of Angels”
(E.B. reads label out loud)
E.B. says, “EHMM.
Kyla replies,
“MAYBE IT WAS A ROCK BAND
GREAT AUNT HERMIONE
WAS REALLY INTO.”
E.B. adds,
“I CAN'T IMAGINE GREAT AUNT
HERMIONE AS A ROCKER.”
Aunt Tilly smiles.
(Guitar riff is played)
Kyla replies,
“WELL, LET'S SEE.”
She opens the box. A postcard of a
white chapel lays on top of a pile
of objects inside.
Kyla asks,
“WHAT'S THAT?
SALEM CHAPEL, ST. CATHARINES,
ONTARIO, CANADA.
I WONDER WHO THE WOMAN IS
IN THIS PICTURE.”
Harriet Tubman’s black and white photograph
Is printed on the top right corner of the chapel
postcard.
E.B. asks,
“DOES SHE LOOK LIKE
SOMEONE FROM A ROCK BAND?”
Tilly replies,
“NOT REALLY.”
Aunt Tilly says,
“THERE'S SOMETHING
ON THE BACK!”
Kyla reads,
“STEAL AWAY, STEAL AWAY HOME.”
She adds, “OH.
SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE
PART OF A POEM.
OR SONG LYRICS!”
Aunt Tilly says,
“YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.”
Kyla replies, “MAYBE THE MYSTERY
IS ABOUT MUSIC!”
E.B. pulls a dreamcatcher out of
the box.
He says, “OOH.
CHECK IT OUT.
A FEATHERY THING,
WITH A RED DOT
IN THE MIDDLE.”
E.B. Picks up a lantern out of the box.
He adds, “HMM.
SOME SORT OF A LAMP.
BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
NONE OF THESE THINGS
SEEM TO GO TOGETHER.
HMM.”
Kyla says
“ALL RIGHT.
I'M HEADING
TO THE CHURCH.”
E.B. adds,
“AND UH, I'LL WORK
ON THIS CLUE.”
He picks up the dreamcatcher.
Aunt Tilly says, “AND I'LL TAKE THIS.”
She grabs the lantern.
E.B. says, “OH, YEAH.”
Kyla asks,
“ARE WE READY?”
E.B. replies, “READY!”
Aunt Tilly adds, “YES!”
(Camera shuttering snapping)
A light shines on E.B. and Kyla.
They look at a photograph of
Aunt Hermione.
A female singer sings,
“HISTORY IS FULL OF MYSTERIES
GREAT AUNT HERMIONE
COULD BE HEARD TO SAY
YOU HAVE TO KNOW
WHAT CAME BEFORE
TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD TODAY
SHE WAS GONNA WRITE A BOOK
CALLED MYSTERY FILES
TO TELL WHAT SHE UNCOVERED
BUT TIME RAN OUT,
NEW ADVENTURES CAME FIRST
SO SHE LEFT HER SECRETS
UNDISCOVERED
AUNT TILLY INHERITED
HER BIG OLD HOUSE
FILLED WITH FILES AND CLUES
OF MUMMIES, SPIES,
AND VOYAGERS
SCARY CREATURES TOO
E.B. AND KYLA
WILL COME THROUGH
THEY'LL SOLVE
THE MYSTERY FILESUNRAVEL
ALL THE MYSTERIES
UPLOADED IN HISTORY
TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY FILES.”
A title reads, “The Mystery Files”.
The sun shines brightly on the chapel.
Kyla compares it to the postcard.
She says,
“THIS IS DEFINITELY THE PLACE.”
Kyla runs into the chapel.
A dark-haired woman stands on the
alter of the empty chapel.
She sings,
“STEAL AWAY
STEAL AWAY HOME
I AIN'T GOT LONG
TO STAY HERE”
Kyla turns to a woman sitting beside
her in a pew.
Kyla says, “WOW.
SHE'S AMAZING.”
The woman in the pew agrees,
“OH, THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.”
The dark-haired woman
approaches Kyla.
Kyla says,
“HI.”
The dark-haired woman replies,
“HI, HOW ARE YOU?”
Kyla says, “I'M GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?”
The dark-haired woman responds,
“GOOD.”
Kyla continues,
“I'M INVESTIGATING
A MYSTERY,
AND SOME OF THE WORDS
THAT YOU JUST SANG
ARE WRITTEN ON THE BACK
OF THIS POSTCARD
THAT WE GOT AS A CLUE.”
The dark-haired woman replies,
“YES, "STEAL AWAY HOME".
THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT I WAS SINGING.”
Kyla asks,
“HOW OLD IS THE SONG?”
The dark-haired woman answers,
“IT WAS WRITTEN
IN THE 1800S.”
Kyla says, “DEFINITELY NOT
A ROCK SONG, THEN.”
(Chuckling)
The dark-haired woman responds,
“NO.
THIS IS A CODED
SPIRITUAL.
A SPIRITUAL
IS LIKE A FOLK SONG.”
Kyla asks,
“SO, IT HAS A SECRET CODE
OR A MESSAGE?”
The woman in the pew adds,
“YES, IT DOES.”
Kyla says, “WELL,
IT DEFINITELY SOUNDS
LIKE THEY'RE TRYING
TO GET AWAY FROM SOMETHING,
SINCE IT'S CALLED
"STEAL AWAY".”
The dark-haired woman nods.
She says, “MM-HM.
THEY WERE
GATHERED TOGETHER
AND THEY WERE TAKEN
INTO THE WAGON,
WHICH WAS THE
"STEAL AWAY".
SO, THEY WERE UNDERNEATH
THE WAGON HIDING,
AND "STEAL AWAY HOME"
WAS TO WHERE THEY WERE GOING.”
Kyla asks, “SO, WHO SANG
THESE SONGS?”
The woman in the pew responds,
“ACTUALLY, THEY WERE SUNG
BY ENSLAVED BLACK PEOPLE
IN THE SOUTHERN PARTS
OF THE UNITED STATES.
SO, THEY WERE ACTUALLY
SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE
CONSIDERED AT THE TIME,
WAY BACK IN THE 1800S.
THEY WERE
OPPRESSED PEOPLE.
SOMEONE TOLD THEM
WHEN THEY COULD WORK,
SOMEONE TOLD THEM
WHEN THEY COULD SLEEP,
SOMEONE TOLD THEM
WHEN THEY COULD EAT.”
Kyla says,
“THAT SOUNDS HORRIBLE.
OH, IT WAS
VERY HORRIBLE.”
The dark-haired woman sings,
“WADE IN THE WATER
WADE IN THE WATER,
CHILDREN
WADE IN THE WATER
GOD'S GONNA TROUBLE
THE WATER”
Kyla replies,
“THAT ALSO SOUNDS
LIKE THEY WERE TRYING
TO ESCAPE FROM SOMETHING.”
The dark-haired woman says,
“YOU GOT IT.”
