Powell River Historical Museum & Archives
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First Nations History

Picture
Tla'amin/ European Post-Contact Timeline

Tla'amin Nation


The Tla’amin Nation is one of several Coast Salish cultures inhabiting the area surrounding the Georgia Strait. Traditional Tla’amin lands included the area on the North Sunshine Coast from Stillwater (Lang Bay), north to the Malaspina Peninsula, and the islands of Cortes, Savary, Hernando, Harwood and the northern half of Texada.

In the late 19th century, when the Pacific Coast was undergoing European development and industrialization, the Tla’amin Nation was relocated to the village of Sliammon (IR#1). The paper mill was built on the traditional territory of the Tla’amin Nation at the site of the village known as tiskʷat. Click here for more information on this story.
Other sites to visit:
  •  https://www.tlaaminnation.com/ 
  • As I Remember It Teachings (Ɂəms tɑɁɑw) from the Life of a Sliammon Elder by Elsie Paul with Davis McKenzie, Paige Raibmon & Harmony Johnson
Soccer match at Riverside Oval with Tla'amin Nation, 1940. (ID 1987.30.94)
Sliammon shoreline looking north, 1922. (ID 1967.1.141)
Dugouts and Fisherman at Scuttle Bay, 1930. (ID ND000243)
Dugout canoe and two boys, 1950-60. (ID ND000493)
Sliammon men in a canoe, 1939. (ID 1987.30.83)
A rack of cedar boughs with fish roe drying. Fish are also drying on the racks at Scuttle Bay. The house to the left, belonged to Mary George's father, 1928-32. (ID PH002834)
Building the Sea King at Sliammon Village, 1940. (ID 1987.30.85)
Jeannie Dominick of the Klahoose nation drying fish on a cedar salmon rack. (ID ND003886)
Tla’amin basket weavers and bead workers and their pieces made for a cultural exchange when the soccer team travelled to Hawaii in 1977. From left are Mary George, Katherine Blaney, Sara Bob and Mary Peters. (ID ND028575)
In Sliammon; repairing fish net. l-r: 1. "" Old Felix "" 2. Johnny [Smokey] Johnson, 1918-22. (ID 1987.30.82)

Fish Traps - WUXOΘƐN

A Film by Tla'amin Nation
​

First Nations have extensive knowledge of the natural world and its interconnections. This can be seen with the use of fish traps by Tla’amin, Klahoose, Homalco, and Comox people who engineered these structures to catch fish and other food sources from the ocean. These traps were built all along the coastline and allowed the Coast Salish People to sustain large populations. At low tide, you can see them at Willingdon Beach, all along the Seawalk, as well as the beachfront in Sliammon. As the water went out with the tide, fish would be trapped in pools of water, making it easier to catch. Different geometric shapes would have been used to trap different types of fish. For First Nations today, these fish traps are part of their heritage, passed down by their ancestors.
​

Cedar


Cedar is a widely recognizable symbol of the Northwest Coast. For thousands of years, this versatile wood has played a vital role in the lives and livelihoods of coastal First Nations of the Pacific Northwest. Not only is cedar a key natural resource in the production of material goods, the tree also plays an integral role in the traditional and spiritual beliefs, and ceremonial life of coastal First Nations. Click here to read about the Story of Cedar. 
Picture
A rack of cedar boughs with fish roe drying. Fish are also drying on the racks at Scuttle Bay. The house to the left, belonged to Mary George's father, 1928-32. (ID PH002834)

Sliammon Documentary

A Film by Tla'amin Nation
Picture

We Would Love to Have You Visit Soon!

Hours ​
Tuesday to Saturday
10 am - 3 pm

(​Closed Statutory Holidays)
Contact Us
4790 Marine Avenue, Powell River BC
info@powellrivermuseum.ca
604-485-2222
All rights reserved 2021 - Powell River Historical Museum & Archives
​Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of material on this website. Dates and times are subject to change. 
  • Exhibits
    • Current Exhibits
    • Forestry Building
    • Virtual Exhibits >
      • Symphonies of the Sunshine Coast
      • Capturing Mountains
      • Story of Cedar
      • Powell River Firsts
      • Rod LeMay Collection
  • Collections
    • Objects
    • Archives >
      • Research Requests
      • Indexes & Finding Aids
      • Archival Descriptions
      • Powell River Digester
      • Phone Books & Directories
      • Good Citizen
      • Record of Military Service
    • Local History Books
  • Programs
    • Public Programs >
      • Speaker Series
      • Artifact
      • Papermaking
    • School Programs >
      • Educator's Survey
    • Online Programs >
      • Portal To the Past
      • The Coast Memoirs
      • A Taste of Powell River's History
      • The Crafty Corner
      • Blast from the Past
      • Dive Into the Archives
    • Historical Tours
    • Memoirs
  • Learn
    • First Nations History
    • Place Names
    • Forestry History
    • Community History
    • Heritage Stops
    • Blog
  • Support
    • Membership
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • Careers
  • About
    • COVID-19 Updates
    • Name Change
    • Our Mandate
    • News & Reports
    • Staff & Board
    • Contact Us