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Land, Indigenous peoples, settlers, and today’s communities.

Since time immemorial, Ancestors of the people called K’ómoks today consisting of the Pentlatch, Ieeksan (eye-ick-sun), Sasitla (sa-seet-la), Xa’xe (ha-hey) and Sathloot (sath-loot) people have been the caretakers of this land, which they called the “Land of Plenty.” This Land of Plenty stretched from what is known today as Kelsey Bay in the north, down to Hornby and Denman Island in the south, and included the watershed and estuary of the Puntledge River, also acknowledging that these boundaries and place names are colonial constructs.

The K’ómoks First Nation refer to the lands between the bays of Comox and the Beaufort mountain range as the path between, it was a travel and trade route to the Alberni corridor and a connection to the indigenous communities on the western side of the island.

Land agreements included the 1884 Settlement Act stripped these lands for its caretakers. At the Museum we acknowledge that we are a colonial created institution, and I would like to thank Charlene Everson, Emily Shopland and Violet Williams for guiding the museum in early discussion on what reconciliation could mean for our organization and how we could create actionable steps; in maintaining a positive dialogue with a forward focus, sharing contemporary K’omoks narratives, and incorporating First Nation languages where they felt it appropriate. Their time and guidance helped us gain insight and learn how to best support their voice in our museum’s walls. This is an ongoing process and we have so much more to learn.

Experience Cumberland’s interwoven histories through our virtual catalogue of stories, journeys and museum collections.

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The Digital Museum offers a window into Cumberland’s rich history — a small mountain village on Vancouver Island at the turn of the century.

Experience the history of workers' rights

The Labour Movement

Men recruited to work in the coal mines in Canada brought ideas of workers’ rights with them from overseas. The horrific and dangerous working conditions, long hours, poor treatment of workers, high fatality rates, and low pay made the time “rotten ripe” for change.

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Two Men Underground
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The labour movement arose in Europe in the 1800s, and was strongly internationalist in character – emphasising the shared interests between workers in different countries in opposing capitalist political regimes.

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Stories, long and short, share the histories of Cumberland.

The Digital Museum content represents the stories of the people on the land now known as Cumberland. In this virtual catalogue, you will find stories of grit, resistance, resilience, conflict, and community, which highlight the shared values and struggles of those who have lived here.