CARSTAIRS – The story of Calgary’s first Sikh immigrant has been brought to life in the latest instalment of a Carstairs-based publisher’s illustrated children’s book series.
“It’s so exciting, it’s the third Howdy book, so I can say I have a trilogy now,” said Ayesha Clough, who in 2019 founded Red Barn Books, which has since gone onto win multiple Book Publishers Association of Alberta awards.
The Howdy book series is intended to shine a spotlight on Alberta pioneers of diverse backgrounds whose inspiring legacies helped shape the province’s early history in a format more accessible to children ages 7-10.
“We’re doing Alberta books for Alberta kids,” said Clough.
The first book told the story of John Ware, a former Black slave who came to Alberta in the late 1800s with the second recounting the life of Flores LaDue, a talented trick roper and co-founder of the Calgary Stampede.
The third book, released on April 1 in tandem with Sikh Heritage Month, is called Howdy, I’m Singh Hari and features the remarkable accomplishments of Harnam Singh Hari (1883-1969), who was among the first Sikhs to arrive in Canada and the first to call Calgary home, where he went on to become one of Alberta’s most successful and generous ranchers.
The City of Calgary recognized his contributions in 2014 by naming in his honour Singh Hari Park, which is located on land he once farmed in the Kingsland community.
“I was thinking about where the stories come from, and really the stories find me,” Clough told the Albertan, adding the connections made along life’s journey tends to open unexpected doors.
After being introduced to Hari’s late great-granddaughter Kamla Hari McGonigal through friend and work colleague Lee McLean and learning about his impact on the community that has spanned generations, Clough said she was thrilled by the prospect of featuring a Sikh main character in a Canadian children’s book.
“We say that diversity is our superpower, and this book really fits that narrative,” she said.
Setting roots and eventually bringing his family from India, Hari also established close ties in the community.
“They would actually go to the United Church. Even though they were Sikh, they would worship with all the other people in the community and they would attend all the events in the local community hall there,” she said.
“They were just accepted as members of the community. In Alberta, as long as you did the work and you were good to your neighbours, somehow you were just part of the community and you were embraced here.”
Although McGonigal played a crucial role connecting Calgary-based author Kelly Kaur with other family members to ensure the story was accurate, she unfortunately died of cancer last fall before the book could be published.
Clough said she wanted authentic voices to bring Hari’s story to life and recruited Kaur as well as Edmonton-based illustrator Ravina Toor, who both have Punjabi Sikh backgrounds and jumped at the opportunity.
Kaur had previously worked as an editor on Howdy, I’m Flores LaDue and she relished the idea of diving into the project.
“I was drawn to Harnam Singh Hari,” said Kaur, adding she was moved by his fearless, can-do attitude.
“I’m an immigrant myself, and I can understand a little bit of his 10 times more challenging situation,” she said.
“To even get into Canada, he had to take a chance on himself and his courage,” she said.
When he arrived in North America on a ship from India, “only four people were allowed to get off, and he was not one of them.”
Not about to be turned away so easily, Hari was able to “use his prowess and his skill and his determination to debate and cajole the officer that he deserved to get off.”
Speaking about his background with the British Army and displaying his papers, Hari – who had a Punjabi mother and British father – managed to persuade his way into Canada. Kaur said she hopes children who read the story will be inspired by his resolve.
The opportunity to meet McGonigal before she passed also provided Kaur with insight into some of the more personalized details of his life that made the project all the more intriguing.
“She would send me little snippets and stories that are in the book,” said Kaur, adding those conversations went much farther than the information that’s readily available by researching online and gave “more character and depth to the man that I was writing about.”
For her part, Toor was also immediately interested in taking on the project when Clough reached out after finding the illustrator’s work online.
“A lot of my artwork is based around my culture,” she said.
“I always like connecting back to where my ancestors come from. So this was a really meaningful project to work on, because it represents the pioneers of people that came from Punjab – specifically Harman Singh Hari in the 1920s – and just highlighting the journey that’s so close to home for many immigrants here.”
Finally holding the finished product following what ended up being a two-year endeavour “felt surreal,” she said.
“It’s my first children’s illustration book,” she said.
“Being born into Edmonton, Alberta, I rarely saw any representation growing up, especially when I was in elementary,” she said, expressing enthusiasm about the chance to showcase a portion of Alberta’s diverse cultural heritage in school and public libraries.
“It’s a beautiful moment to be a part of,” she said. “I definitely feel proud to be a part of this journey.”
Clough also feels representing another cultural aspect of Alberta’s history is important.
“We don’t have too many Punjabi Canadian books, and so this was really unique,” said Clough. “I’m actually interested to see how it sells and what the reception is.”
However, publishing the Howdy books has never been about turning a profit, she said.
“It’s more like a labour of love,” she said, adding securing enough grant funding to cover the costs can be challenging.
While federal programs tend to be more competitive, Clough expressed gratitude for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts as well as the provincial government’s Heritage Preservation Fund. She also praised the support of MLA Tanya Fir, minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women.
“She’s been a huge supporter.”
Once musing over the possibility of pursuing a fourth Howdy book featuring an Indigenous rancher and rodeo cowboy from the Kaina Tribe known as Tom Three Persons, Clough said she is for now taking a hiatus after embarking on a new path in education.
“Never say never,” she added. “When the universe finds me a Kainai author or illustrator, maybe the stars will align again. But right now, I’m giving myself a little bit of a break just to focus on the teaching thing.”
