map-bg

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.

Reader View
Loading...
2006.027.001
reel, fishing (2006.027.001)
Read Story Up, Down, Spacebar or Scroll
Story • 2 Min read
Leisure Community

Hook, Line & Sinker

Cast into the Lake

Cast the line and hope for a bite! Whether you were paddling out to the middle of the lake in a small row boat, or perched on the bluffs by ‘Devil’s Ladder’, Comox lake has always been a popular fishing spot - even amongst Cumberland’s most famous pair, Ginger Goodwin and Joe Naylor. Tales of the pair rocking in a little boat, casting for fish, singing songs of the socialist cause remains a folklore story enjoyed by locals to this day.

‘Trout of a large size are continually being brought in by fishermen from the lake. Mr. Coe had one yesterday which weighed 6 lbs.the day after being caught. Its length was 23 inches. Mr. Haymen is said to have caught one of much greater weight, it being a very deep fish, in good condition.’

Cumberland News (June, 1900).

Buck Gibson was a brakeman for Canadian Collieries (Dunsmuir) Limited. Here he stands with his dog ready to spend an afternoon on Comox Lake. c. 1958

C191-093
Man and dog beside a boat at Comox Lake (991.029.054)