Slavery in Pre-Columbian America

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

[1] 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.

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.

[20] 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.

[citation needed] The Arawak, Caribs, Waraos and Akawaio of the Dutch Guiana captured people from other tribes.