The South Asian Canadian Legacy Project Announces New Digital Archive
The South Asian Canadian Legacy Project announces a new initiative by reflecting on the stories and history of South Asian Canadians through the latest Digital Archive project
Vancouver, BC – March 8, 2024
The South Asian Canadian Legacy Project is proud to announce the launch of the South Asian Canadian Digital Archive. This initiative will provide online resources that will preserve and share the history of South Asian Canadians so they can feel part of Canadian history, and their stories can be public and not hidden when people tell the history of Canada. The South Asian Canadian Digital Archive will be available on the South Asian Canadian Legacy Project’s website and accessible to everyone.
The South Asian Digitial Archive aims to dig deep into the history of South Asian Canadians, which started over one hundred years ago. The digital archive shows the history of South Asian Canadians, reflecting rare photographs, documents, oral histories, and videos to highlight the experiences of South Asian Canadians and to see the importance of the South Asian community in Canada. This initiative hopes to be a resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the historical impacts of South Asian communities on Canada and ensure their contributions live on to the next generation of Canadians.
Satwinder Bains is the head of The South Asian Canadian Legacy Project and the Director of the South Asian Studies Institute at the University of Fraser Valley. She reflects on the initiative and says, “I never really understood what an archive was until I started looking at the history of South Asian Canadians in Canada,” Bains further reflects. “I found large gaps in our history, whether through designed erasure, omission, or neglect.” She aims to fill the voids in historical records and represent South Asian Canadian stories within the larger context of Canadian history, including everyday experiences the immigrants felt in Canada. The simple everyday stories show how South Asian communities made a difference and built Canada.
The digital archive illuminates a small Vancouver Island community: a former sawmill town called Paldi. Paldi resonates with South Asians and brought many communities together. Local historian Joan Mayo mostly compiles the archive. The collection shows the diverse community that grew around the mill. Friendships cross cultural lines, bringing daily life alive through photos, documents, and videos. The archive shows that Paldi was more than just a mill town; it was also home to many Canadians from different backgrounds.
The South Asian Canadian Legacy Project and the South Asian Studies Institute plan to grow. They hope that more people will share their stories and encourage the public to contribute stories that will lead to new collections, oral histories, and educational tools, ensuring that the South Asian Canadians’ legacy is available to future generations.
The South Asian Canadian Legacy Project and The South Asian Studies Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley are hubs for research and community connection focused on Canada’s South Asian diaspora. The Institute promotes a more profound understanding and builds a more inclusive and aware society through projects like this.
Contact:
South Asian Canadian Legacy Project:
www.southasainlegacyproject.ca
Legacyproject@hotmail.com
Gurman Kang (Media Relations Coordinator)
gurmank28@gmail.com
250-819-7686
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