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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

Westinghouse motor with trip of coal

Type:

Date: c. 1920s

History

After descending into the mine, the workers had to journey through a network of tunnels to their working site, adding extra hours to their workday. One of the most common risky acts was catching a ’ free ride’ on coal cars and tubs. The Collieries fined workers who were caught doing this. It was one of the fastest ways to escape the dark depths of the mine, but workers could fall between the cars and be crushed to death.

Description

This black and white photo slide shows two men on a motorized vehicle pulling a line of coal cars underground. An inscription at the bottom of the photo reads: 'Showing trip of coal & Westinghouse motor one mile underground from mine entrance Extension - Wellington collieries. C.C.(D.) Ltd.'

Item Details

  • Materials:
  • Accession Number: 980.1040.002
  • Other reference: C160-059
  • Author: Leonard, Frank
  • Donor: Baird, Harold
  • Donated: 1980
  • Size: 35 mm

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