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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.

Collection Item
Mining

Map showing topographical features in the vicinity of Comox mines

Type:

Date: c. 1910-1914

History

This large map shows surface topographical features, such as Comox Lake, Stoten Falls, and Browns River near Bevan and Puntledge. The upper coal seams are coloured blue and the lower seams are coloured red. Buildings such as the Bevan Hotel and Bevan school are identified as well as street names. Mines 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 are marked on the map, but mines 1 through 3 are marked as abandoned. Additional lots have been penciled in near Puntledge and one street is marked.
Both the Bevan and Puntledge townsites were built to house and workers for the mines north of Cumberland, along the Puntledge River. Bevan was constructed in 1911, to house the workers of No.7 mine. In 1918 coal demand dwindled and No.7 closed in 1921 and many of the Bevan houses were relocated to Cumberland. The Bevan Hotel remained until 1994, although it had been abandoned for decades. Puntledge, the No.8 townsite, began construction in 1912, only for the No.8 mine to suddenly close two years later in 1914. The houses were relocated along with the Bevan houses to Cumberland. No. 8 would later re-open in 1936 and operate until 1953.

Description

1 map: multicoloured. 1 Inch = 400 feet.

Item Details