Retired Parks Canada historian Ken Donovan delivered a presentation on the history of enslaved people in Cape Breton on September 14 at St. John’s Centre for the Arts in Arichat. After his talk, he spoke with Civic Journalist Jake Boudrot about his decades of research and the reasons behind his focus on this subject.

Donovan has studied the social and cultural history of Cape Breton from the 17th to the 21st centuries for much of his adult life. In recent years, his work has turned toward the history of people of African descent who were enslaved on the island, a chapter of history he felt deserved greater attention.

He noted the importance of first-hand accounts like that of Olaudah Equiano, whose 18th-century writing depicted the horrors of slavery. Donovan explained that his research concentrates on the period between 1659 and 1815, which includes evidence of French slave ownership at Louisbourg and the impact of the Acadian Expulsion on enslaved people.

His latest publication is a biography of Marie Marguerite Rose, who was born in 1717, enslaved at Louisbourg, and later freed. Rose married a Mi’kmaq man, opened her own business, and is now recognized as a person of National Historic Significance in Canada. Donovan said her story is compelling not only for its rarity but also for the way it reflects resilience and survival in the face of oppression.

Donovan also emphasized the importance of acknowledging the reality of sexual violence against enslaved people, noting that these experiences are too often omitted from the historical record. With eight books and 100 peer-reviewed articles already published, he said he intends to continue his research and writing, further uncovering overlooked aspects of Cape Breton’s past.