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

William Sneddon

Role: Miner

Date of birth: 25 Dec 1869

Date of death: 15 Feb 1901

Cause of death: 1901 disaster

Age at death: 32

William Sneddon (or Snaddon) was born in Sauchie, Scotland on December 25th, 1869. He immigrated to Canada and worked as a miner at the No. 6 mine. He was killed in the February 15th, 1901 disaster. William had not originally been scheduled to work that day, but was picking up tools on his way to Nanaimo to attend his child's funeral. He was married to Jane (nee Hoggan) Sneddon and they had had 6 children together.

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

William Sneddon

William Sneddon is featured in the following content:

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

William Sneddon is featured in the following content:

Death and Disaster: 1901

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