Welcome to the Stolen Relations Explore page!

Two quick words of caution:

  1. Archival documents often contain terms, phrases, and biases that reduce, minimize, or alter Native identities and views of the world.
  2. This project is not “complete” — numbers shown represent only what has been entered into this database, not the total number of Natives who were enslaved or unfree in any given area.

Learn

Learn

Welcome to the Learn page! Below you will find a variety of resources to learn more about the history of Indigenous enslavement, as well as contemporary perspectives on the issue.

Information about Stolen Relations

Brief Overview of Indigenous Enslavement

Brief Overview of Indigenous Enslavement
read

Decolonizing the Archives

Decolonizing the Archives
read

About this Project

About this Project
read

Brief Overview of Indigenous Enslavement

Brief Overview of Indigenous Enslavement
read

Decolonizing the Archives

Decolonizing the Archives
read

About this Project

About this Project
read

Stories from the Archives

Will [Williams] (Providence, Rhode Island, 1637)

Will [Williams] (Providence, Rhode Island, 1637)

Patience Boston (Maine, 1738)

Patience Boston (Maine, 1738)

George Fortman (Evansville, Indiana, 1936)

George Fortman (Evansville, Indiana, 1936)

Rachel and Dido (Montville, Connecticut, 1720)

Rachel and Dido (Montville, Connecticut, 1720)

Dick (Long Island, New York, 1722)

Dick (Long Island, New York, 1722)

Jacob (Westchester County, New York, 1757)

Jacob (Westchester County, New York, 1757)

Betsy (Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, 1812)

Betsy (Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, 1812)

Wawaus, alias James Printer (Boston, 1670s)

Wawaus, alias James Printer (Boston, 1670s)

Sarah John (Berwick, Maine, 1750)

Sarah John (Berwick, Maine, 1750)

Introduction and the Importance of Indigenous Enslavement to Her Community

Introduction and the Importance of Indigenous Enslavement to Her Community
watch

Introduction to Patricia Rocker and Her Family’s History

Introduction to Patricia Rocker and Her Family’s History
watch

Introduction to Paula Peters and the Mashpee Wampanoag

Introduction to Paula Peters and the Mashpee Wampanoag
watch

Loren’s Work to Uncover and Share Indigenous Stories

Loren’s Work to Uncover and Share Indigenous Stories
watch

The Resilience of Indigenous People

The Resilience of Indigenous People
watch

Community Continuation and Strengthening

Community Continuation and Strengthening
watch

Education and the Path Towards Truth and Reconciliation

Education and the Path Towards Truth and Reconciliation
watch

Ways to Bring Stories of Indigenous Slavery Out of the Margins

Ways to Bring Stories of Indigenous Slavery Out of the Margins
watch

Supporting Indigenous Perspectives

Supporting Indigenous Perspectives
watch

Videos related to Indigenous slavery history

Did Europeans Enslave Native Americans?

Did Europeans Enslave Native Americans?
watch

PBS, 2020

Native American Slavery in New England

Native American Slavery in New England
watch

Margaret Newell, The Ohio State University, 2022

Native American Slavery in Spanish Colonies

Native American Slavery in Spanish Colonies
watch

Andrés Reséndez, University of California – Davis, 2022

Ethical Considerations Regarding Sharing Stories of Enslavement

Ethical Considerations Regarding Sharing Stories of Enslavement
watch

Linford Fisher and Lydia Curliss, American Philosophical Society conference, 2022

Indian Slavery: An Unspoken History

Indian Slavery: An Unspoken History
watch

Panel discussion at Brown University, 2016

"American Indian Slave Trade in the Colonial South"

“American Indian Slave Trade in the Colonial South”
watch

Tyler Boulware, West Virginia University, 2022

Suggested reading

Perspective: The Other Slavery, Andrés Reséndez

Perspective: The Other Slavery, Andrés Reséndez
read

America's Other Original Sin

America’s Other Original Sin
read

Rebecca Onion, Slate, 2016

Colonial enslavement of Native Americans included those who surrendered, too

Colonial enslavement of Native Americans included those who surrendered, too
read

Brown University news service

What Slavery Looked like in the West

What Slavery Looked like in the West
read

The Atlantic, 2021

Perspective: The Other Slavery, Andrés Reséndez

Perspective: The Other Slavery, Andrés Reséndez
read

America's Other Original Sin

America’s Other Original Sin
read

Rebecca Onion, Slate, 2016

Colonial enslavement of Native Americans included those who surrendered, too

Colonial enslavement of Native Americans included those who surrendered, too
read

Brown University news service

What Slavery Looked like in the West

What Slavery Looked like in the West
read

The Atlantic, 2021

Podcasts and Radio 

An American Secret: The Untold Story of Native American Enslavement

An American Secret: The Untold Story of Native American Enslavement
listen

Hidden Brain, 2017

Native American Slavery

Native American Slavery
listen

First Voices Radio, 2022

Indigenous Enslavement: Part 1

Indigenous Enslavement: Part 1
listen

SPLC, Learning for Justice

An American Secret: The Untold Story of Native American Enslavement

An American Secret: The Untold Story of Native American Enslavement
listen

Hidden Brain, 2017

Native American Slavery

Native American Slavery
listen

First Voices Radio, 2022

Indigenous Enslavement: Part 1

Indigenous Enslavement: Part 1
listen

SPLC, Learning for Justice

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