We are of Nepali descent and lived predominantly in Southern Bhutan before our forced displacement. Our connection to Bhutan can be traced to the 16th century, when our Nepali ancestors went to Bhutan to build Stupas. By the 19th Century, our community in Bhutan grew substantially and constituted a significant proportion of Bhutan's population. Although we share a common heritage, our community is diverse, comprising different religions, languages, castes, clans, and tribes.
Depending on the socio-political context, our community has been associated with different ethnonyms and endonyms. During colonial times, we were known as Gorkhas; after the Wangchuk dynasty came to power in Bhutan, we were known as Lhotsampas (meaning Southerners in the Dzongkha language). In the 1980s, Bhutan introduced a series of ethno-nationalist laws and policies that led to the displacement of over 100,000 Lhotsampas. After our displacement in the early 1990s, we were known as Bhutanese refugees or Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees. We lived in refugee camps in Eastern Nepal for over 15 years before third-country resettlement.
Although our identity seems to be in flux, we have now found a new home in Canada. Lethbridge, Alberta, has become home to one of the largest Bhutanese communities in Canada. Here, CBS serves as a community organization that supports connection, belonging, cultural continuity, and participation while contributing to the broader Canadian society.
The Canadian Bhutanese Society (CBS), based in Lethbridge, Alberta, is a not-for-profit organization established in 2009. CBS obtained registered charitable status in 2012. CBS provides a platform for community members to build connections, access opportunities, and enhance their quality of life through services, participation, and collective responsibility. We are committed to strengthening community connections while preserving and celebrating our cultural heritage.