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 offers an evocative exploration of South Asian Canadian histories, voices, and experiences in British Columbia ensures a vibrant visitor experience.
The Chilliwack Museum also researched and contributed local content to the exhibition. Drawing from the Chilliwack Museum and Archives’ own collections, these additions highlight the vital role of South Asian communities in the Fraser Valley’s agricultural development since the early 1900’s, as well as the Canadian Farmworkers Union’s efforts to secure fair treatment and labour rights for farmworkers in the region from the 1970’s onwards. This regional perspective added depth and local relevance to the broader historical themes presented in Haq and History.
The exhibit opening featured remarks from several key voices. Rosslyn Shipp, recently appointed Executive Director of the Chilliwack Museum, opened the event and introduced the evening’s speakers: Dr. Satwinder Bains (Director of SASI), artist Kiranjot Kaur, and Donna Sacuta from the BC Labour Heritage Centre. Each speaker brought a distinct perspective to the conversation, grounding the exhibits in both scholarly context and lived experience.
Mary Watson, the newly appointed curator of the exhibition at the Chilliwack Museum, shared insights into the installation process. As one of her first major curatorial projects since joining the museum, Watson emphasized the significance of bringing these narratives to local audiences. “The Chilliwack Museum and Archives is so excited to be hosting the Haq and History exhibition,” she said. “This exhibition has brought visibility to the South Asian community and the integral contributions they have made to our larger community. I’ve heard many visitors making comments like, ‘I’ve never heard of the town of Paldi’ or ‘I didn’t know that the Canadian Farmworkers Union was led by South Asian immigrants.’ These are key moments from our history that have been left out of the larger narrative.”
Since its opening, the exhibition has already drawn more than 130 visitors, with strong engagement of about 400 students from local schools. Watson noted the success of the educational programs, describing moments where students celebrated their South Asian peers, engaged with multilingual texts, and asked thoughtful questions about the objects on display. “Seeing those moments validates the importance of bringing visibility to this history, creating a space for people to learn and foster community,” she reflected.
Accompanying Haq and History is The Hands That Braid, an intimate and moving art installation by visual artist Kiranjot Kaur. Together, the two exhibits weave a powerful narrative of migration, resilience, labour, and cultural memory, inviting visitors to reflect on identity, belonging, and the shaping of shared histories in the province.
The exhibit is open to the public from May 15, 2025, until September 6, 2025. Please take the time to visit the site and the beautiful exhibits.
Click here to view photos of the exhibit.