Black rights group wants to formally recognize 'Nigger Rock'

'Nigger Rock' is located south of Saint-Armand, Que., near the Vermont border. (Gilles Douaire on Flickr)

Oct 01, 2016 - A Quebec cemetery where black slaves are believed to be buried should be formally recognized as a historical site, say a black rights group and some Montreal city councillors.

Several Loyalist families leaving the United States brought slaves with them when they settled near Saint-Armand, Que., around 1784, according to the Black Coalition of Quebec. Saint-Armand is about 83 kilometres south of Montreal.

"We have written to the United Nations as well as the federal and provincial governments over the years asking that this site be preserved in memories of the sacrifices and contributions of the black community,'' said Dan Philip, the organization's president.

"Changing the name won't change its history."

- Dan Philip, Black Coalition of Quebec president

The site near the Vermont border is a rocky outcropping known as "Nigger Rock," and Philip says he is in favour of keeping the controversial name, despite the Quebec government deciding in 2015 to strip the word from all place names in the province.

"Changing the name won't change its history,'' he said. "I'm uncomfortable when people say that word, but we have to position ourselves vis-a-vis history as it was….”