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He was originally engaged by the
Portuguese as a translator, having learned their language quickly. It was thought that his skills would be valuable in future cartography expeditions to the New World. The tradition of Europeans depending on such translators was more than a century old by the time da
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The
Mathieu da Costa Challenge was an annual creative writing and artwork contest started in 1996 by the Department of Canadian Heritage. The challenge encourages youth to discover how diversity has shaped Canada's history and the important role that pluralism plays in Canadian society.
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Du Gua's activities in Canada did not end until 1617. A court case related to expenses incurred by
Nicolas de Bauquemare of Rouen to support da Costa dragged on until 1619, although there is no positive indication that Mathieu da Costa was personally present.
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French documents record da Costa working for the leaders of Port Royal in 1608. In 1608 he was hired for three years by Pierre Du Gua de Monts. It may be assumed that Da Costa accompanied Du Gua de Mons and
590:"Estéban Gomez et Mathieu Dacosta: Marins noirs sur l'atlantique (XVIe et XVIIe siecles)" Par Arsene Francoeur Nganga, Préface du Professeur John. K. Thornton, Edilivre, Saint denis (France), Décembre 2017.
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in the
Portuguese-speaking world. Da Costa would later be sought by both the English and the Dutch to help in their contacts with Aboriginal peoples in North America, but the French secured his services.
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talents. Numerous mixed-race
African-Portuguese persons were part of the Atlantic Creole generation, often working as sailors or interpreters. His portfolio of languages is thought to have included
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pg 139 - "The first black person mentioned in Canada was
Mathieu de Costa, who appeared in French records from 1608 as being a "negro servant" to the government of Port Royal."
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Da Costa's translation and communication skills helped reduce the cultural gap between early French explorers and the First
Nations. His work in Canada is honoured at the
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commemorates da Costa's contribution. It is part of the
Mathieu da Costa African Heritage Trail, a series of monuments marking African Nova Scotian history in the
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There is little documentation about
Mathieu da Costa. Of at least partial African ancestry, he is known to have been a freeman favoured by explorers for his
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in a trade dispute, and took Pierre as well. His abduction strongly suggests that his talents helped bridge the gap between the
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587:"Mathieu Da Costa along the Coasts of Nova Scotia: Some Possibilities" by John Johnston; NSHS, Journal #4 (2001); pp. 13.
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Mathieu_Da_Costa_and_Early_Canada,_by_A._J._B._Johnston "Mathieu Da Costa and Early Canada: Possibilities and
Probabilities*"
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There is controversy as to how da Costa had learned to communicate with Aboriginal peoples. One theory suggested that the
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on one or more of their voyages to Acadia and the St Lawrence area. However, in 1609, his presence is recorded in
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Costa started working with them. An interpreter, translator, and general go-between such as da Costa was known as
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Johnston, A.J.B. (2001). "Mathieu Da Costa along the Coasts of Nova Scotia? Some Possibilities".
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cultural context of trading centers, with multi-lingual populations, was very similar to the
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in Nova Scotia, Canada. He was also the subject of a French graphic novel, called
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Remembering and Forgetting in Acadie: A Historian's Journey through Public Memory
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to the New World in the early 17th century. He was the first recorded free
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A domestic rate postage stamp honoring da Costa was issued by
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Canadian explorer; first recorded free Black person in Canada
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547:(Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2009), pp. 135-137.
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Black History - Mathieu Da Costa: Permanent Domestic Stamps
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Journal of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society
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458:"Who was Mathieu Da Costa?"
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338:References
187:In Holland
180:um grumete
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193:Amsterdam
529:Archived
371:cite web
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65:Explorer
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159:Mi'kmaq
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255:Legacy
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230:Rouen
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592:ISBN
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