Kyla asks,
“AND THEY WERE TAKING
THE CHILDREN WITH THEM?”
The woman in the pew says,
“YES. AS MANY PEOPLE AS THEY
COULD POSSIBLY GATHER.”
Kyla asks, “I GUESS THE WATER
WAS SAFER?
THERE WEREN'T AS MANY PEOPLE
CHASING THEM?”
The dark-haired woman replies,
“VERY GOOD!
THE REAL STORY IS
THERE WERE DOGS
THAT WERE ON THE HUNT
FOR THEM.
SO, WHEN THEY STARTED TO SAY
"WADE IN THE WATER",
IT MEANT FOR YOU TO GET
INTO THE WATER TO HIDE
BECAUSE A DOG
CANNOT SMELL YOU
WHEN YOU'RE
IN THE WATER.”
(Phone ringing)
Aunt Tilly answers a video call from Kyla
on her laptop.
Aunt Tilly says,
“HEY, KYLA.”
Kyla responds,
“AUNT TILLY,
THIS MYSTERY
MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING
TO DO WITH SLAVES.
CAN YOU FIND OUT
ABOUT THAT?”
Aunt Tilly responds,
“ALREADY LOOKED INTO THAT.
PRETTY MUCH ALL
ANCIENT CULTURES HAD SLAVES,
AND SOME CULTURES HAD SLAVES
EVEN MORE RECENTLY.”
(Beeping)
Aunt Tilly continues,
“ABOUT 400 YEARS AGO,
EUROPEANS WHO CAME TO LIVE
IN NORTH AMERICA
BROUGHT OVER AFRICANS
TO HELP WORK ON THEIR TOBACCO
AND COTTON FARMS.
THEY WERE KIDNAPPED
FROM THEIR HOMELANDS,
BROUGHT TO THE NEW WORLD
AGAINST THEIR WILL,
TREATED AS PROPERTY,
AND FORCED TO WORK.
THEY WERE MADE INTO SLAVES.
SOME SAY AS MANY
AS SIX TO SEVEN MILLION
WERE BROUGHT OVER
IN THE 18TH CENTURY ALONE.”
Kyla replies,
“THAT'S REALLY HARD
TO IMAGINE.”
(Sighing)
Aunt Tilly responds,
“WHAT MIGHT BE EVEN WORSE
IS THAT EVEN MORE
THAN THAT MANY DIED
BECAUSE OF HORRIBLE CONDITIONS
ON THE SLAVE SHIPS
THAT BROUGHT THEM OVER.”
Kyla says,
“WOW.
THAT'S
UNBELIEVABLY SAD.
WHERE DID THE SLAVES WORK?”
Aunt Tilly answers,
“MOST OF THEM
WORKED ON PLANTATIONS
IN THE SOUTHERN US.
THEIR OWNERS MADE SURE THEY WERE
COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON THEM
AND BASICALLY CONTROLLED
THEIR LIVES.
THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED
TO LEARN TO READ OR WRITE,
AND THEY WERE OFTEN BEATEN
FOR REBELLING OR EVEN
FOR NO REASON AT ALL.”
Kyla replies,
“YOU SAID THEY WERE BROUGHT
TO NORTH AMERICA.
WAS IT JUST THE US,
OR CANADA TOO?”
Aunt Tilly responds,
“CANADA HAD SLAVES TOO.
THE FIRST ONES WERE BROUGHT
BY THE FRENCH SETTLERS
IN THE 1600S.
BUT IN 1793,
A LAW WAS PASSED
SO THAT ANY SLAVE
WHO REACHED CANADA
BECAME FREE IMMEDIATELY.
AND A FEW YEARS LATER,
SLAVERY WAS COMPLETELY ABOLISHED
IN CANADA.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT CONTINUED
IN THE SOUTHERN US UNTIL 1865.”
Kyla says,
“NO WONDER THEY WERE HIDING
AND TRYING TO GET AWAY.
I HAVE AN IDEA.
CHECK BACK WITH YOU LATER.”
Kyla turns to the woman in the pew.
She asks,
“ROCHELLE,
DID THE SLAVES
FROM THE SOUTHERN US
COME TO CANADA
AND TO THIS CHURCH?”
Rochelle replies, “YEAH, THEY CAME
TO THIS CHURCH
AND THEY CAME TO
VARIOUS PARTS IN CANADA,
BUT THIS CHURCH
IN PARTICULAR
WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART
OF ANTI-SLAVERY ACTIVITY.”
Kyla asks,
“DID THE WOMAN
IN THIS PICTURE
HAVE SOMETHING TO DO
WITH SLAVERY?”
Rochelle responds, “YES, SHE DID.
COME WITH ME AND
I'LL SHOW YOU MORE.”
Pictures of Harriet Tubman fill a
wood-paneled wall.
Rochelle continues,
“SEE HERE, KYLA?
THIS ENTIRE WALL IS DEDICATED
TO HARRIET TUBMAN,
THE WOMAN THAT'S ON
YOUR POSTCARD.”
Kyla asks,
“WAS SHE A SLAVE?”
Rochelle answers, “SHE WAS.
SHE WAS ENSLAVED
IN MARYLAND,
SHE ESCAPED FROM SLAVERY
IN 1849,
AND THEN SHE EVENTUALLY MADE
HER WAY HERE TO ST. CATHERINES.
IN FACT, SHE ATTENDED
THIS VERY CHURCH
RIGHT HERE
IN CATHERINE'S.”
Kyla asks, “THIS CHURCH
THAT WE'RE AT?”
Rochelle responds,
“ABSOLUTELY.
YES, SHE DID.”
Rochelle responds, “WOW.”
(Call ringing)
Kyla says, “WHAT'S UP, AUNT TILLY?”
Aunt Tilly replies, “HANG ON.
I'LL CONFERENCE IN E.B.”
E.B. says, “HI, GUYS.”
Aunt Tilly continues, “HEY.
I DID AN IMAGE SEARCH
AND THE WOMAN ON THAT POSTCARD
IS HARRIET TUBMAN.”
Kyla says, “I JUST FOUND
THAT OUT TOO.
SHE WORKED
AGAINST SLAVERY
AND ACTUALLY
ATTENDED THIS CHURCH.”
E.B. responds, “COOL!”
Aunt Tilly adds,
“SHE RISKED HER OWN LIFE
TO LEAD SLAVES TO FREEDOM,
RIGHT THERE
IN ST. CATHERINES!
LOOKS LIKE HER FIRST TRIP
TO ST. CATHARINES
WAS IN 1851,
WITH 11 RUNAWAY SLAVES.
FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS,
SHE CONTINUED GUIDING
OR GIVING ESCAPE INSTRUCTIONS
TO HUNDREDS OF SLAVES.”
E.B. says, “WOW!
WHAT A HERO!”
Aunt Tilly replies,
“YEAH. SHE MANAGED TO AVOID
BOUNTY HUNTERS.
THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO CHASE
FUGITIVES AND CRIMINALS
FOR REWARD MONEY.
THEY WERE ALWAYS TRYING
TO CATCH HER.
IT SEEMS THAT SOMETIMES
SHE DISGUISED HERSELF AS A MAN,
AND SOMETIMES
AS AN OLD LADY.”
Kyla responds,
“AMAZING.”
Aunt Tilly replies,
“SHE WAS CALLED
A CONDUCTOR.”
Kyla asks,
“LIKE A MUSIC
CONDUCTOR?”
Aunt Tilly answers, “NO.”
E.B. asks, “LIKE A TRAIN
CONDUCTOR?”
Aunt Tilly replies, “SORT OF.
SHE WAS PART
OF A NETWORK
CALLED THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.”
Kyla asks, “A RAILROAD THAT
WAS UNDERGROUND?
LIKE A SUBWAY?”
E.B. adds,
“COULDN'T REALLY BE A RAILROAD
UNDER THE GROUND, COULD IT?”
Aunt Tilly answers,
“IT WASN'T REALLY
A RAILROAD.
AND IT WASN'T
LITERALLY UNDERGROUND.
THEY CALLED IT THAT
BECAUSE IT WAS SECRET.”
Kyla says, “JUST LIKE THE WORDS
IN THE CODED SONGS!”
Aunt Tilly replies, “EXACTLY.”
Kyla responds,
“THANKS, AUNT TILLY.”
The video call is ended.
Kyla asks Rochelle, ”ARE THERE STILL
FAMILY MEMBERS HERE
OF PEOPLE THAT USED THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NETWORK?”
Rochelle answers, “YES.
IN ST. CATHARINES,
THERE'S ABOUT 30
FAMILY NAMES
THAT ARE STILL
DIRECTLY CONNECTED
TO THE UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD.”
Kyla asks,
“WHAT ABOUT
YOUR FAMILY?”
Rochelle replies, “YES.
THIS IS MY TWO TIMES
GREAT-GRANDPA
ON MY MOTHER'S SIDE,
MY GRANDMA,
AND THEN ON MY GRANDPA'S SIDE,
THERE'S MY GREAT UNCLE.
SO, THEY'RE ALL DESCENDANTS
OF RUNAWAY SLAVES TOO.”
Kyla replies,
“THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
IF THE NETWORK WASN'T
REALLY A RAILROAD,
HOW DID HARRIET TUBMAN
TAKE THE SLAVES NORTH?”
Rochelle says,
“WELL, SOMETIMES SHE WOULD
GUIDE THEM HERSELF,
AND SOMETIMES SHE WOULD
INSTRUCT THEM.
THEY WOULD MOVE
FROM SAFE HOUSE DESTINATION
TO SAFE HOUSE DESTINATION.
SO, IT WAS A NETWORK OF
ANTISLAVERY ACTIVISTS
WHO WERE HELPING RUNAWAY SLAVES
ESCAPE TO FREEDOM.”
The dark-haired woman sing at the alter,
“ SWING LOW,
SWEET CHARIOT
COMING FORTH
TO CARRY ME HOME
I LOOKED OVER JORDAN
AND WHAT DID I SEE?
COMING FORTH
TO CARRY ME HOME
A BAND OF ANGELS
COMIN' AFTER ME
COMING FORTH
TO CARRY ME HOME”
Rochelle says,
“THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL, TERESA.”
Kla says, “HEY!
A BAND OF ANGELS-
THAT'S HERMIONE'S
FILE LABEL!
DO YOU THINK
HARRIET TUBMAN
COULD'VE BEEN
CONSIDERED AN ANGEL?
SHE HELPED
SO MANY PEOPLE.
LIKE A GUARDIAN ANGEL?”
Rochelle replies,
“ABSOLUTELY.
AND SHE DID HELP
A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO, I WOULD SAY MORE LIKE
AN EARTHLY ANGEL.”
Kyla pulls out her phone and starts
A video call with E.B.
(Phone ringing)
She says, “HEY, E.B.
WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO SOLVING
THE "BAND OF ANGELS" MYSTERY.”
E.B. replies, “YEAH, AND ALSO PRETTY COOL
ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT--
TRACK?”
Kyla rolls her eyes.
(Chuckling)
E.B. adds, “WAIT, LET'S HOPE OUR PLANS
DON'T GET--
DERAILED!”
(Foghorn sounding)
E.B. continues,
“HEY,
GUESS WHAT I FOUND OUT.
THIS IS CALLED
A DREAMCATCHER.
I'M DREAMING IT'LL SOLVE
THIS MYSTERY!”
Kyla says, “YOU JUST DON'T STOP,
DO YOU?”
E.B. replies, “NOPE!
ANYWAY, DREAMCATCHERS ARE MADE
BY FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE.
PLUS, THEY'RE FEATHERY,
JUST LIKE THE WINGS
ON AN ANGEL.”
Kyla responds, “THAT'S TRUE.”
E.B. says, “CATCH YOU LATER.”
(Beeping)
E.B. hangs up.
Clouds float over flowers in a field.
The flowers sway in the breeze.
E.B. says,
“BECAUSE DREAMCATCHERS ARE MADE
BY FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE,
I'M ON MY WAY TO MEET SOMEONE
TO HELP ME INVESTIGATE.”
HI, I'M E.B.
NICE TO MEET YOU.”
Dave replies, “MY NAME'S DAVE.”
E.B. responds, “DAVE!
I'M TRYING
TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY
AND I'M GONNA
NEED YOUR HELP.
OKAY.
YEAH.
SO, OUR FIRST CLUES
ARE THIS
DREAMCATCHER HERE
AND THIS PICTURE
OF A POSTCARD.”
Dave replies,
“WELL, THAT POSTCARD
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
BUT A DREAMCATCHER
I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT.”
E.B. says, “ALL RIGHT.”
Dave continues,
“LONG STORY SHORT, IT'S MADE
ON THE IDEA OF A SPIDER WEB.
SO, ANY BAD ENERGY THAT'S COMING
TO YOU DURING THE NIGHTTIME
WILL GET CAUGHT
IN THIS WEB HERE.
BUT THE GOOD ENERGY WILL
BE ABLE TO PASS THROUGH.
IT'LL COME TO YOUR MIND
AND YOU'LL HAVE GOOD DREAMS.”
E.B. asks,
“NOW, DID THE SLAVES USED TO
CARRY THESE THINGS AROUND?”
Dave answers, “NO.
I REALLY DOUBT THAT.”
E.B. replies,
“WELL, OUR MYSTERY FILE LABEL
IS "BAND OF ANGELS",
SO ARE DREAMCATCHERS RELATED
TO ANGELS IN ANY WAY?”
Dave says, “NO.”
E.B. replies, “IT'S GOTTA MEAN
SOMETHING!
DID FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
MEET SLAVES
WHO WERE ESCAPING THROUGH
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD?”
Dave responds,
“ABSOLUTELY,
THEY DID.
