Inaugural Black woman directed Canadian Heritage Moment
OYA Media Group debuts the Chloe Cooley Heritage Minute, produced in partnership with Historica Canada. This first ever Canadian heritage content, depicting and acknowledging slavery in Canada, tells the story of Chloe Cooley who was enslaved by the Vrooman family in former Upper Canada, now South Western Ontario.
This important and under known moment of Canadian history is based on witness accounts, and recreates the heinous instance of Cooley’s violent, forcible sale by the Vrooman family, who, enlisting the help of friends, violently and brazenly took Cooley, physically confined and screaming, to New York State for sale, via the Niagara River.
The legacy of Chloe Cooley’s experience contributed to the Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada (1793).
In this inaugural Black woman directed Canadian Heritage Moment, OYA Media Group and OBAC pay tribute to Chloe Cooley, and the many Black Canadians who suffered for years under Canada’s participation in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
“I'm humbled and honoured to direct a Heritage Minute about Chloe Cooley. Her story is a testament to the power and resilience of Black women. I am particulary proud that it was produced by OYA Media Group a Black women led production company for Historica Canada, and that I am the first Black female director to helm a Heritage Minute project.
