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

Businesses

Giovanni (John) Marocchi

Role: Businessman

Year of birth: 1866

Date of death: 23 Feb 1921

Age at death: 55

Giovanni (John) and Luigi (Louis) Marocchi (The Marocchi Brothers) immigrated from the Northern Italian province of Tyrol, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. They arrived in Union around 1890, working in the mines. In 1894 they started the Marocchi Brother's bakery. The Marocchi Brother's business expanded to liquor sales and groceries. John died 1921 at 55. The Marocchi Brother's business was then run by Rosa Marocchi and her sons. The Marocchi Brother's business was sold in 1974.
Giovanni was buried in the Cumberland cemetery in Block Q-2.

Connected people:

Louis (Luigi) Marocchi

1862 - 1903

Businessman

Person

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

Connected people:

Louis (Luigi) Marocchi

Giovanni (John) Marocchi is featured in the following content:

Is That All On One Tab?

Marocchi Brothers’ Bakers and Bottling Works

Marocchi Brother’s grocery counter sales receipt book

The Marocchi Bros store