By Mickey Russell (she/her), Human Rights Education and Response Advocate

June 19th is the federal US holiday, Juneteenth. But what is Juneteenth and why should we care in Canada?

On January 1^st, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation took effect. Slaves in the U.S Confederate States were claimed to be legally free. Unfortunately, not all people in states under confederate rule were able to be free, as the confederacy was pro-slavery. (Woods, 2012) January 1^st, 1865, Congress pass the Thirteenth Amendment that abolished legal slavery throughout the United States. (National Museum of African American History and Culture)This was then ratified on December 31^st, 1865. Only after the end of the U.S civil war in April 1865, with the victory of the Union, was slavery completely abolished June 19^th, 1865. For the first time all people in the U.S were truly free from enslavement. (Georgia, 1860-61)

Although Juneteenth is focused on American slavery, we should still celebrate the victories of those around us. Additionally, we must recognize that Canada’s, especially the Maritimes', history with slavery is not squeaky clean. We must take this time to acknowledge Canada’s history.

Due to Chloe Cooley’s (one of hundreds of Black women enslaved in the French and British colonies that became Canada), struggles with her enslaver, Sergeant Adam Vrooman, the Act to Limit Slavery was enacted in Upper Canada. (Henry-Dixon, 2023) Under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, “an Act to prevent the further introduction of slaves, and to limit the term of contract for servitude within this province,” was passed on July 9^th, 1793. This prohibited the importation of any Black person into Upper Canada. (McCullough, 2007)

Enslaved people who were already in Upper Canada were still property and any child born to an enslaved mother would also be property of the owner until 25 years of age. As this did not abolish slavery, many owners used any loophole to their advantage. (Encyclopedia, 2020) Slaves nearing 25 years of age would be sold, either within Canada (the Maritimes mainly) or shipped to other countries with a prevalent slave trade. As news of the imminent emancipation of slaves spread, slave-owners rushed to sell their slaves to the U.S and overseas as quickly as possible. This was done to recuperate the impending financial losses.

Additionally, although slavery ended in Canada August 1^st, 1834, many now “freed” slaves were forced into indentured servitude. Indentured servants worked without salary for a set number of years, their contract; they would then be free. For many this was not the case. These indentured servants could not marry, have children or travel without the permission of their owner, were frequently subject to physical punishment and did not receive legal protection from the courts. Indentured servants could not trade or sell goods to free people. Many indentured servants would be held for years after their contract had ended or sold before their contract ended. (Anita Hill, 1995) Many of these sales were to people in countries where slavery persisted. Indentured servitude, in Canada, was not abolished until 1917.

While we celebrate with the U.S, their true Emancipation Day; please take the time to reflect on Canada’s history as well.

If you would like to read the stories of slaves and Black abolitionists:

• Chloe Cooley
• Mary Ann Shadd
• Peter Martin