Afro Indigenous
(Posted Feb 23, 2025)Pictured: Mi’ kmaq and Black settlement in Elmsdale, NS 1891
During the time of settlement for the Black Loyalists, and later the Maroons, the freed and enslaved Blacks found community and support among the Mi’ kmaq or L’nu (First Nations of Nova Scotia with about 13 nations across the province). With the help of the First Nations Black settlers were able to survive harsh conditions, harvest the land and otherwise establish for themselves a home. Due to these early relationships many Black and Indigenous folks married and started families. Though there was an effort to erase this early history, and the very existence of L’nu and any descendants, the true history and heritage live on through the oral tradition. Today, Afrometis work to preserve this history and to recognize how these groups united to fight oppression brought by European colonization.
Black Loyalists of Nova Scotia
(Posted Feb 23, 2025)The first large group of Black Settlers in Nova Scotia and founders of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Africa. They arrived in NS in 1783 after fighting the anti British forces in the American War of Independence. As incentive to join British ranks the Crown offered enslaved Black men land, freedom and rations. The British army created a manifest of those Balck Loyalists departing America for Nova Scotia, this is known as the Book of Negros. Other enslaved Americans were brought to Nova Scotia as property of White Loyalists. More than half of Black Loyalists settled in Birchtown, NS establishing one of the largest settlements of free Blacks in the world outside of Africa. Despite establishing the town the Black Loyalists received only half of the land promised, barely any of the rations and the land (Birchtown) wasn’t the best for settlement. They still had to contend with racial injustice and difficult conditions. Other loyalists settled in Preston, Digby, Annapolis, Guysborough, Tracadie and iSt. John, NB with a few eventually leaving, to Africa, in disappointment. Their descendants still live in Nova Scotia today in the same areas that they originally settled.
Jamaican Maroons of Nova Scotia
(Posted Feb 23, 2025)The Jamaican Maroons came to Canada from Trelawny Town, Jamaica in the late 18th century. Prior to settling in Nova Scotia, the Maroons fought against the British Colonizers on their land. They were cunning, resilient and resourceful. Relying on their knowledge of the land and ingenuity they nearly defeated the British. Tiring of the fight, the British convinced the Maroons to negotiate peace. The Maroons were tricked in these negotiations and the British exiled some 500 peoples to Nova Scotia. Upon arrival the Maroons were tasked with rebuilding key fortifications. One of which is a well known landmark that stands today; Halifax Citadel Hill. The Maroons settled on lands purchased by the Jamaican government, known as the Preston Township, a community that remains in NS today and still inhabited by the descendants of the Maroons. Other Maroons were exiled to Sierra Leone due to labour strikes and civil unrest in response to their treatment under British Settlers.
Sleeping Car Porters
(Posted Feb 14, 2025)Sleeping Car Porters were attendants on the railway serving passengers aboard sleeping cars. They assisted passengers with luggage, serving food and beverages, setting up beds and other services to provide a comfortable stay aboard the train. These workers were predominantly Black and one of the few occupations available to Black Men in Canada. The Porters worked long hours with little compensation, often subject to racism, and could be fired without notice or reason. In 1917 they formed the first railway union in North America to secure improved working conditions.
Rita Cox, TPL Librarian
(Posted Feb 14, 2025)Appointed head of the TPL Parkdale branch in 1972 and the following year (1973) began collecting Caribbean focused books from Jamaica, Trinidad and more, eventually expanding to include African and African American. As of 2006 the collection holds 16,000 books, DVDs, CDs, newspapers, and magazines. Rita was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada and a published author.
Mathieu DaCosta
(Posted Feb 14, 2025)First known person of African descent to visit Canada. It is likely that he was in the company of Pierre Deguade Mons and Sameul de Champlain acting as an interpreter. Mathieu was a free man who worked with Dutch and French traders in the 1th century, and later as an interpreter between traders and Indigenous people in eastern Canada. It’s believed that he used pidgin to communicate with Mi’kmaq and Innue on the east coast.
Message to the Membership
(posted Feb 9, 2025)OPSEU local 596 will be celebrating the rich history and contributions of Black Canadians from the Caribbean Diaspora, to contributions to labour and education, and our intersection with the Indigenous community. Each week in February we’ll post about the history makers of Canada.
Black History month was created by Carter G. Woodson (pictured left), a historical scholar and author, established February 1976.
Born to former slaves, Carter was largely self taught, only entering highschool at the age of 20. During his younger years he worked on his family’s farm and even worked in the coal mines of West Virginia.
Eventually earning a degree in literature he worked as a teacher throughout Eurpope and Asia. He further pursued academics not only earning a master’s but becoming the second Black American (after W.E.B DuBois) to obtain a PHd from Harvard University.
After struggling with the academic institutions Carter G. Woodson determined that Black History would have to be researched and taught by Black Americans. In 1915 he established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History and later, the Journal for African American History.
In 1926 he launched Negro History week coinciding with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas.
For more on Carter G. Woodson and Black History Month click here