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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.

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Cumberland Ambulance
Photograph of colliery ambulance (983.041.002)
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Story • 7 Min read
Mining

Death and Disaster: 1922

Wednesday, 30th of August

She heard the noise, a bang. And she looked…There's your father, he's gone…" John Gibson left his wife and six children behind

Margaret Cameron, in Lynne Bowen, Boss Whistle (2002).

It was your usual August afternoon in the Valley. Dr. Hicks, the Cumberland practitioner, was conducting his regular visits in Union Bay, Miss Nora Ballatti and Dr. Carson were making their rounds in the Cumberland hospital, while the mining men and boys were down in the cavernous coal pits.

Cumberland Hospital
Cumberland general hospital (2016.087.001)

Then, at two in the afternoon, a small tremor rippled beneath the feet of the Cumberland locals and the mine telephone rang…

The message came through. Another explosion in No. 4 Mine.

A first aid team rapidly assembled, preparing for a rescue mission. While Dr. Hicks scrambled back to Cumberland, Nurse Ballatti and Dr. Carson dashed from the hospital down to No. 4 Mine.

Man and woman in front of Mine 4
No.4 mine entrance (986.042.001)

Going against the gendered norms of the time, Ballatti adamantly demanded she would join the rescue team. Together with Hicks and Carson, they bravely descended into the mine in hopes of bringing some of the husbands, sons and brothers that were injured in the explosion back to their families.

They came across a terrible sight: miners’ bodies scattered amongst debris and rubble. Twelve men were killed instantly in the explosion. A further six died in their Cumberland hospital beds from their injuries. The newspapers hailed the endeavors of the hospital team as ‘heroic’. Their courage saved thirteen men, allowing them to return to their families.

Hospital Record
Record book of Union & Comox Distict Hospital (994.016.002)

The disaster happened at two o’clock, and by seven o’clock the injured were all in the hospital, and the dead had received a place in the undertaking parlors."

The Cumberland Islander (September, 1922).

Hajime Kajiyama

Nineteen year-old Hajime Kajiyama was a victim of the 1922 mine accident in No. 4. Hajime was also a member of the Royston Lumber baseball team.

During that time, the white-owned written press rarely published details on Japanese victims’ lives. As a result, we do not have further information on his life besides a portrait and his grave post marker.

In fact, there are many other Chinese and Japanese victims for which we don't even have a correct name.

Portrait of Hajime Kajiyama
Photograph of Hajime Kajiyama (998.049.083)

The Royston Lumber Baseball team stands at the grave of Hajime Kajiyama.

Hajime Kajiyama’s Grave Post
The Japanese baseball team at Hajime Kajiyama’s grave (992.006.004)