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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
Chinese Community Labour Movement Mining

Papers relating to Chinese miners

Type:

Date: 1918 - 1923

History

The envelope was sent to Mr. Zhang Bingge to then be passed on to Mr. Ma Yuhuan at Youyu (Squid) Village. The letter was sent by Zhang Binghan from Cuba.
The letter from Mr. Zhang Binghan (張炳翰) explains to his father-in-law the financial problems he and his family have encountered in the past years. He asks his father-in-law to transfer money to him as soon as he receives the letter.
This bank receipt from the Bank of China mentions funds donated by Mr. Zheng Qingliang for disaster relief in Canton, today’s Guangzhou.

Description

This collection of papers relates to Chinese miners in Cumberland B.C. Some of the papers mention contributing part of their wage money to their family in China.

Item Details

  • Materials:
  • Archival Reference: 993.023.026
  • Author: Binghan, Zhang ; Bank of China, New York, NY.
  • Donor: Graham, Anna
  • Donated: 1993/06/09
  • Size: Various sizes

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