African-Canadian

CommunitiesPage 61

Mathieu da Costa

The first person of African descent in Canada

British traders captured people in West Africa and brought them to North America to be sold as slaves.

Some African people were paid by the British to capture other Africans from neighboring tribes – usually their enemies or rivals.

John Hawkins, British trader

Once captured, people were linked together by yokes or chains and taken to the coast.

This journey could take months and many did not make it.

A yoke

Thousands of captives were held underground in trading forts while they waited for European ships to arrive.

Elmina Castle in Ghana, Africa

People were packed into ships’ holds like cargo to be transported to the Americas.

The treatment and conditions on board the ships was appalling.

Brookes Ship Plan

Auction Notice Halifax, 1769

Slaves were sold at auction as property.

Individuals were given a number or a name of their owners choice.

Rights of a Slave 1764

• Slaves are property and can be sold

• Masters can do as they like with their slaves

• Masters must destroy slave culture

• Slaves are given new names

• Slaves can be killed

• Slaves cannot marry

• Slaves cannot be educated

• Slaves must be locked up at night

• Slaves must wear a ball and chain

• Slaves cannot become Christians

• Slaves cannot possess property/sell anything

• All blacks are slaves

• Slaves’ children are the property of the master

Slaves often resisted their owners by:– Performing tasks slowly– Running away– Keeping their real names– Keeping their African

culture• Stories and songs

Page 62

Africville

The gentlemen picked up a brochure on Africville and this was his response…

Video with lyrics by a Newfoundland band who wrote about the forced relocation of the citizens of Africville