On Saturday, January 27th, The South Asian Studies Institute joined The Fraser Valley Regional Library at their Family Literacy Day celebration. The SASI and many literacy partners from the Abbotsford community including the Abbotsford Community School, Literacy Matters Abbotsford, Mamele’awt Indigenous Education and more hosted educational and interactive activities for families with their own literacy engagement tables. SASI hosted their community literacy table at The Reach Gallery Museum.
The SASI team showcased six archival photographs from the South Asian Canadian Digital Archive (SACDA) and quizzed guests on the significance of the photos, encouraging questions and conversations about South Asian Canadian history. They also held puzzle-making activities for children with archival photos from the SACDA collections. Many families enjoyed making the puzzles together and learning about the historic significance behind the photographs of the finished puzzles. Visitors who completed the quiz and/or puzzles were gifted Saffron Threads Time Shuffle playing cards.
The Family Literacy event was well attended with an estimated 600-900 guests in attendance. The SASI team members engaged with several families, educating them on current and ongoing projects and initiatives of the institute through conversations and fun activities. We are grateful for our partnership with The Reach Gallery Museum at their Family Literacy Day celebration.