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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.

Note On Terms, Language & Content


The Cumberland Museum and Archives acknowledge that the museum, through time, has played a role in developing, collecting and disseminating information that has often focused on European and colonial points of view and systems of organizing information. These practices have led to an unbalanced perspective on community history and left vacant gaps within our collection.

As a museum and as a community, we are committed to celebrating our diverse heritage and providing more rounded perspectives on history. The museum team is dedicated to professional excellence within the cultural heritage field. As a team, we encourage a diverse dialogue with the community, inviting individual and collective voices to be present and have a lasting impact on our work, the exhibitions we develop and the programs we bring forward.

The notes on terms, use of language and content are a part of our work to improve our best practices within exhibitions and collections development.

The stories shared in the Digital Museum use the following terms within the outlined context:

  • When speaking about early immigration at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, individuals and groups are referred to by their geographic origin.
  • Asian workers or Asian miners generally refer to first-generation immigrants from China or Japan.
  • A common use of name order has been used throughout with an individual’s given name followed by family/surname. Full names have been used rather than colloquially used nicknames, ex. Albert Goodwin, rather than Ginger Goodwin.
  • Place names are used within their historical context, ex. Union then become part of Cumberland. Union is used prior to the establishment of Cumberland.

Original archival records are a product of their time and will not be altered. This is so the records can be maintained as historical evidence – to document events and perspectives of the past. However, we recognise that some language and terminology used within these documents is harmful and upsetting. We make every effort to improve the language used when describing archival records and look to use community-centred approaches that meet current archival standards and best practices.

We acknowledge that while the stories presented in the Digital Museum reflect important aspects of our community’s history, they represent only a selection of the many narratives and lived experiences that have shaped our past. There are countless untold perspectives and voices that remain beyond the scope of this collection. We honour these untold stories and recognize that no single account can fully capture the richness and complexity of our shared histories.

The Digital Curatorial Team acknowledges that some of the content shared throughout our stories may be upsetting or triggering. We encourage anyone who is feeling the need for support to reach out to the following resources:

  • 310-Mental Health at 310-6789
  • Residential School Survivor Support Line at 1-866-925-4419

We value community feedback and are always open to respectful dialogue. Feel free to reach out to info@cumberlandmuseum.ca