Regards québécois sur Haïti. La visibilité d’Haïti dans la presse québécoise du XIXe siècle

The relationship between Quebec and Haiti has deep historical roots. While the current Haitian diaspora in Canada has drawn attention to their contemporary ties, these connections date back to colonial times. Under French rule, Nouvelle-France and Saint-Domingue played pivotal roles in a trade triangle that facilitated the movement of people and goods across the Atlantic empire. Although these exchanges weakened following Quebec’s cession to Britain in 1763 and seemingly ceased after Haiti declared its independence in 1804, Haiti faced significant political and economic isolation from world powers thereafter. Canada, under British control, also followed this trend of detachment. However, a closer examination reveals numerous references to Haiti and Saint-Domingue in 19th-century Quebec newspapers – approximately 3,000 and 330 mentions, respectively – indicating a sustained interest. This study explores Quebec press coverage from 1804 to 1900, aiming to uncover how Haiti and its people were represented in Quebec’s journalistic discourse of the time.