Weaving Belonging: Stories from Unceded Territories

UBC Centre for Migration Studies is delighted to invite you to a series of events with artist Aaniya Asrani, focusing on understanding our relationship to belonging on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.

Workshop – July 22, 2024, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM:

Storytelling Session:
The evening will begin with a storytelling session inside the fieldhouse, where participants will listen to stories collected by Aaniya Asrani. Light refreshments will be provided as guests gather to deepen their understanding of various perspectives on this land.

Collaborative Weaving Activity:

After the storytelling session, participants will move outside to the park to engage in a collaborative weaving activity. Guests will weave large strips of canvas together to create a placemat that reflects the stories shared. This activity will foster a sense of community and collective creation.

Discussion on Belonging:

Participants will then sit around the placemat and have a meaningful conversation about belonging and their place on these lands. The evening will conclude with dismantling the placemat and sharing insights gained from each other.

To attend, please RSVP to aaniya.asrani@gmail.com, as there are limited spots available.

Exhibition – July 23, 2024  – August 1, 2024:

Open to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM, and on Thursdays from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

Closing Reception – August 1, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM:

Everyone is welcome!

About the project “Belonging in Unceded Territories”:

This project, initiated by UBC’s Centre for Migration Studies, aims to center settler colonialism in discussions about social belonging in Vancouver. It explores the meaning of acknowledging our position relative to Indigenous presence on these lands and how we can create narratives of belonging that address ongoing settler colonialism. Through her artist residency with STEPS Public Art, Aaniya Asrani amplifies personal narratives that span diverse positionalities, fostering dialogue about identity, history, and shared existence on unceded territories.

About the Artist:

Aaniya Asrani is an interdisciplinary artist, designer, and visual storyteller from Bangalore, India. Her work critiques social, political, and cultural systems to address injustices, fostering empathy and catalyzing small actions of change.

Featured Contributors:

Chief Janice George, Buddy Joseph, Sussan Yáñez, Antje Ellermann, Gloria Tsui, Elmir Ismayilov, Valentina Voloshko, and Aaniya Asrani.

This project is supported by CMS, the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides, SSHRC-CRSH, STEPS Public Art and Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House.