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

Virginio Vincenzo Marinelli

Role: Owner of the Vendome Hotel

Year of birth: 1876

Year of death: 1931

Age at death: 55

Virginio Vincenzo Marinelli was from the Tyrol province of Italy, which was formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. He bought the Vendome Hotel in 1924. He had previously run a fruit and candy store in Bonora block, and a boarding house which his wife Mary managed. He died 1931 and the Vendome was taken over by Louis Francioli. The Vendome burned down 1936.

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

Virginio Vincenzo Marinelli

Virginio Vincenzo Marinelli is featured in the following content:

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Wo We How

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

Virginio Vincenzo Marinelli is featured in the following content:

The bar of the Vendome Hotel (The Bucket of Blood)

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