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

Tah Ting

Role: Miner

Date of death: 15 Jul 1903

Cause of death: 1903 disaster

Tah (or Ah) Ting was a Chinese miner at the No. 6 mine. He was working on slope No. 3 when a brig broke a released a large volume of explosive gas into the mine. The subsequent explosion killed him and 13 others. When matches and broken safety lamps were found near the bodies of the victims, the mine and community blamed the Chinese workers for being irresponsible and causing the explosion. However, this accident would likely not have occurred had there been no other lights than locked safety lamps.

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

Tah Ting

Tah Ting is featured in the following content:

Bug Wing Mah

Louir Wee Long

James Walker

Thomas J. Jr. Bates

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

Tah Ting is featured in the following content:

Death and Disaster: 1903

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