African Men Shaped Canada’s History
Mathieu Da Costa: Canada’s First Recorded Black Person
Mathieu Da Costa holds a unique place in Canadian history as the first recorded Black person to set foot in what is now Canada. Mathieu Da Costa's linguistic abilities mediated fur trade prices and trading routes between Europeans and Africans using intellect, tact and cunning.
A Linguistic Bridge Across Cultures
Da Costa’s carefully honed multilingual skills included European languages such as French, Dutch, Portuguese, and Indigenous languages. These abilities made him an invaluable asset to explorers and merchants conducting trade and diplomacy across continents.
His fluency allowed him to have the freedom to travel, forge relationships and communicate effectively across cultural divides, ensuring the success of expeditions led by figures like Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons.
Mathieu Da Costa worked with prominent figures of early Canadian exploration, including Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons. Both men played pivotal roles in the French efforts to explore, trade, and settle in the New World, and Da Costa’s contributions were integral to their missions.
Champlain is best known for founding Québec City in 1608 and creating detailed maps of the St. Lawrence River region. Champlain relied on interpreters like Mathieu Da Costa to communicate with Indigenous communities, negotiate alliances, and facilitate the fur trade.
Da Costa’s linguistic skills would have been essential to Champlain’s building trust and maintaining peace with Indigenous nations. Dugua founded Port-Royal in 1605 (in present-day Nova Scotia), one of the first European settlements in North America.
Connection with the African Indigenous People
One of Da Costa’s key roles was mediating trade between European settlers and Indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples provided essential survival knowledge, such as hunting techniques and navigation routes, while Europeans brought fur, tools, and other goods in exchange.
The Algonquin, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Abenaki, Cree, and Montagnais (Innu) are six Indigenous tribes in North America and/or Canada.
The Mi'kmaq, among others in Canada, formed alliances with the French during the colonial period, participating actively in the fur trade.
The Montagnais played a crucial role in supporting early French settlers and explorers by sharing their extensive knowledge of the land and its resources, facilitating exploration and trade in the region.
On one hand, Da Costa worked with European explorers, enabling their missions. On the other, he built relationships with Indigenous peoples. However, many Indigenous leaders entered these relationships trusting to maintain their sovereignty and benefit from European goods.
However, the fur trade had negative consequences for Indigenous populations, including the depletion of animal resources, the introduction of European diseases, and the displacement of communities from their traditional lands.
A Career Shaped by Opportunity and Adversity
Mathieu Da Costa more than likely began his career as an interpreter and guide for European explorers. He may have been recruited through bustling port cities such as Lisbon or Amsterdam, which were super active multicultural hubs during the 16th and 17th centuries. However, like many Africans of his era, Da Costa may also have been forcibly taken into maritime service.
Despite these challenges, his reputation as a skilled linguist and intermediary grew, securing his place in the annals of history.
Da Costa likely saw his role as a means of survival and opportunity. As an African in a Eurocentric world, his ability to navigate multiple cultures and languages gave him a degree of freedom that few other blacks had.
A Day in the Life of Mathieu Da Costa
Da Costa’s primary role involved bridging communication between European settlers and Indigenous peoples, like the Mi'kmaq. He would accompany explorers to meetings, translating conversations about trade, alliances, or navigation.
Da Costa’s navigation skills were critical if traveling by ship or on foot. He helped chart courses or interpret local geographical knowledge shared by Indigenous guides on beaver fur and other furry animals in the fur trapping business. He needed to learn about local customs, resources, and terrain, relaying this information back to European leaders.
Mathieu Da Costa lived during the height of European competition in the Americas, a period when nations vied for territory, trade dominance, and strategic alliances.
His role as an interpreter placed him at the intersection of these tricky dynamics, mediating between indigenous cultures and navigating the complexities of colonial expansion.
Da Costa more than likely loved fish, game meat, indigenous crops such as corn, beans, squash, wild rice, tubers like sweet potatoes, and pumpkins.
These were staple foods that Indigenous peoples in North America grew and harvested, particularly the Mi'kmaq and other tribes in the region.
Additionally, berries, maple syrup, nuts like acorns and hazelnuts, and European-imported goods like bread and salted meats may have also been part of his diet.
Da Costa’s Role in the Fur Trade
In Canada the fur trade was a major economic enterprise that shaped the continent's history, especially from the 1700s to the 1900s. Mathieu Da Costa's linguistic skills played a significant role in facilitating these verbal transactions.
European traders sought valuable furs, particularly beaver pelts, in high demand in Europe for making hats and other goods. Indigenous peoples, who had extensive knowledge of the land and trapping techniques were key suppliers of these furs.
Da Costa's ability to communicate in European and Indigenous languages made him a crucial intermediary in this trade. He likely helped negotiate prices, convey information about the quality of furs, and facilitate agreements between European traders and Indigenous trappers. His presence would have been essential for ensuring smooth transactions and establishing trade relationships.
Champlain and Dugua worked closely to advance French interests in the Americas. Dugua financed and led expeditions, while Champlain provided the expertise in navigation and mapping. Together, they established settlements and expanded the fur trade network.
The alliances formed between European settlers and Indigenous nations were crucial for the survival of early settlements and the success of French efforts in North America.
By the late 1500s and early 1600s, countries like France, Spain, England, Portugal, and the Netherlands were on the move, expanding their territories into the Americas.
They all wanted to take advantage of the region's riches, including natural resources, furs, and other valuable products while trying to outpace their competitors.
How Would His 10-Year-Old Self React to What He Did?
As a curious child, Mathieu Da Costa’s 10-year-old self would be amazed at the important role he played in shaping Canadian history. Still, he might also be frustrated by the lack of records detailing his life and contributions.
To address this, young Mathieu would have written about his experiences, languages, and cultural exchanges, sketched maps of his travels, and drawn portraits of the people he encountered.
He would also have shared his knowledge with peers and elders to ensure it was passed down in the oral tradition.
A 10-year-old Mathieu Da Costa would probably have taken these steps to preserve his legacy in an era when contributions by people like him, were largely ignored or claimed by others.
Mathieu Da Costa Postage Stamp
Mathieu Da Costa was featured on a Canadian postage stamp as part of the "Black History Month" series, issued by Canada Post in 2019.
This stamp was a proud moment in the lives of African descendants living in Canada as his significant role as one of the first recorded Black individuals in Canada and as an interpreter and mediator between French explorers and Indigenous peoples was invaluable.
The stamp features a portrait of Mathieu Da Costa, created from a historically inspired illustration.
