Stolen Relations
@stolenrelations.bsky.social
Official Bluesky of Stolen Relations: Recovering Stories of Indigenous Enslavement in the Americas. Housed at the Brown Center for Digital Scholarship @browncds.bsky.social; PI Linford Fisher @linford.bsky.social.
stolenrelations.org
stolenrelations.org
Pinned
(1/3) Today, PI Linford Fisher @linford.bsky.social is launching his new book, Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in U.S. History with Liveright Books @liveright.bsky.social.
(1/5) Today, we commemorate Mayflower Day, the day 406 years ago that 102 pilgrims left Plymouth, England, to travel to the New World, a journey that would take them over three months. #Indigenoushistory #Indigenous #mayflower #mayflowerday #americanhistory #plymouth
September 17, 2026 at 3:39 AM
(1/5) Today, we commemorate Mayflower Day, the day 406 years ago that 102 pilgrims left Plymouth, England, to travel to the New World, a journey that would take them over three months. #Indigenoushistory #Indigenous #mayflower #mayflowerday #americanhistory #plymouth
(1/5) On this day in 1713, 313 years ago, the Boston News Letter printed an advertisement calling for the recapture of two Indigenous men, James and Toby, who emancipated themselves from their legal master, Richard Draper, a shopkeeper from Boston.
September 15, 2026 at 1:57 AM
(1/5) On this day in 1713, 313 years ago, the Boston News Letter printed an advertisement calling for the recapture of two Indigenous men, James and Toby, who emancipated themselves from their legal master, Richard Draper, a shopkeeper from Boston.
(1/5) Yesterday in 1861, 165 years ago, a newspaper advertisement was printed in the Fayetteville Weekly Observer, in Fayetteville, NC, calling for the return of a self-emancipated Multi-Racial Indigenous and Black woman named Rachael to enslavement or servitude under R. McDaniel.
September 11, 2026 at 3:34 AM
(1/5) Yesterday in 1861, 165 years ago, a newspaper advertisement was printed in the Fayetteville Weekly Observer, in Fayetteville, NC, calling for the return of a self-emancipated Multi-Racial Indigenous and Black woman named Rachael to enslavement or servitude under R. McDaniel.
(1/3) Today, we celebrate Labor Day within the United States and Canada. The day is dedicated to the workers who have formed the infrastructure and culture of the country and the activists within the American Labor Movement who improved life for those workers.
September 8, 2026 at 3:23 AM
(1/3) Today, we celebrate Labor Day within the United States and Canada. The day is dedicated to the workers who have formed the infrastructure and culture of the country and the activists within the American Labor Movement who improved life for those workers.
(1/5) Yesterday 243 years ago, the Treaty of Paris was signed by representatives of the US and Great Britain to end the American Revolutionary War. One of its largest questions to resolve was borders and the new nation’s ability to move into the larger North American landmass.
September 5, 2026 at 3:16 AM
(1/5) Yesterday 243 years ago, the Treaty of Paris was signed by representatives of the US and Great Britain to end the American Revolutionary War. One of its largest questions to resolve was borders and the new nation’s ability to move into the larger North American landmass.
(1/4) Yesterday 248 years ago, in 1778, the Battle of Rhode Island was fought between the continental and British forces for control of Newport, RI. Though the battle and its aftermath on Aquidneck Island did not change the British control in the region, the battle was otherwise significant.
August 31, 2026 at 3:17 AM
(1/4) Yesterday 248 years ago, in 1778, the Battle of Rhode Island was fought between the continental and British forces for control of Newport, RI. Though the battle and its aftermath on Aquidneck Island did not change the British control in the region, the battle was otherwise significant.
(1/5) On this day, 90 years ago, William Sherman, Jr. recounted his experiences as a slave to Federal Writers’ Project field worker. Sherman was one of more than 2,000 stories taken in the 1930s to document the aging population of formerly enslaved persons. stolenrelations.org/referents/59...
August 28, 2026 at 10:11 PM
(1/5) On this day, 90 years ago, William Sherman, Jr. recounted his experiences as a slave to Federal Writers’ Project field worker. Sherman was one of more than 2,000 stories taken in the 1930s to document the aging population of formerly enslaved persons. stolenrelations.org/referents/59...
(1/5) In this month we commemorate the 1619 arrival of the first African captives brought to the English colonies in North America. While this is an important moment, the history of Native unfreedom allows us to expand our understanding of slavery’s origins in the English colonies and later, the US.
