Canada’s history with slavery, often overshadowed by narratives of the Underground Railroad, reveals a complex and lesser-known story, as detailed in an Aristotle Foundation report by Marjorie Gann.
Long before European settlers arrived, writes Gann, robust Indigenous slave-trading networks thrived across pre-Columbian North America. The report notes at least 39 distinct slave societies existed, with up to two-thirds of some Iroquois communities composed of captives, or “adoptees,” by the late 17th century.
These networks stretched from the Missouri River basin to Chesapeake Bay, supplying slaves to New France colonists. Even into the 19th century, Indigenous groups along the Pacific Coast and Columbia River traded slaves with minimal European involvement.
In New France, from the mid-17th century until slavery’s abolition across the British Empire in 1834, about 64% of slaves held by Europeans were Indigenous, with 34.5% African.
Historians estimate a total of 7,000 to 7,500 slaves in Canada during this period—a stark contrast to the nearly 10 million enslaved in the United States from 1619 to 1865. Despite resistance from slave-owning legislators, Upper Canada led the British Empire in 1793 by passing the first anti-slavery legislation, predating Britain’s slave trade ban by 15 years and full abolition by 41 years.
Canada, as confederated in 1867, never legally permitted slavery, a point of pride. The nation further distinguished itself by welcoming over 30,000 African-American escapees via the Underground Railroad, offering refuge from U.S. slavery.
Yet, the Aristotle Foundation highlights a lingering shadow: Indigenous slavery persisted in British Columbia until nearly 1900, and human trafficking remains a modern challenge.
Canada’s record, while imperfect, stands as a beacon of progress. The Aristotle Foundation’s report underscores a legacy worth celebrating—one of early legislative courage and sanctuary for the oppressed, even as it calls for vigilance against contemporary forms of exploitation.
Marjorie Gann is a senior fellow with the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy, a retired elementary school teacher, and a children’s author. Her 1994 book, Discover Canada: New Brunswick (Grolier), surveyed the geography, history, economy, and culture of the province for young readers.