Mathieu da Costa | |
|---|---|
| Born | Azores Islands |
| Died | after 1619 |
| Occupation(s) | Translator and Explorer |
| Known for | First recorded black person in Canada, Exploration of New France, Bridge between the Aboriginal peoples in Canada and the European explorers through his translation |
Mathieu da Costa (sometimes d'Acosta) (fl. 1589-1619) was an Afro-French member of the exploring party of Pierre Dugua, the Sieur de Monts, and Samuel de Champlain that travelled from France to the New World in the early 17th century. He was the first recorded free black person to arrive on the territory of today's Canada.