August 1 is Emancipation Day in Canada
August 1 is Emancipation Day in Canada. The day was officially declared for the very first time in the House of Commons in 2021. The day is significant in that it was the day the British Empire passed the Slavery Abolition Act in 1834. The Act affected not only Great Britain but all the colonies across the world. 
Between 1671 and 1831, approximately 4,200 enslaved people lived first in Nouvelle France and later also in Upper and Lower Canada. Of these enslaved people, approximately two thirds were Indigenous and one third of African descent.
Black communities have kept the history of slavery in Canada alive for more than 200 years. It is important to recognize the trials, defiance, and resistance of Black communities and celebrate their victories, throughout Canadian history.
Today, we also honour the strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples. The legacy of colonization has done generational damage to Indigenous Peoples in North America, including Canada. The enslavement of Indigenous Peoples is a lesser-known aspect of Canada’s history. Beginning in the 1400s, all the way into the 1700s, European explorers would kidnap Indigenous Peoples they met and enslave or exhibit them as “exotics” back in Europe. The ripples of this practice continue to be felt today in the community.
When we work toward dismantling racism, recognizing emancipation is a place to start, by naming the forgotten pasts of marginalized people in Canadian history.
The JLP is proud to offer workshops and guided discussions that examine these overlooked histories and invite participants to explore how to foster awareness and reparation in a contemporary context.
Photo by BÜNYAMİN GÖRÜNMEZ on Unsplash.com