Comox
Comox, also known as K'ómoks, is a Coast Salish Indigenous group located in British Columbia, primarily south of Johnstone Strait and west of Discovery Portage. Their population was recorded at 291 in the 2021 Canadian Census, with the K'ómoks First Nation accounting for 35 members as of 2024. Historically, the Comox people lived in split-cedar gable-roofed houses and relied heavily on the rich marine resources of the Strait of Georgia, supplemented by hunting local wildlife and gathering plant-based foods. The Comox were divided into Island and Mainland groups, with the Island Comox recognized as the K'ómoks First Nation, which includes the Pentlatch, E'iksan, and Słułtxʷ nations.
The arrival of European settlers in the late 18th century significantly impacted the Comox, with the introduction of trade goods and subsequent demographic shifts due to epidemics. Missionaries in the 1860s also influenced the community by challenging traditional practices such as the potlatch and Winter Dance, leading to changes in their social structure and economy. Today, the Comox people continue to navigate their cultural heritage while engaging with contemporary issues within British Columbia.
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Comox
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Northwest Coast
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Central Salish
- PRIMARY LOCATION: South of Johnstone Strait and west of Discovery Portage, British Columbia and Washington
- POPULATION SIZE: 291 (2021 Canadian Census Data from Statistics Canada: Comox); 35 (2024 K’ómoks First Nation Province of British Columbia)
The Comox (also K’ómoks) are a Coast Salish people whose language is part of the Salishan language family. Before European American contact, the Comox lived in split-cedar gable-roofed houses to exploit the Strait of Georgia and numerous streams of their territory. Their main food source was fishing, supplemented by hunting deer, black and grizzly bears, mountain sheep, and goats. Smaller animals were caught with traps and snares. Most bird species were hunted primarily for feathers and plumage. First Nations women in the nation gathered seeds, berries, nuts, tubers, roots, and cambium. They were divided into Island and Mainland groups of nations.
By 1792, the British and Spanish had entered the Strait of Georgia, trading metal tools and beads for food. The maritime fur trade was active until the demise of the sea otter. Epidemics reduced Indigenous populations and brought some demographic shifts. Roman Catholics opened missions in the 1860s, denouncing the potlatch, the Winter Dance, and other traditional ways, forcing people into a wage economy. The descendants of the Comox live primarily in British Columbia. The Mainland Comox are divided into three groups, the Homalco, Klahoose, and Sliammon. The Island Comox, known as the K'ómoks First Nation, are a distinct group from the Mainland Comox. The K'ómoks First Nation comprises the Pentlatch, E'iksan, and Słułtxʷ nations.
Bibliography
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"Cultures." K'omoks First Nation, komoks.ca/cultures. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023
Artibise, Alan F.J., and Ken Favrholdt. "Comox." The Canadian Encyclopedia, 4 Mar. 2015, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/comox. Accessed 27 Oct. 2024.
"Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile Table: Comox." Statistics Canada, 2 Aug. 2024, www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=comox&DGUIDlist=2021A00055926801&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0. Accessed 27 Oct. 2024.
"K'ómoks First Nation (Comox Indian Band) - Province of British Columbia." Government of British Columbia, 5 Sept. 2024, www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/consulting-with-first-nations/first-nations-negotiations/first-nations-a-z-listing/k-moks-first-nation-comox-indian-band. Accessed 27 Oct. 2024.
"Our Communities." Experience Comox Valley, experiencecomoxvalley.ca/plan-your-visit/our-communities. Accessed 27 Oct. 2024.