Indigenous Slavery in the Canadian Northwest
12th November 2026
Anthropological studies show that slavery in the Western Hemisphere existed in virtually all native tribes. In Canada, from coast to coast, indigenous people enslaved other indigenous people. Some of the best records of this tradition are those concerning Northwest Coast Indians in today’s British Columbia and Oregon. In Aboriginal Slavery on the Northwest Coast of North America (1997), anthropologist Leland Donald argued that slavery was essential to Northwest Coast culture.
Regarded as property, indigenous slaves were used in the labor-intensive work of coastal societies: building boats, houses, and weirs; preparing food; carrying water; collecting firewood; and nursing children.
The main source of slaves came from raiding parties, but some slaves were “bought and sold after the fashion of dogs and horses.” The transactions involved “money-shells”, blankets, food, or other property.
Cue call for ‘reparations’.