{"id":4304,"date":"2025-10-24T21:42:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T21:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/?p=4304"},"modified":"2025-11-24T18:32:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T18:32:57","slug":"carrying-the-light-inaugural-gathering-of-sasis-partnership-with-the-museum-of-anthropology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/2025\/10\/24\/carrying-the-light-inaugural-gathering-of-sasis-partnership-with-the-museum-of-anthropology\/","title":{"rendered":"Carrying the Light: Inaugural Gathering of SASI\u2019s Partnership with the Museum of Anthropology"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On October 23, 2025, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ufv.ca\/sasi\/\">South Asian Studies Institute<\/a> (SASI) and the <a href=\"https:\/\/moa.ubc.ca\/\">Museum of Anthropology<\/a> (MOA) held the first of five Community Gathering events, launching a series focused on Honouring Indigenous\u2013South Asian Canadian Relations and Building Intercultural Futures. <em><strong>Carrying the Light<\/strong><\/em> marked the beginning of a vibrant partnership between SASI and MOA, celebrating connection and shared futures.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4305 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3368-206x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"206\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3368-206x300.jpeg 206w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3368-703x1024.jpeg 703w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3368-768x1119.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3368-1054x1536.jpeg 1054w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3368-1405x2048.jpeg 1405w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3368-scaled.jpeg 1757w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Held in the impressive Great Hall of the Museum of Anthropology, the event \u2014 titled Carrying the Light \u2014 opened with a warm welcome from MOA Director Susan Rowley.\u00a0She introduced Deborah Sparrow, who shared beautiful Musqueam storytelling, grounding the evening in the ancestral lands on which the gathering took place.<a href=\"https:\/\/ccperb-cceebc.gc.ca\/en\/about-us\/meet-the-board.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4310 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3425-217x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"217\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3425-217x300.jpeg 217w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3425-741x1024.jpeg 741w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3425-768x1061.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3425-1111x1536.jpeg 1111w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3425-1482x2048.jpeg 1482w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3425-scaled.jpeg 1852w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 217px) 100vw, 217px\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Garry Fehr, Associate Vice-President<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ufv.ca\/graduate-studies\/\">, Research and Graduate Studies<\/a>, and Dr. Satwinder Bains, former Director of SASI, spoke next, offering words of gratitude and recognition. They also thanked <a href=\"https:\/\/ccperb-cceebc.gc.ca\/en\/about-us\/meet-the-board.html\">Tzu-I\u00a0Chung, Curator of Public Programs and Engagement<\/a> at MOA, whose coordination efforts were instrumental in organizing this first event in the series. Susan Rowley also read remarks on behalf of Dr. Jatinder Mann, SASI\u2019s Director, who was unable to attend due to illness.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ccperb-cceebc.gc.ca\/en\/about-us\/meet-the-board.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4312 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3400-216x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"216\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3400-216x300.jpeg 216w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3400-738x1024.jpeg 738w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3400-768x1066.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3400-1106x1536.jpeg 1106w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3400-1475x2048.jpeg 1475w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3400-scaled.jpeg 1844w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 216px) 100vw, 216px\" \/><\/a>The artistic performances added a rich cultural dimension to the evening. Kathak artist <a href=\"https:\/\/palakdhiman.com\/\">Palak Dhim\u0101n<\/a> brought the ancient North Indian storytelling tradition of dance to life, weaving movement, rhythm, and narrative in a performance honouring teachers, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness.<\/p>\n<p>Award-winning poet T\u0101riq Malik, accompanied by Daksh Kubbo on sitar, shared new works inspired by fall harvests, flooded rivers, and the luminous poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. His verses reflected on migration,\u00a0memory, and the enduring light that carries communities forward.<\/p>\n<p>The evening was a beautiful intercultural celebration of resilience, transformation, and shared futures, marking the beginning of a meaningful collaboration between SASI and MOA \u2014 and a fitting tribute to the Festival of Lights.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ccperb-cceebc.gc.ca\/en\/about-us\/meet-the-board.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4309 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3413-257x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"257\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3413-257x300.jpeg 257w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3413-878x1024.jpeg 878w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3413-768x896.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3413-1317x1536.jpeg 1317w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3413-1756x2048.jpeg 1756w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 257px) 100vw, 257px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4308 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3423-254x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"254\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3423-254x300.jpeg 254w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3423-868x1024.jpeg 868w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3423-768x906.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3423-1302x1536.jpeg 1302w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3423-1736x2048.jpeg 1736w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 254px) 100vw, 254px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4306 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3379-300x285.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"285\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3379-300x285.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3379-1024x974.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3379-768x730.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3379-1536x1461.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3379-2048x1948.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4307 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3362-284x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"284\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3362-284x300.jpeg 284w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3362-970x1024.jpeg 970w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3362-768x810.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3362-1456x1536.jpeg 1456w, https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/files\/2025\/11\/IMG_3362-1941x2048.jpeg 1941w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 284px) 100vw, 284px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On October 23, 2025, the South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) and the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) held the first of five Community Gathering events, launching a series focused on Honouring Indigenous\u2013South Asian Canadian Relations and Building Intercultural Futures. Carrying the Light marked the beginning of a vibrant partnership between SASI and MOA, celebrating connection and &#8230; <a title=\"Carrying the Light: Inaugural Gathering of SASI\u2019s Partnership with the Museum of Anthropology\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/2025\/10\/24\/carrying-the-light-inaugural-gathering-of-sasis-partnership-with-the-museum-of-anthropology\/\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":249,"featured_media":4309,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/249"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4304"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4304\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4378,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4304\/revisions\/4378"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/sasi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}