SASI’s Travelling Exhibit, Haq and History, Opens at the Chilliwack Museum & Archives

On May 15, 2025, the Chilliwack Museum & Archives welcomed community members, educators, and cultural leaders to the opening of Haq and History. This travelling exhibition was developed by the Royal BC Museum in collaboration with the South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) at the University of the Fraser Valley in 2022. An important exhibit that … Read more

Beyond the boxes: A summary of my internship experience – Lauren Wong

Over the past several months, I’ve worked on two different archival projects that, while quite different, both focused on preserving and sharing the stories of underrepresented communities. The first involved co-cataloguing the Chandra Bodalia photographic fonds with a colleague. The second, which I undertook independently, involved transcribing, translating and researching a payroll ledger from the … Read more

Lights, Camera, Action, Pose: Flashing Back to South Asian Fashion Captured by Bodalia – Iori Khuhro

Salwar Kameez The quintessential South Asian coupling of wide trousers cuffed around the ankles with a straight-cut, long tunic. Chandra Bodalia’s collection of photographs opened the Pandora’s box of my childhood memories: of my dadi holding embroidered salwar kameez too close to the camera for Skype to capture its detail, of my chachi trying pull … Read more

Reimagining Archival Language: Building Community-Centered Thesauri at SACDA

The South Asian Canadian Digital Archive is committed to documenting, digitizing, and preserving the rich and diverse histories of South Asian communities across Canada. By gathering stories, records, photographs, and other cultural materials, SACDA seeks to create an inclusive archival space that reflects the lived experiences of South Asians in Canada—past and present. As part … Read more

Mehfil-e-Sukoon: Magical night of Sufi and Punjabi Folk Music with Maghar Ali Khan

On the evening of April 5, 2025, Abbotsford became a beacon of cultural celebration as it hosted an extraordinary event that brought together the mysticism of Sufi music and the rich traditions of Punjabi folk. The Mehfil-e-Sukoon, presented by the South Asian Studies Institute, in collaboration with the City of Abbotsford’s Culture City Program, was … Read more

Winds of Change: 50 Years of Inclusivity, Equity, and Diversity

From humble beginnings, Fraser Valley College went to becoming the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). This has been a 50-year long journey (1974-2024). UFV Fifty Years Forward celebrated the special anniversary with a full year of engagement, including special events and programming. As part of this celebration, over 32 initiatives received funding through UFV … Read more

Preserving South Asian Canadian Heritage: The South Asian Canadian Digital Archive

SASI is pleased to announce that the work of SACDA has been featured on the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) website. The Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA), founded in 1975, is a non-profit organization that represents the needs and interests of archives and records professionals throughout Canada. They provide members with opportunities to network with … Read more

SASI Student Training Day: Working standards and ethics

On February 20th, SASI hosted a successful Student Training Day for current Research Assistants and student research volunteers. The aim was to focus on professional development, providing students with valuable insights into workplace standards, ethics, and practices that can be applied throughout their careers. The day began with light refreshments and tea, offering attendees an … Read more