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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.

Experience Cumberland’s interwoven histories through our virtual catalogue of stories, journeys and museum collections.

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Cumberland General Hospital record of patients, 1927-1941 - 994.016.023

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The Digital Museum offers a window into Cumberland’s rich history — a small mountain village on Vancouver Island at the turn of the century.

Experience the history of workers' rights

The Labour Movement

Men recruited to work in the coal mines in Canada brought ideas of workers’ rights with them from overseas. The horrific and dangerous working conditions, long hours, poor treatment of workers, high fatality rates, and low pay made the time “rotten ripe” for change.

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Two Men Underground
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Stories about the labour movement

ginger joe

Blacklisted Brothers

Joe Naylor and Albert Goodwin

Story • 7 min read

The Big Strike

1912-1914

Story • 17 min read

The Workers’ Struggle

Solidarity in the face of adversity

Story • 9 min read

View all stories

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The labour movement arose in Europe in the 1800s, and was strongly internationalist in character – emphasising the shared interests between workers in different countries in opposing capitalist political regimes.

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Items from our collection related to the labour movement

Ginger Goodwin Soccer Pin

pin, membership

Artifact1906 - 1918

Collection Item

Pathé News No.57, excerpt, Winnipeg General Strike

Video1919

Collection Item

“Don’t Scab”

Documentc. 1910-1920

Collection Item

View the collection

5

Search the Digital Museum

Curate your own path, search for people, places, and objects or just try a keyword.

Stories, long and short, share the histories of Cumberland.

The Digital Museum content represents the stories of the people on the land now known as Cumberland. In this virtual catalogue, you will find stories of grit, resistance, resilience, conflict, and community, which highlight the shared values and struggles of those who have lived here.

District 18 UMWA Special Convention

One Big Union

A legacy of workers' struggle and solidarity

Story • 10 min read

CC-PH-00437

Forging Paths

A Story of Chinese Immigration

Story • 16 min read

C150-001: a frame on floats at comox

Filberg – King of Comox

A Benevolent Employer or a Hungry Capitalist?

Story • 15 min read

ginger joe

Blacklisted Brothers

Joe Naylor and Albert Goodwin

Story • 7 min read

Interior of Tipple at No.5

King Coal

Coal Created Cumberland

Story • 12 min read

HII2internment

The Japanese Internment

A story of a community removed

Story • 4 min read

View All Stories >

Highlights from the Collection

Every item, document, or photograph has a story—both in what it holds and the people it’s connected to. Browse our collections and let your curiosity lead the way.

Map Showing Topographical Features in the Vicinity of Comox Mines

Topographic map of the Cumberland Mines

Document1 Jun 1910

Collection Item

Ginger Goodwin Soccer Pin

pin, membership

Artifact1906 - 1918

Collection Item

C040-384

Hor Sue Mah (Jumbo) sitting in a chair

Image[unknown]

Collection Item

Cantonese Opera Drum

drum

Artifactc. 1910

Collection Item

Fire Truck

Three firemen with a fire truck

Imagec. 1980

Collection Item

Royston Lumber Co. Baseball Uniforms

gear, baseball

Artifactc. [1920 - 1930]

Collection Item

No. 1 Fujinkai (Women’s Association) Cumberland B.C.

Fujinkai of no.1 town

Imagec. 1910

Collection Item

Beaded Embroidery of Dart Coon Club

needlepoint

Artifact1932

Collection Item

Minto School 1943

Minto school 1943

Image1943

Collection Item

Troops marching

Image1913

Collection Item

helmet, mule

Artifact

Collection Item

Sora cabbage garden

Imagec. 1927

Collection Item

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