Slavery in Pre-Columbian America

Slavery was widely practiced by the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, both prior to European colonisation and subsequently.

Slavery and related practices of forced labor varied greatly between regions and over time. In some instances, traditional practices may have continued after European colonisation.

North America
Slaves were traded across trans-continental trade networks in North America before European arrival.

Many of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, such as the Haida and Tlingit, were traditionally known as fierce warriors and slave-traders, raiding as far south as California. Slavery was hereditary, the slaves being prisoners of war. Their targets often included members of the Coast Salish groups. Among some tribes about a quarter of the population were slaves. One slave narrative was composed by an Englishman, John R. Jewitt, who had been taken alive when his ship was captured in 1802; his memoir provides a detailed look at life as a slave, and explains that among his slavemasters, the main tribal chief had 50 slaves and his deputies up to a dozen each.

The Pawnee of the Great Plains, the Iroquois of the state of New York, and the Yurok and Klamath of California, were known to keep slaves.

Mesoamerica and Caribbean


In Mesoamerica, the most common forms of slavery were those of prisoners of war and debtors. People unable to pay back debts could be sentenced to work as slaves to the persons owed until the debts were worked off. Enslavement was also a possible sentence for the crimes of thievery, rape and poaching.

The Mayan and Aztec civilizations both practiced slavery. Warfare was important to Maya society, because raids on surrounding areas provided the victims required for human sacrifice, as well as slaves for the construction of temples. Among the Maya slavery was inherited, unless a ransom was paid. Most victims of human sacrifice were prisoners of war or slaves. Among the Aztecs, white collar crime such as embezzlement, breach of trust, and theft could be penalized with enslavement. The Nahuas traded child slaves.

The Kalinago of Dominica were known to keep slaves.

South America
In the Inca Empire, workers were subject to a Mit'a in lieu of taxes which they paid by working for the government, a form of corvée labor. Each ayllu, or extended family, would decide which family member to send to do the work. It is debated whether this system of forced labor counts as slavery.

The Arawak, Caribs, Waraos and Akawaio of the Dutch Guiana captured people from other tribes. Most males were executed, but some were enslaved or sold repeatedly, often across great distances.

The Tehuelche of Patagonia, and the Tupinambá of Brazil, were known to keep slaves.