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Amistad
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Français
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Slavery Memorial 2006
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Essence:
A cultural event/acknowledgment/memorial. Bringing the famous slave ship replica Amistad to
Halifax and unveiling a memorial plaque to the abolition of slavery in Canada and the British
empire. Ship tour/lecture/museum exhibit/plaque unveiling ceremony/media launch/brochure/poster/web
pages. There are no markers to slavery in Canada. In fact, there may be no memorials, outside
of slave castles in Ghana, in the British Commonwealth and former British Empire, including
Britain. It’s about time.
Seven-day event - August 1 to August 7, 2006, encompassing the 174th anniversary of the official
end to slavery (1834). The Amistad will be docked at Historical Properties. A companion exhibit
and lecture will be held at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (a sponsor). A commemorative
plaque will be unveiled - hopefully by the Prime Minister at Cheapside, where slaves were sold
on an auction block. There will be a companion poster, brochure and web pages on the Da Costa
400 enriched website.
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Goals:
- Act of remembrance. Acknowledgment. Keep the memory. Bring attention to
reality that Canada’s history for 170 years (1668-1834) had legal slavery and,
just as importantly, had a strong abolitionist movement which eventually won
the battle to end it.
- To educate, illuminate and bring understanding.
- Cultural industries event.
- To be part of the 400th anniversary celebration.
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Legacy: Understanding, knowledge, an annual ceremony
The African slave trade is one the most tragic and disturbing episodes in human history. Over
a period of 200 years, 15 million slaves were sent to the Americas. Thought not as industrial
or severe as in the U.S. and Latin America, legal slavery was a fact in Canada from 1668 to 1808.
It was officially abolished in 1834. For many of us, it represents our roots, our ancestors,
our heritage. Millions of lives, many generations have been buffeted, impacted, by the slave
trade.
The famous Amistad affair was a revolt against an inhumane system. Its resolution demonstrated
that people were changing, that courage was growing against an inherent evil.
Recommendation:
A steering committee has been formed (January 2005) and is meeting regularly. Sponsors include
the Black Cultural Centre, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the Halifax Waterfront Development
Corporation, and Da Costa 400.
copyright - Da Costa 400
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