events
Echoes of Home
Echoes of Home: Tracing Girmitiya History 🌺
Presented by the Nameless Collective Society and No Ties 1879 Cultural Society in partnership with Canadian Heritage
Echoes of Home is a community event that honours the lived histories and legacies of our Girmitiya ancestors—indentured labourers stolen from India and taken to Fiji under British colonial rule.
The evening features a partial screening of the powerful BBC documentary Coolies: How Britain Reinvented Slavery, which uncovers the realities of the indenture system and one person’s search for their roots. The evening will include live classical music, bidesia poetry, and a panel discussion which will invite reflection on the legacy of our ancestors, our shared identity, and resistance. Guests will also experience a cultural exhibition of community-submitted photographs and immigration documents, as well as traditional appetizers and refreshments.
This event is more than just a film screening—it’s a space to reflect, connect, and honour the stories that have shaped the Indo-Fijian diaspora. Whether you are part of this community or simply curious about an often-overlooked chapter in history, this event promises to leave you informed and inspired.
Echoes of Home shines a light on a lesser-known chapter of global migration history, fostering awareness about Indo-Fijian heritage. Themes of migration, survival, and cultural preservation resonate universally, connecting past challenges to present-day conversations on identity and diaspora.
📽️ Echoes of Home: Tracing Girmitiya History
🗓️ Friday, June 13, 2025
🕕 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Surrey City Hall (13450 104 Ave, Surrey, BC)
Join us for an evening of remembrance and reflection featuring:
🎞️ Screening of Coolies: How Britain Reinvented Slavery
🎙️ Panel discussion on girmit & diasporic identity
🎶 Live classical Indian tabla music
🖼️ Cultural exhibition of community-submitted photographs and documents
🍛 Traditional Indo-Fijian refreshments
Presented by the Nameless Collective Society and No Ties 1879 Cultural Society in partnership with Canadian Heritage and the Government of Canada.
📌 All are welcome | Admission $10.00
Independence Day: Poetry Slam & Open Mic
October 10th, 2023, marks Fiji’s 53 years of Independence from the British Empire. We would like to recognize this, and the Independence of our brothers and sisters whose lands were also colonized by celebrating our unique and interwoven identities.
Share what identity and Independence mean to you at Arrieta’s Art Studio on October 14th in a safe space through your spoken medium.
Girmitiya Day
Girmitiya Day is a reflection of the lived experiences and history of indentured labourers in Fiji. Often this history centres on the trauma of crossing “kala pani” and the hardships of girmit. This year we will reclaim the day to honour and remember this history. We have envisioned today to focus on diasporic Indo-Fijians searching for our authentic selves through the stories and oral traditions of our ancestors.
Fijian independence day
The hosts of High Phrase and No Ties 1879 are proud to bring you an evening of celebrating our culture & identities by showcasing Vancouver's talented Fijian hip-hop OG's.
Girmit day
We invite you for an evening of culture as we share our stories as descendants of Indian indentured labourers of the British Empire.
The first ship carrying Indian indentured labourers arrived in Fiji on May 14th, 1879. The labourers were to work on sugarcane plantations situated on indigenous Fijian lands. Many labourers were promised vast opportunities and riches just a stones throw away from their villages in India. In reality they were transported across an ocean, worked minimum twelve-hour days, and lived in less than ideal conditions.
Join us as we pay respect to our ancestors.
Echoes of Girmit: Remembering Our Ancestors
In 2023, No Ties 1879 Cultural Society in partnership with the Indo-Fijian Cultural Society hosted our second Girmitiya Day. This powerful event was curated to honour the legacy of Indo-Fijian ancestors and share the stories of girmit. Through spoken word, music, and storytelling, we created space for intergenerational dialogue, reflection, and cultural connection.
This gathering was more than just an event—it was a moment of remembrance, resilience, and reclamation of our history. Watch the video to experience the voices and stories that continue to shape our community.
📍 Stay connected with us as we continue amplifying Indo-Fijian history and culture.