APOLOGIZE FOR SLAVERY IN CANADA​

I was moved to write this petition because I believe African Canadians are owed an apology for over 200 years of chattel enslavement in Canada. It is right and just that a genuine apology be given for grievous wrongs committed by successive Canadian Governments during that terrible era in history and for their role intended, implicit or indifferent, in the racist legacy which ensued. I believe that your support will help convince the Government that an official, genuine apology is the correct thing to do. Chattel Enslavement was initiated over 400 years ago to assemble a cheap, ready, usable work force. African peoples were targeted to be used in this ugly capacity, largely because of their skills but most specifically because of the colour of their skin. Their colour generally prevented them from escaping and blending into neighboring communities. Stolen, bartered, sold, raped and maimed, millions of African origin peoples were dispersed globally, to be used as the low cost machinery of the day. The new world was built on their backs. Their free labour enriched the world. In Canada, the linguistic skills of a free Black man, Mathieu DaCosta, opened North America for colonization by the French in 1605. King Louis XIV enacted the ‘Code Noir’. The 1743 ordinance, stipulated that both Indigenous and Black slaves brought to the French colony would be considered the possession of those who purchased them. Subsequently, the British defeated the French at the Plains of Abraham in 1759. Both nations condoned and practiced chattel enslavement. ​

SLAVERY EXISTED IN CANADA! 

Where are slaves buried across this nation?

Chattel enslavement was abolished in colonial Canada in 1834. From that point in time until the Dominion of Canada was created in 1867, the systemic racist attitudes developed during slavery were perpetuated in the belief systems and practices of society, institutions, organizations and legislations. Free Blacks were pitted against European immigrants in their quest for jobs and land. In fact, Blacks were not invited to become Canadian Citizens until 1911. African Canadians were considered inferior to whites and deemed less deserving of equitable consideration and fair treatment under hateful, discriminatory laws forced upon them. These prejudiced affectations have continued to diminish the ability of Blacks to pursue quality education, constrained their employment opportunities to mostly menial tasks and carried on anti-black precepts that Blacks have criminal tendencies and are licentious. All this evil has kept a large portion of Black society from thriving equitably, reduced many to near poverty, hampered property ownership and prevented them from accumulating generational wealth. African Canadians’ health and well-being has been severely adversely affected by longstanding discriminatory, oppressive imposed barriers. Pioneering African Canadians fought in every major confrontation on the North American continent safeguarding the freedom of all. Their contributions have been trivialized and virtually erased from the nation’s history; their stories have mostly been told by individuals/groups who did not know them or their extraordinary successes in spite of the egregious roadblocks they experienced and suffered. With the excuse that because Canada was only a colony, not a nation, when chattel enslavement was enforced and practiced, the continuance or abolishment of slavery could only be enacted by Great Britain. Yet, Prince Edward Island end slavery in 1825! In this way the Canadian the Government has avoided apologizing for these grievous wrongs and ignored the distressing inequities that African Canadians have endured. Successive governments have allowed and adhered to a corrupting and degrading racist legacy in Canada. Generations of Blacks and their children have been marginalized, disproportionately imprisoned and entrapped within Welfare and Social Service Agency programs. Indigenous Peoples, Chinese, Italians, Japanese and Jewish people have received official apologies and compensation. All Blacks simply want to be able to take part in “The Canadian Dream” equitably! It is time African Canadians, also, be genuinely respected, properly embraced and rightfully dignified as true Canadians. Their social, political cultural and economic contributions to the progress of this country deserves a sincere apology and redress from the Canadian Government! ​

• APOLOGIZE FOR CHATTEL ENSLAVEMENT IN CANADA. ​

• ADDRESS THE GENERATIONAL DISADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF ENSLAVEMENT AND ITS SYSTEMIC RACIST LEGACY. ​

• COMMIT TO OFFICIAL UNDERTAKINGS, REFORMS AND REDRESS, WITH BLACK CANADIAN INPUT, FOR JUDICIAL, EDUCATIONAL, FISCAL, SOCIETAL AND CULTURAL EQUITY. ​

• OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE PIONEERING AFRICAN CANADIANS (NOVA SCOTIAN AND ONTARIAN) AS A DISTINCT CULTURE IN CANADA.​

Petition circulated by: Elise Harding-Davis OOnt