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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 Community

Wedding of Chow Wing Chee (Archie) and May Victoria Kwan, 1937

Type:

Date: 1937

History

Many Chinese immigrants were escaping the turmoil of war, starvation, and unrest in their home country during the nineteenth century. The Chinese Immigration Act of 1885, imposed a head tax on Chinese immigrants, by 1903 it was $500 per person..

Description

Wedding of Chow Chee (Archie Chow), third eldest son (eldest son of his second wife) of Chow Foon Gar of Chow Lee store. Photo was taken in front of Masonic Hall. The ceremony was upstairs. Black and white photo print and acetate negatives.
Pictured: Archie Chow and bride May Victoria Kwan. Behind Archie are Dere Shee and Chow Foon Gar. To the right of Dere Shee is Archie's older (half) brother Winning. The bride was born in Leader, Saskatchewan, moved to China at age 10, and returned to Canada at age 17 to marry Archie. Date: 1937.

Item Details

  • Materials:
  • Archival Reference: 984.044.003
  • Other reference: C040-128 / R33 / B43
  • Author: [unknown]
  • Donor: Lowe, Charles
  • Donated: 1985/06/25
  • Size: 13 x 18 cm / 35mm

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