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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

Pacific Coast Coal Mine, Wellington

Type:

Date: c. 1900

G-04478

History

John Arbuthnot, started the Pacific Coast Coal Company (PCCM), and established the Round Island Slope Mine in the years 1920 to 1928. Subsequently, the PCCM took charge of its management, overseeing its operations through a series of operators from 1928 to 1959.

Description

This image shows a building with a tall chimney. There are rows of bags piled up on the other side of train tracks.

Item Details

  • Materials:
  • Archival Reference: G-04478
  • Credit: Image G-04478 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum.

This collection item is featured in the following content:

Interior of Tipple at No.5

King Coal

Coal Created Cumberland

Story • 12 min read

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