THEY WERE A BIG PART
OF THE SYSTEM.”
E.B. says, “AH, OKAY.
SO HOW WERE
FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
ABLE TO HELP SLAVES
FIND THEIR WAY?”
Dave explains,
“IN THE EARLY DAYS
WHEN THE NETWORK WAS
STILL BEING DEVELOPED,
SOMETIMES SLAVES WOULD
ESCAPE AT NIGHT BY BOAT
AND COME ACROSS THE RIVER.
THIS AREA AROUND FORT ERIE CLOSE
TO THE WATER WAS VERY WOODED.
WE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
HAD OUR OWN PATHS
AND KNEW THE LAND
VERY WELL.”
E.B. live streams.
He says, “IT MUST HAVE BEEN
REALLY SCARY FOR SLAVES
JUST BEING DROPPED OFF
IN A TOTALLY STRANGE PLACE
WITH NO FOOD,
NO MAPS,
AND NO IDEA WHERE TO GO.”
E.B. says to Dave,
“SOME PRETTY TALL GRASS.”
Dave replies,
“YOU'VE GOTTA WATCH OUT.
THIS AREA HERE,
WE'VE HAD A CONFIRMED COUGAR.”
E.B. says, “WOW, A COUGAR?”
Dave responds,
“JUST DOWN OVER HERE!
I SAW THE TRACK.”
(Snarling)
A cougar wanders through a forest.
Dave continues,
“NOW, BE CAREFUL HERE.
WE HAVE POISON IVY
COMING UP AGAIN HERE.
SO, DOWN IN THIS AREA HERE IS
WHERE THE BOG ACTUALLY STARTS.”
E.B. says,
“DAVE TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE
SLAVES HAD TO MAKE THEIR WAY
THROUGH THIS AREA,
IT WAS A BOG.
THAT'S WET, MUDDY GROUND
TOO SOFT TO SUPPORT
A HEAVY BODY,
SO IT WAS REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY HARD TO WALK.”
Dave says, “BECAUSE IT WAS SO WET
OUT THERE,
IT WAS A VERY GOOD PLACE
FOR REPTILES TO GROW
AND THERE WAS A LOT
OF RATTLESNAKES
OUT THERE BACK THEN.”
A rattlesnake curls up.
(Rattling)
E.B. asks,
“WELL, WHAT IF A SLAVE
GOT BITTEN BY A RATTLESNAKE?”
Dave answers, “WELL, THERE ARE WAYS
OF HEALING THAT.”
E.B. says, “REALLY?”
Dave continues,
“YES, THERE'S A PLANT
CALLED THE PLANTAIN.”
E.B. explains, “DAVE SHOWED ME WHAT
FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE WOULD DO
IF THE SLAVE THEY WERE GUIDING
GOT BITTEN BY A POISONOUS
SNAKE.
THEY'D HEAT UP
THE PLANTAIN LEAVES
AND GIVE IT TO THEM
TO CHEW.”
E.B. says to Dave,
“OKAY, LET'S PRETEND
I JUST GOT A SNAKE BITE.”
(Snake Rattling)
A snake attacks.
E.B. adds,
“OW! OOH!
SNAKEBITE, REALLY HURTS.
SEE THAT?
JUST PUT IT IN?”
Dave replies,
“JUST PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH
AND CHEW
UNTIL YOU'VE
CHEWED IT UP GOOD.”
E.B. says, “TASTES LIKE SOIL.”
(Chuckling)
E.B. adds,
“LIKE YOU SAID,
IT TASTES VERY EARTHY.”
Dave agrees, “YES, IT DOES
TASTE VERY EARTHY.”
E.B. takes a plantain leaf out of
his mouth.
Dave looks at it and says,
“THAT'S GOOD.”
E.B. asks,
“AND YOU JUST APPLY IT
TO THE BITE?”
Dave says,
“APPLY IT TO THE BITE.
AS SOON AS IT DRIES UP,
YOU'VE GOTTA CHANGE IT,
PUT ANOTHER ONE ON.
SO YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE
LOTS OF THIS ON HAND.”
E.B. asks,
“SO, HOW LONG WOULD YOU
HAVE TO DO THAT FOR?”
Dave answers,
“THREE OR FOUR DAYS,
FOR SURE.”
E.B. says, “REALLY?”
Dave adds,
“DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH
VENOM YOU TOOK.
DO YOU SEE THAT?
LOOKS LIKE MY
SNAKE BITE IS CURED.”
Dave replies,
“OH, LOOK AT YOU.”
E.B. says,
“THAT IS AMAZING!”
Dave says, “YOU'VE GOT
SOME SALIVA THERE.”
E.B. asks, “GOT ANYTHING
FOR MOSQUITOES?”
Dave replies, “IF I DID,
I'D BE A VERY RICH MAN.”
(Chuckling)
E.B. says,
“MAKING A SMOKELESS FIRE
TO AVOID BEING SPOTTED
IS ANOTHER BIG THING
THAT THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
SHOWED THE ESCAPING SLAVES.
DRUMROLL, PLEASE.”
Dave taps his thigh with his hands.
(Grunting)
Dave says, “VERY GOOD.”
E.B. starts a fire.
He says, “BEAUTIFUL.”
Dave asks, “SEE HOW EASILY
IT TAKES THE FIRE?”
E.B. replies, “THAT WAS AMAZING.
LIKE, THAT LITTLE BIT
OF SMOKE,
YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO SEE THAT
FROM OVER THERE.”
E.B. says, “YEAH,
THAT MAKES SENSE.”
The fire grows.
E.B. adds, “OH, WOW.
THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY.”
Dave agrees, “MM-HM.”
E.B. adds, “YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT BAD.
WE'RE NOT CAUSING
A LOT OF SMOKE AT ALL.
YOU KNOW, FROM CLOSE IT MIGHT
SEEM LIKE THERE'S SMOKE
BUT YOU WILL DEFINITELY NOT
BE ABLE TO SEE THAT
FROM FAR AWAY.”
Dave replies, “NO.”
E.B. says, “YOU KNOW, THIS IS
A PRETTY BEAUTIFUL FIRE.”
Dave replies, “IT IS. IT'S GOOD
ENOUGH TO COOK ON.”
E.B. responds, “YEAH!”
E.B. looks at his phone screen.
Aunt Tilly and Kyla appear on it.
(Beeping)
Aunt Tilly says, “HEY, E.B.”
E.B. responds, “HEY, GUYS.
I KNOW HOW TO HEAL A REAL
RATTLESNAKE BITE NOW.”
Kyla says, ‘I DON'T PLAN ON
BEING NEAR ANY.”
Aunt Tilly replies, “DITTO.”
E.B. adds, “JUST SAYING.
BUT LISTEN, I THINK
I'M ONTO SOMETHING.
HARRIET TUBMAN HELPED A LOT
OF SLAVES ESCAPE, RIGHT?”
