News and Stories

New travelling exhibit about E&N Railway land grant opens in Nanaimo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nanaimo — The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab is a new travelling exhibit that explores the history and legacy of the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway land grant of the 1880s. In exchange for building a railway across the island, nearly two million acres of land were transferred to private ownership. Much of this land supported First Nations communities for thousands of years. Today, these lands are still largely held by private forestry companies and investors, shaping how land is used and how treaty negotiations unfold.

Developed by the Vancouver Island Local History Society and the Nanaimo Museum, the exhibit will travel to libraries and public venues across Vancouver Island beginning in 2026. Vancouver Island Regional Library’s (VIRL) Nanaimo Harbourfront branch is the inaugural host, from Friday, June 5 through mid-August 2026. The exhibition will tour Vancouver Island libraries and public institutions through to the end of 2027.

Created with input from First Nations partners, The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab aims to help people understand the past while encouraging thoughtful conversations about land, justice, and shared futures. The exhibit is presented in English and French and is supported with a grant from the Government of Canada.

Through video, archival photographs, maps, and interpretive displays, visitors can explore how colonial land policies reshaped Vancouver Island and continue to influence communities today.

“The Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group wishes to offer our extreme thanks and gratitude to the Vancouver Island Local History Society and Nanaimo Museum for making this important and timely public education available across the Island. The historical background of the E&N Railway Grant and its impact on First Nations and the general public in the region will hopefully be of value as we collectively search for answers to challenging questions.” – Robert Morales, Chief Negotiator, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group

“Many people have probably never heard of the E&N Railway land grant. Yet, from treaty negotiations, to real estate, logging practices, and recreation this historic grant continues to reverberate. We hope this exhibit will generate much needed conversations about how we got here, and where we might want to go.” – Kelly Black, PhD, President, Vancouver Island Local History Society

“Public libraries play an important role in creating space for community learning, reflection, and new perspectives. We are honoured to host The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab at our Nanaimo Harbourfront branch and to help connect people with the diverse histories, voices, and experiences that shape our shared understanding of Vancouver Island. Through exhibitions and cultural programming like this, libraries help open minds to deeper conversations about our past, present, and future.” – Eileen Gillette, Executive Director, Vancouver Island Regional Library.

Three artists from Vancouver Island First Nations were invited to bring their perspectives to the project, each interpreting different parts of the story through their distinct visual styles. Together, these artists bring depth and lived experience to the exhibition, shaping how the story is understood.

Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun — A Snuneymuxw artist and storyteller whose practice bridges Coast Salish visual traditions and contemporary design. Eliot’s illustrations bookend the exhibit, which concludes on a deeply personal note with their contemplative artwork.

Jordanna George — A T’Sou-ke and Ukrainian illustrator and comic artist whose work blends traditional forms with a non-traditional personal digital style. They illustrated the graphic-novel panels that trace the history and impacts of the land grant.

Gord Hill — A Kwakwaka’wakw artist, activist, and author best known for The 500 Years of Resistance Comic Book. His vignettes bring to life moments of resistance and transformation.

Educational resources aligned with the BC curriculum accompany the exhibit, including a learning guide for educators who teach Grades 10 through 12. There is no fee to view The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab at the Nanaimo Harbourfront branch of VIRL. For information about library location and hours please visit VIRL.bc.ca/branches/nanaimo-harbourfront/. To learn more about the exhibit, please visit TheGreaLandGrab.ca

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Media contact

Kelly Black, PhD, President, Vancouver Island Local History Society: vilocalhistory@gmail.com / 250 – 580 – 3420