Slavery in CanadaSlavery in Canada

11stst African in Canada African in Canada 1605: First Black Person in Canada1605: First Black Person in Canada The first named African person to set The first named African person to set

foot on Canadian soil was Mathieu Da foot on Canadian soil was Mathieu Da Costa, a free man who was hired as a Costa, a free man who was hired as a translator for Samuel de Champlain's translator for Samuel de Champlain's 1605 excursion.1605 excursion.

1628: “Slave Boy”, First Black1628: “Slave Boy”, First Black Resident of New FranceResident of New France

The first named enslaved African to The first named enslaved African to reside in Canada was a six-year old reside in Canada was a six-year old boy, the property of Sir David Kirke. boy, the property of Sir David Kirke. The child was sold several times, The child was sold several times, lastly to Father Paul Le Jeune, and lastly to Father Paul Le Jeune, and was baptized Catholic and given the was baptized Catholic and given the name Olivier Le Jeune.name Olivier Le Jeune.

1709: Louis XIV 1709: Louis XIV Formally Authorizes Formally Authorizes Slavery in New FranceSlavery in New FranceKing Louis XIV formally King Louis XIV formally authorized slavery in authorized slavery in 1709, when he 1709, when he permitted his Canadian permitted his Canadian subjects to own slaves, subjects to own slaves, "in full proprietorship." "in full proprietorship." There were fewer slave-There were fewer slave-owners in New France owners in New France than in the neighbouring than in the neighbouring English colonies, and English colonies, and few French colonists few French colonists openly questioned the openly questioned the long-standing practice.long-standing practice.

The Canadians did not use the The Canadians did not use the term “slave” but instead usually term “slave” but instead usually used “servant”. The first used “servant”. The first Canadian slaves were most likely Canadian slaves were most likely found in the Maritimes.found in the Maritimes.

Africans, who came from a rich Africans, who came from a rich prosperous continent, before prosperous continent, before bondage, the white loyalists bondage, the white loyalists took advantage of their skills took advantage of their skills (blacksmiths, millwrights, (blacksmiths, millwrights, caulkers and coopers) by caulkers and coopers) by associating them with associating them with pioneering frontier pioneering frontier settlements, such as working settlements, such as working the fields, building houses, the fields, building houses, clearing land, etc.clearing land, etc.

1776 : "Free Negroes" Reach 1776 : "Free Negroes" Reach Nova ScotiaNova Scotia

Canada developed a reputation as a Canada developed a reputation as a safe haven for Blacks during the safe haven for Blacks during the American Revolution, 1775-1783. American Revolution, 1775-1783. The British promised land, freedom The British promised land, freedom and rights to slaves and free Blacks and rights to slaves and free Blacks in exchange for services rendered. in exchange for services rendered.

In 1783-4 about 1232 In 1783-4 about 1232 slaves where brought slaves where brought to Nova Scotia, New to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.Edward Island.

26-27 July 1784: 26-27 July 1784: Canada's First Race-Riot Canada's First Race-Riot Rocks Birchtown, NS Rocks Birchtown, NS After the Revolutionary After the Revolutionary War, the "Black Pioneers" War, the "Black Pioneers" were among the first were among the first settlers in Shelburne, Nova settlers in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. They helped build Scotia. They helped build the new settlement. On its the new settlement. On its fringes they established fringes they established their own community, their own community, "Birchtown." When "Birchtown." When hundreds of White, hundreds of White, disbanded soldiers were disbanded soldiers were forced to accept work at forced to accept work at rates competitive with their rates competitive with their Black neighbours the Black neighbours the ensuing hostility caused a ensuing hostility caused a riot.riot.

1790: Imperial Statute 1790: Imperial Statute

The Imperial Statute of 1790 The Imperial Statute of 1790 effectively allowed settlers to bring effectively allowed settlers to bring enslaved persons to Canada. Under enslaved persons to Canada. Under the statute, the enslaved had only to the statute, the enslaved had only to be fed and clothed.be fed and clothed.

Image: Slave auctioning continued in Canada even after the American War of Independence.

The treatment of slaves in Canada The treatment of slaves in Canada was just as severe as their was just as severe as their treatment in the United States. treatment in the United States. They were punished when they They were punished when they disobeyed their master and in disobeyed their master and in some cases they were whipped, some cases they were whipped, tortured or murdered. Eventually tortured or murdered. Eventually laws were passed which made laws were passed which made killing slaves as serious a crime as killing slaves as serious a crime as killing a freedman. Slavery in killing a freedman. Slavery in Canada did not flourish Canada did not flourish economically as to slavery in economically as to slavery in America. However, the two America. However, the two countries did have similarities as countries did have similarities as to those who supported slavery, to those who supported slavery, and as to those who opposed it.and as to those who opposed it.

15 January 1792: The Black 15 January 1792: The Black Loyalist ExodusLoyalist Exodus

The difficulty of supporting The difficulty of supporting themselves in the face of widespread themselves in the face of widespread discrimination convinced many Black discrimination convinced many Black Loyalists that they would never find Loyalists that they would never find true freedom and equality in Nova true freedom and equality in Nova Scotia. Scotia.

When offered the opportunity to leave When offered the opportunity to leave the colony in the 1790s, almost 1200 the colony in the 1790s, almost 1200 Blacks left Halifax to relocate to Sierra Blacks left Halifax to relocate to Sierra Leone.Leone.

1833 – 1833 – The Slave TradeThe Slave Trade officially officially abolished in the British Empire.abolished in the British Empire.

Established slaves were still Established slaves were still enslaved in parts of Canadaenslaved in parts of Canada

February-May February-May 1851: Canadians 1851: Canadians React to Fugitive React to Fugitive Slave ActSlave Act

The passage of the The passage of the Fugitive Slave Act Fugitive Slave Act in the United in the United States led to the States led to the formation of an formation of an larger and more larger and more durable antislavery durable antislavery society in Canada.society in Canada.

1850s: Harriet Tubman, fugitive slave, 1850s: Harriet Tubman, fugitive slave, underground railroad conductor, underground railroad conductor, abolitionist, spy, soldier, nurseabolitionist, spy, soldier, nurse , , aka “Black aka “Black MosesMoses “ “

Harriet Tubman was born a slave in Maryland in Harriet Tubman was born a slave in Maryland in 1820. She escaped in 1849 and made at least 19 1820. She escaped in 1849 and made at least 19 return trips to the South to guide fugitives to the return trips to the South to guide fugitives to the Northern states and freedom. In 1850 the Northern states and freedom. In 1850 the Fugitive Fugitive Slave ActSlave Act made it dangerous for runaways to made it dangerous for runaways to remain in the North. Harriet made 11 trips to remain in the North. Harriet made 11 trips to Canada leading more than 300 Underground Canada leading more than 300 Underground Railway "passengers" to Canada. They moved Railway "passengers" to Canada. They moved only at night, sheltering in barns, chimneys and only at night, sheltering in barns, chimneys and haystacks. She allowed no dropping out or turning haystacks. She allowed no dropping out or turning back. She drew a pistol on one discouraged back. She drew a pistol on one discouraged fugitive, saying, "Move or die." He and the rest of fugitive, saying, "Move or die." He and the rest of the group reached Canada in safety.the group reached Canada in safety.

Harriet TubmanHarriet Tubman