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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 Technology

lamp and rack

Type:

Date: c. 1940

History

The Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA) was created in 1914 in the United States following a streak of coal mine disasters. Among them was the largest coal mine disaster in US history with 362 deaths at the Monongah Coal mine in West Virginia in 1907. The MSA enlisted Thomas Edison to design a battery-powered headlamp. They were worn on the miner’s cap or hard hat, the battery hooked to their belt.

Description

These are MSA Model S lamps with their batteries on their charging station.

Item Details

  • Materials: ,
  • Archival Reference: 2019.032.001
  • Manufacturer: Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA)
  • Donor: [unknown]
  • Donated: 2019/10/03
  • Size: 112 x 49 x 199 cm

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