Kyla responds, “YEP.
I THINK SHE MIGHT BE PART
OF THE "BAND OF ANGELS"
FROM OUR FILE LABEL.”
E.B. continues,
“AND I FOUND OUT THAT
FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
HELPED ON THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD TOO.
SO--”
Kyla adds, “THEY COULD BE
CONSIDERED ANGELS TOO!”
Aunt Tilly replies,
“I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING
WITH THIS.”
E.B. says,
“I THINK MAYBE HERMIONE PUT
THE DREAMCATCHER IN THE FILE
BECAUSE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
HELPED SLAVES.
ALSO,
WHEN THE SLAVES REACHED CANADA
AND THEY WERE FREE,
THEY COULD HAVE
SWEET DREAMS.”
Aunt Tilly replies, “BUT THERE'S STILL ONE MORE CLUE.
ALL I FOUND OUT WAS THAT
IT'S AN OLD LANTERN.”
E.B. says, “MAYBE DAVE KNOWS.
I'M ON IT.
HEY, DAVE.
OUR LAST CLUE IS THIS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
HOW IT CONNECTS
TO THE UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD
OR A BAND OF ANGELS?”
Dave responds,
“NO, I CAN'T SAY THAT,
BUT NOT FAR FROM HERE
THERE'S A PLACE
CALLED BERTIE HALL.”
E.B. asks, “BERTIE HALL?”
Dave answers, “YES.
PERHAPS IF YOU GO THERE
AND ASK FOR JIM.”
E.B. replies, “ASK FOR JIM?”
Dave continues,
“YEAH, HE MAY KNOW.”
E.B. says, “ALL RIGHT, WELL,
THANKS SO MUCH, DAVID.
HELPED A LOT.”
E.B. rushes away from Dave.
Dave says, “OH.”
Sunshine peeks through the leaves on
dense trees. Geese float on a river near
a bridge. A boat speeds across the
water’s surface.
E.B. says to his phone,
“THIS IS BERTIE HALL.
I'M HOPING I CAN FIND OUT
WHAT THE LANTERN MEANS
SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT
WHAT MYSTERY
HERMIONE WAS TRYING
TO WRITE ABOUT.”
E.B. turns off his phone. He approaches
a bald man outside Bertie Hall.
E.B. says, “HEY, THERE.
ARE YOU JIM?”
Jim replies, ‘HELLO. I AM.”
E.B. responds, “HI, I'M E.B.
NICE TO MEET YOU.”
Jim says, “NICE TO MEET YOU,
E. B.”
E.B. adds, “THIS IS A VERY
IMPRESSIVE HOUSE.
DOES THIS HOUSE
HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD?”
Jim replies, “ABSOLUTELY.
THIS HUGE HOUSE WAS
A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM.
IT WAS A BEACON FOR PEOPLE
CROSSING THE NIAGARA RIVER.”
E.B. asks, “WHAT DO YOU MEAN?”
Jim responds,
“WELL, COME HERE
AND I'LL SHOW YOU.”
Jim and E.B. approach the river.
E.B. says, “WHOA!
SO, THIS IS
THE NIAGARA RIVER?”
Jim replies, “IT IS.”
E.B. continues,
“AND ON THAT SIDE
IS THE UNITED STATES.”
Jim responds, “THAT IS
THE UNITED STATES.”
E.B. asks,
“SO, SOME SLAVES WERE COME
ACROSS THE RIVER
AND LAND HERE?”
Jim answers,
“YEAH, THEY WOULD'VE
LANDED HERE
BECAUSE IT WAS A
RELATIVELY EASY CROSSING.
AND IF YOU HAD TO WALK
A LONG WAY
FROM WAY DOWN
IN THE UNITED STATES,
THIS IS THE FIRST CHUNK OF
CANADA THAT YOU RUN INTO.”
E.B. takes photographs.
E.B. says, “BUT WAIT.
THERE'S A LOT OF TREES
BLOCKING THE PATH
RIGHT THERE.
HOW WOULD YOU
SEE THE HOUSE?”
Jim replies, “WELL, ALMOST
200 YEARS AGO
THERE WEREN'T
ANY TREES HERE.”
E.B. says, “REALLY?”
Jim continues, “AT ALL.
SO, YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE
THAT HUGE RED AND WHITE HOUSE.
AND IT WOULD BE
BY ITSELF.
THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
ANY OTHER HOUSES.”
E.B. interrupts, “NO NEIGHBOURS?”
Jim continues, “NO NEIGHBOURS.”
E.B. adds,
“THEN THEY MUST'VE BEEN ABLE
TO SEE THIS HOUSE
FROM LIKE,
REALLY FAR AWAY.”
Jim replies, “YEAH, YOU COULD SEE IT
FOR MILES.”
E.B. asks, “HOW DID THEY
GET ACROSS EXACTLY?”
Jim answers,
“WELL, MOST WOULD HAVE
COME ACROSS BY BOAT,
BUT SADLY,
NOT EVERYBODY MADE IT
ACROSS
THE NIAGARA RIVER.”
E.B. says, ‘THAT'S SAD.”
(Harpsichord music playing)
The Niagara River flows gently downstream.
E.B. and Jim enter Bertie Hall. E.B. looks
around. A lantern sits on a window ledge.
E.B. says, “OH.
THERE'S A LANTERN.”
Jim replies, “YEAH.”
E.B. adds, “ONE OF OUR CLUES
TO THE MYSTERY
THAT GREAT AUNT
HERMIONE LEFT
IS THE LANTERN HERE.”
Jim responds,
“YEAH, THESE LANTERNS
BECAME A SYMBOL
FOR UH, FOR FREEDOM.
SO, YOU'D KNOW THIS WAS
A SAFE HOUSE
IF YOU SAW A LANTERN
IN THE WINDOW.”
E.B. replies, “OH! I GET IT.
OKAY, SO THIS IS THE BEACON
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.”
Jim says, “YEAH.”
E.B. adds, “OH, OKAY.
SO, THE SLAVES COMING AT NIGHT
WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE
TO SEE THIS LIGHT
FROM THE WINDOW.”
Jim replies,
“FROM THIS BIG HOUSE,
ABSOLUTELY.”
E.B. asks, “I WAS TOLD
THAT SLAVES HAD TO STAY
OFF THE MAIN ROAD
'CAUSE IT WASN'T SAFE
FOR THEM.
WAS IT SAFE AROUND
THESE PARTS BACK THEN?”
Jim answers, ‘NOT COMPLETELY.
BOUNTY HUNTERS
COULD CROSS THE BORDER
AND USE THE EXCUSE THAT
THESE ESCAPED SLAVES
HAD STOLEN A HORSE.
SO, THEY USED THAT AS AN EXCUSE
TO DRAG PEOPLE AWAY.”
E.B. asks, “WHO OWNED THIS PLACE
BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD?”
Jim replies,
“THE FORSYTH FAMILY BUILT THIS
HOUSE AND LIVED IN IT.
