'Namgis fishing late 1800s

This photo, dated from the late 1800s, shows First Nations from Alert Bay, likely members of the 'Namgis First Nation, fishing on the Nimpkish River. In this type of fishery a net was pulled out into the river by a dugout canoe. In the late 1800s a saltery was set up in Alert Bay to process fish caught locally. One side of the net has 'corks' to make it float, and one side has 'lead' to make it sink. Nets could either be strung across the river to catch salmon by the gills (a gill net), or taken out from the shore into a large purse which was gradually made smaller as it was pulled onto shore (seine).

Koskimo Village

The Koskimo First Nation had its origin stories from the northern part of Vancouver Island, but by the late 1700s they had become the main tribe within the Quatsino Sound area. In the 1800s there was an amalgamation of a number of First Nations in the area to the village adjacent to Quatsino Narrows.This photo, from BC archives, is reported to be from about the year 1870. It notes that is is a Koskimo village, but it may be the village of Maate (May-lat-tee) in Koskimo Bay which was a fishing station with cultivated fields where potatoes were grown, or Hwates/ Hwutis/ Quattishe near Hecate Cove, which was noted to have a population of about 400 at that time.

"Members of the village of Koskimo near the entrance to Quatsino Sound" 

circa 1870 BC Archives: F-08199 

RCAF Stn. Coal Harbour Boxing Match

In 1940 the Canadian Air Force began construction of RCAF Stn. Coal Harbour. Its purpose was to serve as a base for small sea planes that would fly reconnaissance missions out over the Pacific to look for enemy naval ships or submarines during World War II. In 1941 four officers and seventy six men were assigned to the unit. During the war one of the pastimes the crew enjoyed was a good boxing match. The unit was disbanded in August 1945 and later became a whaling station.

"Boxing match in no. 1 hangar, Royal Canadian Air Force Station Coal Harbour, British Columbia, May 15, 1942" Department of National Defense, National Archives of Canada Reference: MIKAN 3525183