Haq & History
Nikkei National Museum
October 19, 2024 – January 25, 2025
The Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre in Burnaby hosted a festive and warm opening of the SASI Haq and History exhibit on November 2, 2024. Nikkei director Sherri Shinobu Kajiwara welcomed all and introduced Cecelia Point of the Musqueam nation who gave an indigenous welcome to South Asian immigrants who came to Canada at the turn of the last century and to whom the Musqueam could not offer a welcome at that time.
Congratulatory speeches were held by Satomi Okagaki, Deputy Consul general of the Japanese consulate, Mike Hurley Mayor of Burnaby, Satwinder Bains, Director of the South Asian Studies Institute, and Tzu-I Chung Curator of Public Programs and Engagement of the Museum of Anthropology were followed by beautiful Japanese Obon Odori folk dancers and energetic Punjabi folk Bhangra dancers. They provided a festive ending of the official part of the opening.
As part of the travelling exhibit program, SASI invited the Nikkei National Museum to participate in research that would uncover the unique connections between Punjabi Canadians and the Japanese community. Tiffany Lau from SFU’s Academy to Community program conducted research on the intersection of South Asian and Japanese Canadian communities in Paldi on Vancouver Island by focusing on the Toyota, Urabe, and Yano families. This recent research has been incorporated into the exhibit, making it a much richer history of Canada.
The content of the research can be found and accessed by clicking on the photos at the bottom of this page.
Dr. Satwinder Bains (South Asian Studies Institute) reflects on the journey of documenting South Asian history in British Columbia, emphasizing the interconnected nature of histories across different communities, including Indigenous, Japanese, and other immigrant groups. The exhibit aims to highlight shared struggles, rights, and histories, advocating for a more inclusive approach to storytelling that recognizes collective experiences and humanity.
Dr. Tzu-I Chung ( Curator, Public Programs and Engagement at the Museum of Anthropology ) expresses gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the “Haq and History” exhibit opening at the Nikkei National Museum, acknowledging the historical significance of the event. She highlights the collaborative effort behind the exhibit, which involved community consultations, oral history collection, and partnerships across the province, led by the South Asian Studies Institute and the Royal BC Museum. She emphasizes the exhibit’s community-driven approach, with each community contributing unique stories through the “community add-on” feature, and notes that the exhibit will continue to grow and travel for the next five years.
Explore the Research Panels
Disruption of 40 years of settlement
Enduring Friendships
Paldi is always Home
Reclaiming Home
The Haq & History exhibit travels through B.C. adding content to each of the towns where it is on display.
The exhibit will continue its travels to the Chilliwack Museum and Archives, where it will be on display as of March 2025.
Land Acknowledgement
Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre is on the unceded traditional territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation and the Hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ – speaking Nations, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ, and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, whose ancestors have cared for these lands for countless generations. We are honoured to live, learn and gather together, on Indigenous land.