On Friday, August 22, 2025, the Consulate General of Haiti in Montreal commemorated the August 22, 1791, uprising in Saint-Domingue, a founding act of Haitian freedom. Overlooked for too long, this event nevertheless marks the true starting point of the process that led to Independence in 1804.

The Bois-Caïman ceremony and the subsequent uprising were not mere bursts of revolt : they represented a collective awakening and a clear political strategy, challenging a centuries-old system of oppression. Revisiting this page of history through a decolonial perspective means recognizing the intelligence, vision, and courage of the insurgent slaves, often erased or caricatured by dominant narratives.

As Aimé Césaire wrote, "Haiti, where Negritude stood up for the first time and declared its belief in its humanity." Here in Montreal, a city of diversity and dialogue, the Haitian diaspora proudly upholds this heritage. It contributes to the spread of our culture, our memory, and our universal values, the Consulate emphasizes.

This commemoration was an opportunity not only to pay tribute to our ancestors, but also to ask ourselves : what lessons can we learn from 1791 to build a more just future, free from the symbolic shackles of colonization? This topic was presented during a panel discussion by ethnologist Louise Carmel Bijoux, at the invitation of Consulate Chief of Staff Anès Lubin.

IH/ iciHaiti