Untold

The myth of Canada as a safe haven for Black people crumbles under the weight of its own history: for centuries, slavery was a reality here, just as it was in many other parts of the world. The first recorded enslaved person in Canada, a little boy named Olivier Le Jeune, was sold in 1628—marking the beginning of a dark chapter too often overlooked. Though Canada is often remembered as a land of freedom, especially for those fleeing oppression, its history of slavery tells a different story.

Enslaved men, women, and children were stripped of their identities and reduced to property, their cultures erased as they were forced to labor in homes and fields. Their sweat and suffering built the wealth of others while tearing apart families and communities. This brutal legacy still lingers in Canada today.

Though the chains are gone, their weight remains—the scars left by slavery still shape the struggles for justice and equality.

Slavery is not just a distant chapter in Canada’s history. It is woven into the very fabric of the nation, a reminder that the road to true equality remains long and challenging. Yet, the resilience and strength of those who endured it are powerful testaments to the human spirit—forces that continue to inspire and push for change, even as the shadows of the past still loom.