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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 Technology

lamp, Davy

Type:

Date: c. 1900

Davy Safety Lamp
Davy Safety Lamp
Davy Safety Lamp
Davy Safety Lamp
Davy Safety Lamp

History

Sir Humphry Davy created the Davy Safety Lamp in 1815. He was one of many inventors in the 1810s that tried to create a safer lamp. His design was one of the most practical and popular.
The metal mesh around the flame captured all the heat, preventing the fire from spreading past the mesh, while letting the inflammable gas and oxygen pass through. This lamp can also be used to detect the presence of dangerous gas. The flame changes colour in the presence of methane, and goes out in the presence of too much carbon dioxide.
This particular lamp once belonged to Archibald Dick.

Description

This brass safety lamp has a solid base, a handle to hold the lamp, and metal mesh that makes most of the length of the lamp. The number 66 is inscribed on the bottom of the base.

Item Details

  • Materials: ,
  • Archival Reference: 988.029.001
  • Donor: Dick, Jimmy
  • Donated: 1988/05/12
  • Size: 26 x 9 cm

This collection item is featured in the following content:

Extension Mines Underground

Below the Depths

Descend into the Cumberland Mines

Story • 7 min read

3 Asian Canadian miners with hand Pick and Shovels

Death and Disaster: 1903

Wednesday, 15th of July

Story • 4 min read

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