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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
Labour Movement Mining Resistance & Resilience

B.C. Miners’ Liberation League tag day outside Labour Temple

Type:

Date: 20 December 1913

History

Of the 213 protesters that were arrested during the Big Strike (1912-1913), fifty were convicted and sentenced to terms in prison. This picture shows a group of supporters from the BC Miners Liberation League who had organized a tag day. Tag days were fundraising events where people received a small symbol to wear like a tag or a ribbon when making a donation to a cause.

Description

This image shows a large group or men, women and children in front of a Labour Temple building. On a carriage, two signs read 'Get a Tag' and 'We want our daddies out of jail!' with children standing between in the carriage. Another sign reads: 'There is never a mine blown skyward but we are buried alive for you. 27 men killed on Vancouver Island every year for 25 years'.

Item Details

  • Materials:
  • Archival Reference: CVA259-1
  • Credit: Image CVA 259-1 courtesy of City of Vancouver Archives

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