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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
Community Japanese Community

suitcase

Type:

Date: 1942

History

Shigeru and Tako Kiyono were the only family who returned to live in Cumberland after their expulsion from the area and subsequent internment during World War II.
The donor, Utako“Tako” Aida, moved to Cumberland at age 1. Her father was a tailor, they lived in the tailor shop “Cumberland Tailors” on Dunsmuir near the post office. Tako was 17 when the war began. She married Shigeru Kiyono in 1942 at age 18. Shigeru played with the Royston Lumber Mill Baseball team. They were forced to leave Cumberland and were taken to Hastings Park where they stayed for 7 months. Then they were taken to New Denver, then lived in Nakusp and Invermere. Later they moved back to the Comox Valley and retired in 1983.

Description

On the black suitcase, an inscription reads: 'Mrs. S. Kiyono, Cumberland BC.'

Item Details

  • Materials: ,
  • Archival Reference: 2017.049.002
  • Manufacturer: [unknown]
  • Donor: Kiyono, Tako
  • Donated: 2017/08/01
  • Size: 23 x 65 x 38 cm

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