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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

Portal of Tsable River mine

Type:

Date: 26 April 1945

History

Construction of the Tsable River mine began in 1945. The mine closed in November of 1968.

"It seems somewhat incongruous that Tsable River mine was board when the coal industry of western Canada was dying, and one mine after another continued to close it's portals."
-William Johnstone, The Islander; Coals Last Stand.

Description

This picture shows four men standing in from of a mine entrance. One of the men has his hand on a detonator. Above the mine entrance, a sign reads: 'Danger Keep Out.' People identified: (L to R) Jimmy Quinn, Bob Strachan, Harold Baird, Bill Herd.

Item Details

  • Materials:
  • Accession Number: 983.061.003
  • Other reference: C169-020
  • Author: [unknown]
  • Donor: Knickze, Christine
  • Donated: 1983/04/19
  • Size: 12 x 17 cm