Black History Quiz on New France & Québec

Long before the United States was established, people of African descent played important roles in French North America, or New France, just as they did in British North America. African Heritage Month is observed each February in Canada. The Government of the Province of Québec calls its celebration “Mois de l'histoire des Noirs” (Black History Month). Its website for the observance is “Québec interculturel” (Multicultural Québec). We are pleased to note that AfriClassical.com, which has a French version, is listed among the Internet resources for Black History Month. The following are selected questions, translated from French.

Questions from Black History Quiz on New France and Québec:

1. Who was the first Black person to arrive in New France?
2. Where was Mathieu Da Costa born?
3. What was Mathieu Da Costa's occupation?
4. With which Amerindian nation did Mathieu Da Costa employ his skills as an interpreter?
5. What languages did Mathieu Da Costa speak?
6. In what year were Black slaves first present in New France?
7. Who submitted a petition to the Provincial Government for the abolition of slavery about 1790?
8. When was the first Black woman appointed to the Council of Ministers of Québec?

Answers:
1. Mathieu Da Costa
2. Africa
3. Navigator and Interpreter
4. Micmacs
5. Dutch, English, French, Portuguese
6. 1628
7. Louis-Joseph Papineau
8. 2004

Black+French" rel="tag">Black French
Black+History" rel="tag">Black History
Mathieu DaCosta+warming" rel="tag">Mathieu DaCosta
Louis-Joseph+Papineau" rel="tag">Louis-Joseph Papineau
African+Navigator" rel="tag">African Navigator
African+Canadian" rel="tag">African Canadian