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OBHS ONLINE - ONTARIO BLACK HISTORY SOCIETY ARCHIVES

http://collections.ic.gc.ca/obho/people/historical_personalities/notables/dacosta_mathieu.html



MATHIEU DA COSTA

Mathieu Da Costa was born in the Azores and was an interpreter.

In 1605 Da Costa traveled with an expedition to the Atlantic Region and is documented as the first known person of African descent to set foot on Canadian soil.

It is probable that Da Costa has spent some time in Canada as early as l603, because he served as an interpreter between the French and the Mic Macs.

Some accounts describe him as a free man, others say he was a servant to the Governor of Port Royal, Pierre du Gus, Sieur de Monts.



TITLE - AUTHOR - SOURCE - DATE

Samuel De Champlain: Father Of New France Samuel Eliot Morison Little, Brown And Company (pg. 95)

Champlain: The Life Of Fortitude New York: Alfred A. Knopf

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