Sikh families

Group studio photograph of Atwal family. Left to right: Mohinder Singh Atwal, Hardial Singh Atwal, Rattan Kaur Atwal, Joginder Kaur Ghag. The photo is attached to a frame.

Group family photograph of Atwal family. Left to right: Mohinder Singh Atwal, Hardial Singh Atwal, Harjinder Singh Atwal, Rattan Kaur Atwal, Harninder Pal Singh Atwal

Creator: Banga, Nand Singh

On the 90th Birthday of Nand Singh Banga, people gathered at the Gur Sikh temple, Abbotsford, to be a part of this occasion. The celebration began with prayers that are written in The Guru Granth Sahib (The Sikh Holy Book). Further, a kirtan was organized for everyone sitting inside the main hall. Mr. Banga received a siropa (an orange turban) as a gesture of respect from the Head Granthi.

Creator: Banga, Nand Singh

Interview with Mr. Nand Singh Banga. Mr Nand Singh Banga moved to Canada in 1906 when he was 14 years old with his father. His father used to work as green chain lumber sorters. Nand Singh used to pick up cordwood waste so it would not be in the way. He used to work for fifteen cents per hour in the year 1920. Around that time, there was a minimum of 100 men in the Sikh community. Nand Singh describes a time when the cars were driven on the left side of the road. In the building they lived in, 56 people lived in the one building, all of whom did all their chores. After the families came to Canada, they then started living in the house that was bought by the lumber company. Nand Singh returned to India in 1924 for his wedding to Dan Kaur then returned to Canada in same year. This is a full length interview which was recorded on January 4th, 1994. Nand Singh Banga is speaking in Punjabi and his son is acting as an interpreter between the interviewer and Nand Singh.

Creator: Bains, Satwinder

Creator: Chand, Nirakshik

Interview with Mrs. Satwinder Bains. Mrs. Satwinder Bains came to Canada on 16th November 1975. Migrating to Canada was a decision taken by her parents. When they travelled to Canada, Satwinder and her family did not bring anything except clothes and quilts. She was 19 when she moved to Canada. She cried while leaving India as her friends and family were there but, she was also excited to explore new places and experience new adventures. While traveling on a plane with the other Indians, she and her father were the only ones who spoke English and helped to guide everyone through the whole flight. Satwinder Bains recalls how in Canada, she was discriminated against for her race, was frequently asked if she could speak English, and had her academic credentials not recognized. It took some time before she was comfortable in Canada. She wanted her children to know where their parents came from so she and her husband took them to India for a year, but the kids could not settle there. This is a full length interview which was conducted on 7th August 1996 by Nirakshik Chand.

Creator: Bains, Darshan

Interview with Mrs. Darshan Bains about her mother. Mrs. Darshan Bains' mother was Jagdish Kaur. She was a devout Sikh and was very family oriented. She taught her kids about the Sikh culture and religion. This is a full-length interview that was conducted in February 1997.

Creator: Bains, Darshan

Creator: Chand, Nirakshik

Interview with Mrs. Darshan Bains, who was born in Duncan and raised in Chilliwack after her father (Gayani Harlal Singh Bains) migrated to Canada in 1906. The interview focuses on her stories as well as the stories of her family, particularly her father, an early Sikh settler in Canada. Her father was a devoutly religious Sikh man. He taught his children and others in the community to be proud of who they were, no matter how they appeared to others. Darshan Bains and her siblings were taught everything about their culture and religion even though they never went to India. Her father was heavily involved in working at the Sikh temple (Gurdwara) in various locations in Canada. Moreover, during that time, he was the head Granthi in Canada. Mrs. Bains's family first moved to Abbotsford and then to Agassiz in 1945. Due to floods, they settled in Chilliwack in 1945. She was the first South Asian Canadian woman to become baptized Sikh. This is a full-length interview that was conducted by Nirakshik Chand on 22nd February 1997.