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

Chinese CommunityMining

Hor Sue Mah

Role: Miner

Year of birth: 1898

Year of birth: 1987

Age at death: 89

Hor Sue Mah was born in the Canton region of China, and came to Cumberland in 1918. After arriving in Cumberland, he was nicknamed "Jumbo" for his impressive strength. He lived in Chinatown, at what is now know as "Jumbo's cabin", for 37 years, from 1931 until 1968, when Chinatown was demolished. He moved into the Cumberland Hotel, then later to a care home in Vancouver, where he passed away in 1987.
Jumbo's cabin was moved to its current location on Comox Lake Road in 1984.

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

Hor Sue Mah

Hor Sue Mah is featured in the following content:

Chung Wong

Goroku Morilawa

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Ah Dam

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

Hor Sue Mah is featured in the following content:

Hor Sue Mah (Jumbo) sitting in a chair

Three Houses in Chinatown, Cumberland B.C.

Jumbo (Hor Sue Mah), Harold Lim, and Jumbo’s former roommate on Chinese New Year, 1984

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