Area ready to welcome Freedom Schooner Amistad

Lewis Jackson

By Lewis Jackson

When the Freedom Schooner Amistad appears at the entrance of Shelburne harbour on Friday, it will signify the beginning of a weekend of events celebrating the 225th anniversary of the arrival of the black loyalists in Nova Scotia. It will be a homecoming of sorts too, for on board will be sisters Haley and Nina Cox, former residents of Shelburne who have been serving as volunteer crew members with the vessel as it completes the Atlantic Freedom Tour, a 14,000-mile (23,000 km.) transatlantic voyage to Great Britain, Lisbon, West Africa and the Caribbean to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade in Britain (1807) and the United States (1808).

The Freedom Schooner Amistad, with its low, sleek hull and extremely raked masts, was launched in 2000 at Mystic Seaport, Connecticut and is owned by Amistad America Inc., a non-profit organization based in New Haven, Conn., whose mission is to educate the public on the history of slavery, discrimination and civil rights. The vessel is a recreation of the early 19th century Baltimore clipper La Amistad, an American built, Spanish registered craft which became a potent symbol for the abolition of slavery in the United States.

According to contemporary accounts, the slave ship Tecora kidnapped a group of Africans from the west coast of that continent and transported them to Havana, Cuba in 1839. These individuals were in turn being moved from Havana to another Cuban port by the coastal trader La Amistad when on July 30, 1839 they revolted and took control of the craft. The 54 Africans on board were subsequently deceived by the Spanish navigator who plotted a course up the American seaboard rather than back across the Atlantic to their homeland. As a result, on August 24, 1839 La Amistad was seized by the U.S. Navy Survey brig Washington off Long Island, N.Y. and the Africans immediately imprisoned on charges of mutiny and murder.

In the aftermath of these charges the Africans were subjected to several lower court proceedings and ultimately tried in federal Supreme Court where no less a personage than former U.S. president John Quincy Adams argued the case for the defendants. On March 9, 1841 the U.S. Supreme Court finally rendered its landmark decision to free the 34 survivors and directed them to be transported back to Sierra Leone thereby delivering yet another blow to the institution of slavery. It is important to mention that while slavery had been abolished throughout the British Empire (including Nova Scotia) in 1833/34, the United States continued to permit the ownership of slaves right up to the end of the American Civil War some 30 years later.

Here in Nova Scotia the Black Loyalist Heritage Society which has also been doing much to educate the public about their own history, discrimination and civil rights, has in conjunction with the 225th Anniversary of the Loyalist Landing celebrations planned an ‘Amistad Weekend’ around the Freedom Schooner Amistad’s visit.

On Friday between 11 a.m. and noon the vessel will be escorted up Shelburne harbour by boats belonging to members of the Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club. A civic welcome with remarks from dignitaries will follow at noon when the vessel is finally tied up at the Shelburne Marine Terminal Wharf. Later in the afternoon, between 1:30 and 3 p.m. a welcoming reception will be held at the Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club which is open to the public, and from 4 to 6 p.m. the Amistad Freedom Schooner will be open for public tours.

On Saturday between 8-11 a.m. the Black Loyalist Heritage Society has organized a community breakfast for all who wish to attend at the Birchtown Community Hall. The cost is $6 per plate. Following breakfast there will be a tour of the Black Loyalist Heritage Society Site and Museum for the public and Amistad crew. Admission to the Old School House Museum is $2.50 per person.

Amistad Freedom Schooner tours will again be conducted at the vessel’s berth between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. There will be as well, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., an Open Air Market at the Yacht Club/Osprey Centre parking lot, featuring Nova Scotia’s painters, vendors, authors, musicians and retailers. Vendors can still arrange for tables by calling 875-1606.

Another interesting event will occur between 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the Muir-Cox Shipyard Interpretative Centre with the official opening of the Black Boat Builders’ exhibit, a partnership display put together by the Shelburne Historical Society and the Black Loyalist Heritage Society.

In the evening a dance will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall, Branch # 63 with local band ‘Back Trak’ supplying the music. Tickets are $10 each with the dance open to those ages 19+.

Fireworks are also scheduled for the Shelburne waterfront on Saturday evening at 10 p.m.

On Sunday, a Sankofa Youth Workshop is slated for the Birchtown Community Hall from 9:30 in the morning until noon, for youth ages 13-18 who are interested in discussing issues of diversity and racial harmony, seeking a better understanding of the Amistad Mission and wanting to take part in sailing the Amistad Freedom Schooner. Cost is free, but registration is limited with the deadline given as Aug. 7. Youth who register for this will have an opportunity to sail on the vessel later in the day between 1-4 p.m.

An Ecumenical Church service is also planned for St. Paul’s Church in Birchtown at 11 a.m. to be followed by a pot luck dinner in the Community Hall after Pastor Debra Hill’s service. The public is invited to both and encouraged to bring their own dish to the latter.

The Freedom Schooner Amistad is scheduled to leave port enroute to Portland, Maine at noon on Monday, escorted out by boats flying the colours of the Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club.