Slavery and resistance in Québec

Trailer - Fugitives!

Discover the story of 13 runaway slaves through research notices published in Montreal and Quebec newspapers in the second half of the 18th century. Learn more by visiting http://fugitifs.ca

Slavery and resistance in Québec

Invisible in historical narratives and iconographic representations, slavery did exist in Quebec and Canada. In this episode, discover what drove the Fugitives project and the intentions of its instigator Webster.

Andrew: the fake papers

Discover the story surrounding the escape of André, a multilingual slave of mixed race. What strategy did he use in 1767 to find his freedom and move around freely? Credit illustration: D. Mathieu Cassendo

Bell: the urge to escape

Bell was bought at auction in 1778 in Quebec City. It is possible that she fled in haste to avoid sexual violence, one of the most recurring aspects of slavery. Illustration credit: Amel Zaazaa

Joe: the determination to escape

Does the quest for freedom ever stop for a slave? Of all the fugitives, Joe leads the list for the number of escapes, systematically refusing his slave status. Illustration credit: Em