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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
Railways

Map of Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway Co. Land Grant, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, 1918

Type:

Date: 1918

989.001.002

History

This map shows land granted to the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Co. (E&N) from Malahat district to Comox district, prior to the 4th land grant. Like the collieries, this company was owned by industrial magnate Robert Dunsmuir. Between the collieries and railroad, Dunsmuir had a sweeping and disproportionate amount of control over a vast amount of the land and natural resources of Vancouver Island.
There are colour coded areas on the map showing the extent of coal claims and workings for various coal companies. There is an inset map of Vancouver Island in the bottom left corner showing the E&N land in context of the whole island.

Description

1 map: multicoloured. 5 inches = 10 mile, 1/2 inch = 80 Chains.

Item Details

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