Upcoming Exhibit

Thursday, October 22, 2026 – Friday, October 30, 2026

Pamela Mitchell wearing the ʔat́ᶿaʔməs, ḵ̓a̱ngex̱tola she made; Pamela’s sister Pauline in the background (left). Button blanket border (right).

Whale button blanket

Pamela Mitchell, artist and K’ómoks First Nation Culture Manager, will display pieces of her work in the museum’s Rotary Gallery.

The exhibit will feature button blankets. The blankets are important pieces of Indigenous Pacific Northwest Coast regalia with crests that depict a symbol of the wearer’s family heritage.

Mitchell is a member of the K’ómoks First Nation (KFN) and has Kwakwaka’wakw and Coast Salish roots.

Her artwork can be seen around the valley including the NIC Courtenay campus, on a Comox Fire Department truck, and at her family-owned Cedar Bark Gallery on Bayside Road. Or you may know her from this spring’s sold-out Sid Williams Theatre presentation of “The Story of the K’ómoks – Cultural Topography of Traditional Indigenous Land Use at Pentlatch”.

Saturday, October 24, 2026

Mitchell will present a brief illustrated talk in conjunction with the exhibit that will touch on the history of button blankets as well as common KFN crests. The same talk will be given twice on Saturday, October 24, first at 1pm and again at 1:30 pm. There is no charge to attend but pre-registration is required and there is a maximum of 20 people per talk so sign up early to avoid disappointment. Call the museum at 250-334-0686 ext 2 to register.

One of Mitchell’s many projects as Culture Manager is working to create a “treasure box” of ceremonial regalia items to share with KFN members who are without. Buttons are always needed to craft new blankets, and the public are invited to help by donating. Buttons must be white in colour but can be made from plastic or shell. Flat sew-through buttons are preferred. A drop box will be at the museum from October 22 to October 30 for those who wish to contribute.