About SASI
The South Asian Studies Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley brings together South Asian scholars and students from diverse backgrounds
and disciplines to create a nexus point for programs and activities that
support our vision.
The Institute fosters inter-disciplinary scholarly
research, community and public engagement on issues related to South
Asia and the Canadian South Asian Diaspora. The Institute initiates,
directs and implements the development, maintenance and enhancement of
scholarship, research and engagement in collaboration with faculty,
students and community. The Institute takes direction from UFV's
strategic goals to be a leader of social, cultural, economic and
environmentally responsible development in the Fraser Valley.
The Institute is a repository of the pioneering history of
immigrant settlers who make up the Canadian South Asian Diaspora. We
also undertake much needed contemporary research which includes the first of its kind South Asian Canadian Digital Archive in Canada that benefits academia, members of the community,
government, organizations and agencies as well as global scholars and
interested persons.
For inquiries, please contact us at sasi@ufv.ca or call 604-854-4547.

Oral Histories
SASI has spent time consulting with organizations, associations, and individuals who have lived experiences as South Asian Canadian Muslims in BC and beyond. The goal is to record first-hand or oral histories of past and present.
Building Relationships
We have formed strong partnerships with the community and organizations to access personal stories and important archives. These relationships ensure that the research is inclusive and representative of the diverse South Asian Canadian Muslims in British Columbia experiences in B.C.
Education & Outreach
Educating the public on the contributions of South Asian Canadian Muslims in B.C, through exhibits, workshops, and online resources, outreach has fostered cultural understanding that celebrates untold histories, heritage, and culture.
Grants & Funding
Generous grants and funding have made it possible for resources, to conduct in-depth research, create public exhibits, and develop educational programs that preserve and share this heritage.
Project History
The historical and contemporary presence of Muslim communities in Canada, particularly South Asian Canadian Muslims in B.C., has often been obscured. Our research project focuses on their contributions and covers three major timelines: early migration to BC, mid-20th-century migration, and recent migration to Canada. Exploring the diverse sects and cultural integration of Islam, including Sunni sub-sects like Wahabi, Salafi, Barelvi, and Deobandi, as well as Shia sub-sects like Twelver Shi'ism and Ismailism, along with Sufism, we aim to promote understanding and welcome feedback for future enhancements.
The arch emerges as another defining motif, serving both as a structural element and a spiritual threshold. It marks spaces of openness, passage, and sanctuary — framing physical and symbolic environments where memory, faith, and tradition gather. It offers a metaphor for the community’s ongoing journey: bridging homelands, navigating challenges, and cultivating spaces of belonging.
Throughout the visual language, geometric repetition and symmetry echo the diversity within the South Asian Canadian Muslims in British Columbia community — a constellation of cultures, beliefs, and personal histories. This careful interplay of shape and pattern creates a visual metaphor for collective identity, where individual stories intersect within a shared, enduring framework.
Together, these elements establish a contemporary visual identity that honours the historical depth of South Asian Canadian Muslim communities in BC while creating space for future narratives to be seen, heard, and remembered.
Our Team 2024 to present
Dr. Satwinder Bains
Director
Thamilini Jothilingam
Digital Archivist
Annet Holierhoek
Financial manager
Dr. Anushay Malik
South Asian Research Fellow (2024/25)
Kiara Dabreo
Research Assistant (2024/25)
Samarah Saddique
Research Assistant (2024/25)
Sadhik Preet Singh
Research Assistant (2024/25)
Saumyaa Gelani
Research Assistant (2024/25)
Rashneet
Research Assistant (2024/25)
Arnav Mehta
Research Assistant (2024/25)
Advisory Committee 2024 to present

Director, South Asian Studies Institute

Associate Vice President, Teaching and Learning

Assistant Professor, Teacher Education Program

Associate Professor, School of Culture, Media and Society

Professional Agrologist