August 24, 2026 at 9:47 PM
(1/5) In this month we commemorate the 1619 arrival of the first African captives brought to the English colonies in North America. While this is an important moment, the history of Native unfreedom allows us to expand our understanding of slavery’s origins in the English colonies and later, the US.
(1/4) Yesterday, 309 years ago, the self-emancipation of an unfree man named John Caesar was described in the London Gazette in England. He had left the printing shop of his legal master, Benjamin Wood, on August 11, 1717.
August 22, 2026 at 3:19 AM
(1/4) Yesterday, 309 years ago, the self-emancipation of an unfree man named John Caesar was described in the London Gazette in England. He had left the printing shop of his legal master, Benjamin Wood, on August 11, 1717.
Reposted by Stolen Relations
What does it mean to decolonize the archive?
In episode 449, Linford Fisher and Lorén Spears discuss Stolen Relations, a tribally collaborative digital database documenting the lives of enslaved Indigenous people. @stolenrelations.bsky.social
🎧 www.benfranklinsworld.com/449
#IndigenousHistory
In episode 449, Linford Fisher and Lorén Spears discuss Stolen Relations, a tribally collaborative digital database documenting the lives of enslaved Indigenous people. @stolenrelations.bsky.social
🎧 www.benfranklinsworld.com/449
#IndigenousHistory
August 18, 2026 at 7:34 PM
What does it mean to decolonize the archive?
In episode 449, Linford Fisher and Lorén Spears discuss Stolen Relations, a tribally collaborative digital database documenting the lives of enslaved Indigenous people. @stolenrelations.bsky.social
🎧 www.benfranklinsworld.com/449
#IndigenousHistory
In episode 449, Linford Fisher and Lorén Spears discuss Stolen Relations, a tribally collaborative digital database documenting the lives of enslaved Indigenous people. @stolenrelations.bsky.social
🎧 www.benfranklinsworld.com/449
#IndigenousHistory
(1/5) On August 11, 1978, Congress passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, granting Indigenous Americans the right to practice Indigenous spirituality and have access to many of the components of this practice that had been made illegal, including sacred objects, sites, and beliefs.
August 13, 2026 at 3:29 AM
(1/5) On August 11, 1978, Congress passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, granting Indigenous Americans the right to practice Indigenous spirituality and have access to many of the components of this practice that had been made illegal, including sacred objects, sites, and beliefs.
(1/4) Since 1994, UNESCO has designated August 9 as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, in order to increase awareness of the common problems experienced by the 500 million individuals considered Indigenous by UNESCO, including marginalization and cultural and linguistic erasure.
August 9, 2026 at 8:31 PM
(1/4) Since 1994, UNESCO has designated August 9 as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, in order to increase awareness of the common problems experienced by the 500 million individuals considered Indigenous by UNESCO, including marginalization and cultural and linguistic erasure.
(1/4) Yesterday in 1780, during the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Piqua occurred in the Ohio Country. Described as a battle, the event seems closer to an act of attempted elimination, in which a deserted village and much surrounding land were burned and a Shawnee population forced to relocate.
August 9, 2026 at 8:19 PM
(1/4) Yesterday in 1780, during the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Piqua occurred in the Ohio Country. Described as a battle, the event seems closer to an act of attempted elimination, in which a deserted village and much surrounding land were burned and a Shawnee population forced to relocate.
(1/4) Two days ago in history, 152 years ago, a Lakota chief referred to as One Stab was freed from his temporary unfreedom under General G. A. Custer. He had been taken captive more than a month earlier, on July 26, 1874.
August 7, 2026 at 3:28 PM
(1/4) Two days ago in history, 152 years ago, a Lakota chief referred to as One Stab was freed from his temporary unfreedom under General G. A. Custer. He had been taken captive more than a month earlier, on July 26, 1874.
(1/4) On this day, 200 years ago, the Northern Star and Warren and Bristol Gazette printed a story of a shocking murder of an Indigenous servant that took place in Illinois.
July 29, 2026 at 9:20 PM
(1/4) On this day, 200 years ago, the Northern Star and Warren and Bristol Gazette printed a story of a shocking murder of an Indigenous servant that took place in Illinois.
(1/4) On this day 68 years ago, the American Indian Movement was founded in Minneapolis, MN, as a grassroots movement towards a revitalization of Native identity and an improvement in quality of life for the local community, through the creation of social services, schools, healthcare, and housing.
July 28, 2026 at 4:32 PM
(1/4) On this day 68 years ago, the American Indian Movement was founded in Minneapolis, MN, as a grassroots movement towards a revitalization of Native identity and an improvement in quality of life for the local community, through the creation of social services, schools, healthcare, and housing.
