Canada is often celebrated for its role in the Underground Railroad as a safe haven for freedom seekers escaping slavery in the United States, but Canada had its own history of slavery from at least the 1600s until 1834. This exhibit tells the story of slavery in Canada, specifically in what is now Ontario. We aim to make the archives of Canadian slavery accessible so it can be studied and acknowledged. The exhibition invites visitors to pause and reflect on the legacies of enslavement, the current realities of Black communities, and imagine a liberated Black future.
Content Advisory
This exhibit of archival records offers insight into the overlooked history of slavery in Upper Canada (now Ontario). This exhibit features records that reflect racist and colonial views of slaveholding society. Some records further dehumanize those who were enslaved. These materials serve to create an accurate representation of these historical events. We interpret these materials and use them to create fuller narratives of Black life.
We encourage you to engage with the exhibit at your own pace. If you are in need of support, please contact Wellness Together Canada at 1-866-585-0445 to access their free helpline.
This refreshed exhibit (formerly Enslaved Africans in Upper Canada) comes as a result of a collaboration with the Ontario Black History Society and takes advantage of the passing of time to address outdated language, problematic approaches to Black histories, and the need for additional research to widen the scope of collections included in the exhibit. The Archives invites you to view these exhibits side by side to better understand how we are working with communities to bring past narratives into the present. You can view the previous exhibit here. |