THEY WERE VERY WELL-TO-DO,
OBVIOUSLY,
TO BUILD THIS BIG,
BIG BRICK HOUSE.”
E.B. continues,
“SO, THEY HELPED SLAVES?”
Jim responds, “WELL, YEAH.
THEY WOULD'VE HAD MANY VISITORS
COMING THROUGH HERE,
BUT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN
A GOOD STOP
FOR SOMEONE SEEKING FREEDOM
IN CANADA.
MRS. FORSYTH AND HER SONS
ARE RECORDED AS HELPING
PEOPLE ALONG THE RIVER.”
Jim leads E.B. downstairs, and into the
basement of Bertie Hall.
E.B. says, “WHOA.
THIS-- IS CREEPY.
WHOA-HO-HO!
THIS IS NOT YOUR
EVERYDAY BASEMENT.”
Jim replies,
“NO, IT'S NOT.”
E.B. opens a hidden passageway behind
a wooden shelf.
He says. “NO WAY!
A SECRET ROOM?”
E.B. rushes into a secret room.
He turns on a flashbulb.
E.B. says, “WHOA.
I MEAN,
LOOK AT THIS PLACE.
THIS IS KINDA SPOOKY.”
Jim replies, “IT IS.”
E.B. continues,
“VERY SPOOKY, ACTUALLY.
DO YOU THINK SLAVES
STOPPED IN PLACES LIKE THIS
ON THEIR WAY TO FREEDOM?”
Jim answers, “YEAH.
PLACES A LOT SMALLER
THAN THIS
ALL THROUGH
THE UNITED STATES,
'CAUSE IT WAS DANGEROUS.
UM, PEOPLE COULD BE
HUNTED DOWN.
SO, YOU NEEDED TO HIDE.”
E.B. says in an online video,
“TODAY, THERE ARE RUMOURS
THAT THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED.”
Jim says, “YEAH, I THINK
THE WHOLE PLACE
HAS GOT SOMETHING GOING ON
WITH SPIRITS HERE. YEAH.”
E.B. asks, “REALLY?”
Jim and E.B. leave the secret room.
E.B. says “WOW.
THAT FELT SUPER CREEPY
AND REALLY SAD.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE THE ANSWERS
TO OUR MYSTERY.”
Jim replies, ‘GOOD.”
E.B. adds, “THANK YOU SO MUCH.”
Jim responds, “YOU'RE WELCOME.”
E.B. says, “IT HELPED US A LOT.”
E.B. makes a video on his phone.
He says, “PEOPLE LIKE THE FORSYTH
FAMILY WERE ALSO KIND OF LIKE
ANGELS BECAUSE THEY HELPED
THE SLAVES TOO,
JUST LIKE HARRIET TUBMAN
AND THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE.”
Teresa sings in the chapel,
“COMING FORTH
TO CARRY ME HOME
E.B., Kyla, and Aunt Tilly watch Teresa on the laptop.
They sing with her,
“A BAND OF ANGELS
COMING AFTER ME
COMING FORTH
TO CARRY ME HOME
Aunt Tilly says, “YEAH!”
E.B. says,
“YOU KNOW, THE WAY THE SLAVES
SENT SECRET MESSAGES
THROUGH THOSE SONGS
IS SO AMAZING!”
Kyla adds,
“YEAH, AND IT GAVE THEM HOPE
THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE
LIKE HARRIET TUBMAN,
FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE,
AND OTHERS
LIKE THE FORSYTHS
ALL OUT THERE
HELPING THEM.
IF IT WEREN'T FOR
THE BAND OF ANGELS,
LOTS OF PEOPLE PROBABLY
WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
LIKE ROCHELLE
AT THE CHURCH.”
Aunt Tilly says, “YEAH!”
E.B. replies, “THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
IS REALLY AWESOME.”
Aunt Tilly responds,
“IT WAS. AND YOU KNOW,
BY 1865, IT WASN'T
NECESSARY ANYMORE,
BECAUSE SLAVERY WAS ABOLISHED
IN THE US TOO.”
E.B. says, “HEY,
WE SOLVED ANOTHER ONE
OF GREAT AUNT HERMIONE'S
MYSTERIES!
YES!
OKAY, LET'S RUN IT BACK.”
E.B. presses a button on the laptop.
Teresa's video plays. E.B., Kyla, and
Aunt Tilly join in.
They all sing,
“A BAND OF ANGELS
COMING AFTER ME
COME ON!
COMING FORTH
TO CARRY ME HOME”
(Exaggerated singing)
E.B., Kyla, and Aunt Tilly say,
“MYSTERY SOLVED!
POSTING TO THE
MYSTERY FILES
WEBSITE.”
Credits roll on a computer screen.
Cast Felicia Shulman as Aunt Tilly.
Ethan Burnett as E.B.Kyla Madeira
as Kyla.
A child says “WHEE!”
(Giggling)
Text reads, “TVO Kids, Apartment 11 Productions”
Robert says,
“I DIDN'T REALIZE,
UM, YOU KNOW,
HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED
IN HARRIET TUBMAN'S
HEROIC AND BRAVE MISSION.
UH, THAT'S A FANTASTIC STORY.
AND THE
MYSTERY FILES
REALLY SOLVED A GOOD ONE.
UH, I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED
THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW,
LISTENING AND WATCHING IN
ON THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLES
AND HOW THEY WERE
HELPING THE SLAVES
WHEN THEY WERE COMING
INTO CANADA.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED
TO REMEMBER, BOYS AND GIRLS,
THAT THE LAND WAS NOT THE SAME
BACK THEN AS IT IS NOW.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY WERE
COMING IN OFF THE WATERS
AND IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW,
A STREET WITH A SIDEWALK
AND THEY WERE JUST, YOU KNOW,
WALKING ALONG
AND EVERYTHING IS FINE.
UM, YOU KNOW,
THE LAND WAS VERY DANGEROUS
AND FULL OF REPTILES
AND PERHAPS
OTHER WILD ANIMALS,
AND UM, PLANTS THAT WERE
UNFAMILIAR TO THE SLAVES
AS THEY WOULD BE
COMING THROUGH.
AND WHO BETTER TO KNOW THE LAND
THAN THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE?
AND SO, WHAT A FANTASTIC
PARTNERSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP
THAT MUST'VE BEEN TO HAVE
THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
COME IN AND HELP OUT
AS THEY DID
WITH HARRIET TUBMAN'S CAUSE
FOR THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
WHAT A FANTASTIC PART
OF THAT STORY,
WHAT A GREAT HISTORY.”
Robert continues,
“SEE, THIS IS WHY
I LOVE HISTORY SO MUCH.
YOU KNOW,
FINDING OUT THESE LITTLE--
THESE LITTLE BACKGROUND STORIES
LIKE THIS.