(1/4) Yesterday, 248 years ago, a newspaper article was published describing the self-emancipation of a 30-year old Indigenous cook named André from his enslaver, Maitre Grimperel, a notary in Le Cap, Saint-Domingue. The escape had occurred on July 10, 1778.
July 20, 2026 at 3:38 AM
(1/4) Yesterday, 248 years ago, a newspaper article was published describing the self-emancipation of a 30-year old Indigenous cook named André from his enslaver, Maitre Grimperel, a notary in Le Cap, Saint-Domingue. The escape had occurred on July 10, 1778.
(1/6) July is Disability Pride Month. In this month, we recognize the way that Indigenous individuals’ experiences in unfreedom were shaped by disability and how this identity was weaponized against them and their communities.
July 14, 2026 at 5:53 PM
(1/6) July is Disability Pride Month. In this month, we recognize the way that Indigenous individuals’ experiences in unfreedom were shaped by disability and how this identity was weaponized against them and their communities.
(1/5) Today, many Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which heralded basic human equality and liberty. However, the Declaration and the Revolution were complicated for Native peoples, past and present.
July 4, 2026 at 2:26 PM
(1/5) Today, many Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which heralded basic human equality and liberty. However, the Declaration and the Revolution were complicated for Native peoples, past and present.
(1/5) Today marks the 159th commemoration of Canada Day, a Canadian celebration of national pride stemming from the original binding of the three colonies of the United Canadas, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a combined dominion under the British Empire.
July 2, 2026 at 3:10 AM
(1/5) Today marks the 159th commemoration of Canada Day, a Canadian celebration of national pride stemming from the original binding of the three colonies of the United Canadas, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a combined dominion under the British Empire.
(1/5) Today, we observe Mother’s Day. Stolen Relations honors the hundreds of mothers whose stories are housed in our archive and their unique experiences in unfreedom. #mothersday #mothersday2026 #indigenoushistory #mohawk #womenshistory
May 10, 2026 at 9:04 PM
(1/5) Today, we observe Mother’s Day. Stolen Relations honors the hundreds of mothers whose stories are housed in our archive and their unique experiences in unfreedom. #mothersday #mothersday2026 #indigenoushistory #mohawk #womenshistory
(1/5) Today marks the 251th anniversary of the organization of the 1st RI Regiment in 1775, a regiment in the Revolutionary War-era Continental Army that is remarkable for its 1778 recruitment of enslaved Black and Indigenous individuals in exchange for their freedom.
May 9, 2026 at 12:10 AM
(1/5) Today marks the 251th anniversary of the organization of the 1st RI Regiment in 1775, a regiment in the Revolutionary War-era Continental Army that is remarkable for its 1778 recruitment of enslaved Black and Indigenous individuals in exchange for their freedom.
(1/4) Stolen Relations recognizes that histories of Indigenous unfreedom are connected with global histories of dispossession and assimilation. In honor of AANHPI Heritage Month, we stand in community with all peoples who continue to experience colonialism and denials of sovereignty.
May 2, 2026 at 3:42 AM
(1/4) Stolen Relations recognizes that histories of Indigenous unfreedom are connected with global histories of dispossession and assimilation. In honor of AANHPI Heritage Month, we stand in community with all peoples who continue to experience colonialism and denials of sovereignty.
(1/3) Today, PI Linford Fisher @linford.bsky.social is launching his new book, Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in U.S. History with Liveright Books @liveright.bsky.social.
April 29, 2026 at 2:34 AM
(1/3) Today, PI Linford Fisher @linford.bsky.social is launching his new book, Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in U.S. History with Liveright Books @liveright.bsky.social.
Reposted by Stolen Relations
SAVE THE DATE!!
The John Carter Brown Library and Brown University's Department of History will host a launch for Linford D. Fisher's book Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in US History.
Join us at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 24 (in person or via Zoom). A reception will follow.
The John Carter Brown Library and Brown University's Department of History will host a launch for Linford D. Fisher's book Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in US History.
Join us at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 24 (in person or via Zoom). A reception will follow.
March 25, 2026 at 6:18 PM
SAVE THE DATE!!
The John Carter Brown Library and Brown University's Department of History will host a launch for Linford D. Fisher's book Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in US History.
Join us at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 24 (in person or via Zoom). A reception will follow.
The John Carter Brown Library and Brown University's Department of History will host a launch for Linford D. Fisher's book Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in US History.
Join us at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 24 (in person or via Zoom). A reception will follow.