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Maha Abbas, Summer Researcher 2024

This summer I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to conduct research into heritage designations and heritage conservation practices in Saskatchewan. After spending the first month or so conducting literature reviews and trying to understand why protecting our heritage is important, it became abundantly clear that in order to understand external attitudes and commitment for heritage conservation I needed to better understand why I thought heritage was valuable. To do so, I had to return to my roots.

I put my own upbringing and identity under the microscope to better understand my current sense of place and the deep-rooted sense of obligation I feel to heritage in the province I belong to. In my reflections below, I aim to understand my sense of place and shift in values as a first-generation immigrant. 

Reflection no 1: Just like heritage, values are often inherited and susceptible to change. I think I inherited mine from my maternal grandfather and educator. My grandfather grew up during the tail end of the British occupation of the Sub-Continent and witnessed the creation of Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh in 1947 and 1972. After my grandfather and his family relocated to what was now Pakistan, he and others from his generation quickly assumed the role of the country's first educators and leaders, roles they continued well into my adolescence. Growing up, I was taught that it was my responsibility to remember and value the stories, history, and heritage of the first two generations as accounts of resilience and national pride.

But as a third-generation Pakistani, I have additional values to my grandparents. 

To me, these histories provide a deeper understanding of our present and why things are the way they are. Heritage, in this sense, offers a foundation for a critical re-evaluation of the present, informed by the past. To truly understand your place in history, you need to know where it started and where you fit in. Before you can make sense of your present surroundings, you need to retrace your steps into how you got here. This process of looking back not only honours the struggles and achievements of those who came before but also equips us with a broader perspective to navigate current challenges.

While my appreciation for our heritage remains steadfast, my values have shifted. I now see these accounts not just as a legacy to be proud of but as a tool for understanding and questioning the complexities of our society today. Beyond the narratives of resilience and nation-building, I see them as lessons in mass immigration, political unrest, and the development of economic and societal systems /structures. 

In this way, my appreciation has remained, but my perspective has evolved, allowing me to use history as a guide to critically assess and engage with the present. 

As a first-generation Canadian within my family, I find myself in a similar position as my grandfather in 1947 – calling a new land home. I feel an equally profound responsibility to learn, protect and engage with the heritage of this place. This commitment is not just inherited; it is also newly forged in my sense of place and belonging in Saskatchewan. Just as I was taught to value my ancestral heritage, I am now learning to appreciate the history and stories of my new home. This dual heritage enriches my understanding of identity and place, bridging my past with my present, and shaping my sense of duty to both honour where I come from and actively contribute to where I am.

Reflection no 2: It took me nearly a decade to find my place in Saskatchewan, and this journey made me acutely aware of a broader phenomenon—a collective longing for culture and connection among those who immigrate. This longing is not just a personal experience but a common thread that ties together the stories of many who seek to establish a new life in a foreign land. With heritage being my current focus (and only significant involvement that would explain this newfound sense of place) – we turn to Tom Mayes’ list of reasons for why we preserve, to better understand this sentiment:  

Preservation affords the opportunity for citizens to regain a sense of identity with their own origins of which they have been robbed by the sheer process of urbanization. 

We can replace “urbanization” with “immigration” as another method of displacement and quickly realise the wider need for people to be able to see their own personal struggles and stories of displacement reflected within their surroundings. Heritage can provide that – saving these tangible reminders of immigrant contributions and struggles.  

Heritage sites serve as vital connections to the past. They are tangible reminders of the struggles and stories that shaped our communities. By preserving these places, we offer future generations a portal into their history, a way to see their personal and collective struggles reflected in the world around them.  

Reflection no 3: Heritage places play a significant role in helping individuals establish a sense of place and forge a connection with their immediate surroundings. Taking reflection #2 a bit further, I believe that my recent sense of place is largely due to the access I gained to Saskatchewan's heritage through my role with Heritage Saskatchewan. In this role, my reach extended beyond the urban centres within the province and into some rural communities. The resources made available to me allowed me to visit these rural areas, where I heard stories of immigration, settlement, and community building from diverse groups who had moved to Canada in hopes of creating a better life.

These experiences highlighted the need for increased access to heritage. This accessibility includes both physical access to the sites, as well as access to the stories and lessons they hold. Many of the narratives I encountered were deeply personal accounts of struggle and resilience, shared by communities that had faced significant challenges upon arriving in Canada. Hearing these stories firsthand underscored the importance of making heritage available to everyone. Without being able to access the tangible and intangible aspects of heritage it becomes challenging to forge a connection to the past, and by extension, to the present and future of a place. Equally important to creating access to tangible heritage enables connections between people. While the brick and mortar of our heritage places hold significance, I find that it is the people and their stories that give heritage its value and allow for that personal connection to take place. 

In my self-examination, I found that in an era of growing socio-economic instability, when people are struggling to make ends meet, experiencing heritage and reviving a connection to a place often takes a back seat. Yet, by making these narratives more accessible to a wider audience—whether through social media, technology, or economic incentives—we provide people with a better chance to develop a personal connection to the places they live. It’s about more than just preserving sites; it’s about sharing stories and making sure everyone can engage with and learn from them. This can foster a deeper understanding of a place, bridging the gap between past and present, and helping individuals feel more rooted and connected in their communities.

By bringing these stories to the forefront and ensuring they are accessible to all, we empower everyone to appreciate the rich tapestry of experiences that have shaped our surroundings. This, in turn, strengthens our collective sense of identity and belonging, making heritage not just a static remembrance of the past but a dynamic resource that continues to inform and enrich our present lives.

References

Mayes, T. (2014) ‘Why Do Old Places Matter? Individual Identity’, National Trust for Historic Preservation , 8 January. Available at: https://savingplaces.org/stories/why-do-old-places-matter-individual-identity.