AND FINDING OUT, UM,
THE SACRIFICES THAT OTHER PEOPLE
ARE MAKING.
UM, SO, IT'S REALLY,
REALLY GREAT.
UH, ANOTHER FANTASTIC PART
THAT I REALLY ENJOYED
WAS THE SECRET CODES,
THE CODES WRITTEN
INTO THE SONGS.
UM, I REALLY LOVE MUSIC.
YOU KNOW, MUSIC IS LIKE,
REALLY SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR ME.
AND UM, YOU KNOW,
WRITING SONGS,
WRITING LYRICS OF SONGS,
THE WORDS OF SONGS,
AS A SECRET CODE TO SEND
MESSAGES TO PEOPLE,
UM, THAT'S JUST FANTASTIC.
THAT'S JUST REALLY GREAT.
THAT'S KIND OF LIKE
SPY STUFF,
LIKE, THAT'S REALLY COOL.
UM, SO, THAT WAS
REALLY ENJOYABLE
FOR ME TO WATCH AS WELL.
SO, I ENJOYED THAT
IMMENSELY.
THAT WAS GREAT.”
Robert adds,
“UM, THE OTHER THING
I LIKED WAS, UM,
THE LEAVING THE LAMP
IN THE WINDOW,
SO THE SECRET WAY OF SHOWING
THAT YOU'RE A SAFE HOUSE.
THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE IDEA.
YOU KNOW,
THE SHOWING THAT IT'S OKAY
TO COME INTO
THAT SPECIFIC HOUSE
IF YOU'RE ESCAPING
AND YOU'RE SAFE
AND YOU HAVE FRIENDS ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER
TO BE THERE TO HELP YOU.
AND UM, THAT'S KIND OF
AN INTERESTING WAY,
A SECRET WAY AGAIN ALMOST LIKE
A SPY THING TO DO,
LEAVING A LAMP
IN THE WINDOW.
SO, I THINK
THAT WAS REALLY COOL.
AND THE DREAMCATCHERS.
THE DREAMCATCHER IDEA
I THOUGHT WAS A REALLY COOL,
THAT IN THE EPISODE
THAT WE JUST WATCHED,
THAT THE DREAMCATCHER
WAS SORT OF THE SYMBOL
OF THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN
THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
HELPING OUT
HARRIET TUBMAN'S--
HARRIET TUBMAN AND
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
SO,
I THOUGHT OF DREAMCATCHERS
AND I REALLY THINK DREAMCATCHERS
ARE REALLY WONDERFUL LOOKING.
UM, THEY'RE REALLY GREAT.
AND SO, I THOUGHT, UM,
I THOUGHT I'D ASK,
BOYS AND GIRLS,
DO ANY OF YOU
HAVE DREAMCATCHERS AT HOME?
UM, BECAUSE DREAMCATCHERS
CAN BE FUN TO MAKE,
AND I KNOW SOMETIMES WE MIGHT
NOT HAVE ALL THE MATERIAL
THAT WE NEED AROUND THE HOUSE
TO MAKE SOMETHING,
BUT I THOUGHT MAYBE, UM,
MAYBE WE COULD
DRAW SOMETHING TOGETHER.
AND IT WOULD BE
REALLY FUN TO DO.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW,
IF YOU HAVE SOME PAPER,
AND UM,
MAYBE SOME COLOURS
OR MAYBE A PENCIL, EVEN.
ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE,
WE CAN DRAW--
WE COULD DRAW A DREAMCATCHER
AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN
WITH THAT.”
Robert goes on to say,
“SO, UM, THE FIRST THING
YOU HAVE TO DO IS--
I'M JUST GONNA GO OVER ONE
RIGHT HERE
WITH SOME COLOUR HERE,
'CAUSE I KIND OF HAD ONE
PARTIALLY MADE HERE
BUT I WANNA SHOW OFF MY WORK
HERE WITH SOME COLOUR.
UM, YOU START
BY DRAWING TWO CIRCLES.
JUST TWO CIRCLES. OKAY?
ONE INSIDE OF THE OTHER.
SO, ONE CIRCLE
INSIDE OF THE OTHER.
AND THEN YOU MAKE TWO STRAIGHT
LINES CROSSING IN THE MIDDLE.
OKAY?
ONE HORIZONTAL
AND ONE VERTICAL.
OKAY?
AND SO IT KIND OF
LOOKS LIKE THAT.”
Text reads:
“Step 1, start by drawing 2 circles (one
inside the other). Make two straight lines
across the centre of the circle one going
across horizontally and one going vertically.”
Robert adds,
“SO, THAT'S KIND OF
YOUR FIRST STEP RIGHT THERE.
SO, IT'S GOT THE TWO CIRCLES
AND THE TWO LINES CROSSING.
AND THEN,
WHAT YOU DO NEXT
IS YOU FILL IN THE SPACE
IN BETWEEN THE CIRCLES
WITH TINY LITTLE LINES,
ALMOST LOOKING LIKE THE CIRCLES
ARE BEING JOINED TOGETHER
BY THESE LINES.
SO, YOU SORT OF FILL IT IN
WITH TINY LITTLE LINES.
AND THEN YOU ADD ONE LITTLE BEAD
IN THE CENTRE.
SO, IF I WERE TO GO
AND DO THESE TINY LITTLE LINES
AND COLOUR THEN…
AND THEN PUT MY LITTLE BEAD
IN COLOUR HERE.
AS I SAID, I KIND OF
STARTED DOING THIS EARLIER,
BUT IT KIND OF LOOKS
A LITTLE BIT LIKE THIS.”
Text reads, “Step 2, Fill the space between
the two circles with tiny lines. Add a tiny
bead to the centre.”
Robert continues, “AND YOU CAN SEE
THE LITTLE LINES JOINING.
SO YEAH, IT DOESN'T REALLY
MATTER HOW MANY LINES YOU USE.
YOU JUST KIND OF PUT IN AS MANY
AS YOU THINK YOU SHOULD.
AND IT KIND OF JOINS
THE CIRCLES TOGETHER.
OKAY, AND AGAIN, DON'T FORGET
THE TINY LITTLE BEAD
IN THE CENTRE, UH,
OF THE CROSSED LINES.
AND THEN THE NEXT THING YOU DO
IS YOU DRAW A LIKE,
A PETAL SHAPE,
LIKE A PETAL OF A FLOWER.
OKAY?
AND WHAT YOU DO IS YOU HAVE IT
KIND OF GOING AROUND
ONE OF THE LINES THERE.”
Text reads, “Step 3, draw a petal like shape”.
Robert says,
“AND THEN WHAT YOU
WANT TO DO NEXT IS,
YOU WANT TO DRAW
TWO MORE PETALS
JUST LIKE THE ONE
THAT YOU JUST DID.
Text reads, “Step 4, Draw 2 more petal like
shapes just like you did in step 3”.
Robert adds,
“SO, TWO MORE PETALS.
OKAY, TRY TO KEEP IT
THE SAME SHAPE.
