Essence:
Port Royal commemorative re-enactment. In 1979 - the 375th anniversary re-enactment -
the last major commemoration of the first permanent European settlement in Canada - Mathieu
Da Costa had a role as one of the historical figures. Da Costa has been part of the standard
narrative of Port Royal for 150 years. Prime Minister Trudeau’s speech mentioned the fact
that Blacks were some of our founding settlers. Up until March 2005, we assumed Da Costa
would be a part of the 400th anniversary celebrations. We are informed this will not be
the case.
Seven-day event - August 1 to August 7, 2006, encompassing the 174th anniversary of the
official end to slavery (1834). An 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 web site.
There is no hard evidence that Da Costa was at Port Royal 1605/1606. There is circumstantial
evidence - Pierre Dugua, sieur de Mons did hire him in Paris in 1604/05 as an interpreter and
we know he is the first namable Black person in Canada from Dutch court documents for his trial
1608-1619.
July 16, 2005 there will be an official re-enactment at the Port Royal habitation with the
unveiling of a commemorative stamp, but there will be no one portraying Da Costa - however there
will be a costumed actor playing one of the Black settlers. Though there is only circumstantial
evidence that Da Costa was there, we also know from verified documents that there was least
one nameless Black settler - he died from undetermined illness and was buried at sea. There
may have been others.
Parks Canada calls the shots - if Da Costa is not to be portrayed we can understand. There
is some debate because of the circumstantial evidence - but there is no record that Da Costa
was at Port Royal. However, Parks Canada should be urged, lobbied to contribute to the Da
Costa research initiative.
This situation may change because of politics, political correctness or above all - new
discoveries from the Historical Research Initiative - Da Costa (Project 10).
Goal:
Originally, would have been to show that Blacks were here from the start - which Da Costa was
- but was he at Port Royal or the St. Lawrence? Where was this guy? Which part of Canada? He
made at least two voyages here.
Legacy:
Would have been: to show our multicultural roots. A physical symbol - that Blacks have been
here since the start.
Recommendation:
We see the both sides - no hard evidence but there is definite circumstantial evidence. Let's let
Parks Canada make the decision...
copyright - Da Costa 400
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