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.

Person

Mining

Chi Chong

Role: Miner

Date of death: 15 Jul 1903

Cause of death: 1903 disaster

Chi Chong was a Chinese miner working at the No. 6 mine. He was working at slope No. 3 when an explosion occurred when a brig broke, causing explosive gas to flow into the mine. 14 workers, including Chi Chong, were killed in the disaster. All the fatalities were Chinese, and the mine and community blamed them for the explosion, claiming that they had caused the gas to ignite by illicitly bringing matches into the shafts. More likely, the explosion was caused by the naked gas lamps that were common throughout the mines.

Land, Indigenous peoples, settlers, and today’s communities.

Chi Chong

Chi Chong is featured in the following content:

L.C. McDonald

Jang Art

Hae Woo

Chai Won Wong

Land, Indigenous peoples, settlers, and today’s communities.

Chi Chong is featured in the following content:

Death and Disaster: 1903

Other people that might be of interest to you

L.C. McDonald

Jang Art

Hae Woo

Chai Won Wong