UM,
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT,
BUT TRY TO KEEP IT
THE SAME SHAPE.
AND IT'LL LOOK
KIND OF LIKE THIS.
SO, YOU HAVE
THREE PETALS NOW.
YOU SEE THE POSITION OF IT,
THE PETALS?
AND THEN
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
IS DRAW
THREE MORE PETALS.
SO, THREE MORE PETALS.
AND IT'S IN BETWEEN THE ONES
THAT YOU'VE ALREADY DRAWN.”
Text reads, “Step 5, Draw 3 more petal
like shapes between the ones that you
have already drawn.
Robert says, “NOW, IT KIND OF LOOKS
A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE,
BUT ALL I'VE DONE IS
I'VE DRAWN THE SAME PETAL SHAPES
IN BETWEEN THE ONES
THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE,
IT'S JUST ADDED INTO THOSE.
AND IT'S JUST, AGAIN,
IN BETWEEN THE ONES
THAT I'VE ALREADY DRAWN.
AND THEN MY LAST STEP IS--
AND THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN
GET LIKE, CREATIVE--
YOU'RE GOING TO ADD BEADS
AND OTHER DECORATIONS
LIKE FEATHERS, UH,
AND THINGS LIKE THAT
TO YOUR DREAMCATCHER.
OKAY? SO, UM,
I DREW FIVE SORT OF LINES
WITH BEADS ON THEM,
BUT YOU CAN DO AS MANY
AS YOU'D LIKE.”
Text reads, “Step 6, Add beads and other
decorations such as feathers to your dream
catcher.”
Robert states, “AND AGAIN, YOU CAN DO
WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE
WITH THIS STEP HERE.
OKAY, AND NOTICE ALSO LIKE,
THERE'S A LITTLE DOT HERE,
I PUT A LITTLE DOT HERE
AND HERE AND HERE,
JUST TO KIND OF PUT BEADS
IN THERE
AND THERE AND THERE,
TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE BEADS.
OKAY, IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU HOW
YOU WANT TO SORT OF DECORATE IT.
UM, THAT'S WHAT'S GREAT
ABOUT, UH,
LIKE DOING ART, RIGHT?
IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU CAN
MAKE IT YOUR OWN THING.
BUT THAT'S KIND OF
HOW I DID, UM--
THAT'S KIND OF HOW I DID
MY DREAMCATCHER.
SO, I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED
DOING THAT WITH ME.
SO, UM, YEAH,
THAT WAS KIND OF FUN.
AND UH, WE LEARNED
ABOUT DREAMCATCHERS
JUST IN THAT LAST EPISODE
OF, UH,
THAT WE JUST WATCHED AND UH,
IT'S AMAZING,
THE STORY BEHIND IT
ABOUT HOW IT SORT OF CATCHES
AND FILTERS OUT THE
BAD THOUGHTS, THE BAD DREAMS,
AND UM, MAKES
THE GOOD DREAMS ENTER.
AND THAT'S SUCH
A GREAT CONCEPT.
WE ALL WANT TO HAVE
GOOD DREAMS, OKAY?”
Robert adds,
“SO, TODAY,
BOYS AND GIRLS,
WE TALKED ABOUT ALL KINDS
OF WONDERFUL THINGS,
ALL KINDS
OF INTERESTING THINGS.
WE TALKED ABOUT HEROES,
HOW WE CAN RECOGNIZE HEROES.
UH,
AND WE COULD RECOGNIZE THEM
BY SOME OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS
THAT THEY DO.
NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES.
AND UH,
SOME OF THEM ARE WEARING
UNIFORMS IN HOSPITALS,
SOME OF THEM ARE WEARING
UNIFORMS OUTSIDE.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM
ARE JUST EVERYDAY PEOPLE
DOING WONDERFUL THINGS
FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM
ARE JUST LIKE YOU AND I,
YOU KNOW,
DOING THE RIGHT THING
AT THE RIGHT TIME
FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
WE KNOW THAT BEING A HERO
IS TOUGH WORK.
WE DID OUR, YOU KNOW,
OUR HERO WORKOUT TO PREPARE.
AND THAT WAS LOTS OF FUN.
UH, AND WE TALKED
ABOUT HEROES OF THE PAST.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW HISTORY
IS JUST FULL OF STORIES,
AND HOW, YOU KNOW,
HISTORY SO FUN BECAUSE, UM,
WE CAN LEARN ABOUT HEROES
FROM THE PAST
AND ALL OF THEM,
ALL OF THEIR STORIES THAT
THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PAST
THAT MAKE US THINK, WOW,
THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE STORY
AND UM, WE'RE LEARNING
ABOUT AN ACTUAL PERSON
FROM REAL EVENTS.”
Robert continues,
“AND UM, WE, YOU KNOW,
TODAY WE TALKED ABOUT
HARRIET TUBMAN AND HER BRAVERY
AND HEROICS AND YOU KNOW,
JUST THE SIMPLE FACT THAT SHE
DISGUISED HERSELF AND YOU KNOW,
DID ALL THESE
WONDERFUL THINGS,
AND WAS PART OF A NETWORK
THAT SAVED SO MANY PEOPLE
UH, FROM SLAVERY.
AND YOU KNOW,
SAVED PEOPLE'S LIVES.
AND IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL STORY
AND SHE IS A REAL PERSON.
AND IF YOU SIT BACK AND THINK
SHE'S NOT WEARING A CAPE,
SHE'S NOT, UM, YOU KNOW,
LIKE THAT.
SHE'S NOT FLYING AROUND
IN THE SKY LIKE THAT,
BUT SHE'S, YOU KNOW,
A REAL PERSON WHO ACTUALLY DID
REAL, WONDERFUL THINGS
A LONG TIME AGO AND REALLY
MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE.
AND UM,
IT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLE STORY
AND I THINK LEARNING ABOUT,
UM, YOU KNOW,
THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT
THE SLAVES HAD TO GO THROUGH
TO GAIN THEIR FREEDOM,
DEFINITELY IS AN IMPORTANT
PIECE OF HISTORY.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT
PIECE OF HISTORY
THAT WE ALL NEED TO LEARN,
AND IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT
WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET,
THOSE SACRIFICES.”
Robert concludes,
“WELL, BOYS AND GIRLS,
IT'S BEEN SO VERY WONDERFUL
TO SHARE MY PASSION OF HISTORY
WITH YOU TODAY.
UM, I HOPE YOU ENJOY
THE REST OF YOUR DAY
AND THANK YOU FOR AGAIN
INVITING ME INTO YOUR HOMES,
FOR THIS EPISODE OF
TVOKIDS
POWER HOUR OF LEARNING.
BYE FOR NOW.”
Text reads, “TVO would like to thank all the
teachers involved in the power hour of learning
at the continue to teach the children of Ontario
from their homes.”
Credits read, “TVO Kids Power Hour of Learning. TVO.”
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