South Asian Studies Institute
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
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
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
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
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
The Research and Graduate Studies department at UFV held their Student Research Day event this year on April 2, 2025. Each year UFV students are invited to participate in Student Research Day by designing and submitting a research poster and/or by presenting a snapshot of their research project in under two minutes at the Student … Read more
On March 21st, in honor of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD), Race and Antiracism Network (RAN) held a panel discussion on: Who is UFV? The Power of Disaggregated Data in Combating Racial Discrimination. SASI was a collaborating partner for the event made up of a panel of members from the … Read more
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
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
January 27, 2025, marked the official launch of the South Asian Canadian Digital Archive’s (SACDA) newsletter – The Hive. SACDA is honored to be able to launch The Hive in the month of January – a month which celebrates Tamil Heritage Month, Lohri, Pongal and Makar Sankranti, which are occasions of community, renewal, harvest and … Read more