My Identity
- Misa Janet Ta'afili Tuitama
- May 23, 2025
- 2 min read
ID: "Valu le Popo"
Precious memories from my childhood on Farquhar Road, Glendene, West Auckland. Our family home still stands, brimming with recollections of Sunday toona'i, when Mum would wake at dawn to prepare the delicious dishes. I vividly remember her sitting on the tuai, a horse-like seat equipped with a sharp-toothed tool on the edge, used for shaving coconut from its shell, a process known as "valu le popo", which was a Sunday morning chore to get the best coconut milk for mum's signature dishes i.e. oka, suafa'i, sua i'a, panipopo and so much more.
ID: "Umu"
Dad working in his maumaga (plantation) at the back of our home with his makeshift fale where he would prepare and cook his umu. Weekly preparation of taro, bananas, potatoes, and assorted meats, which was normally chicken, fish, and pork. I would see mounds of wet newspapers, potato sacks, hollow coconut shells, banana leaves and rocks forming a volcano of hot blistering fire, heat, and smoke, waiting for the food to be added for cooking. The Samoan ways of cooking back in the 70s and 80s have somewhat faded with NZ rules of no open fires restricting Dad to the simpler ways of cooking our foods with the oven. These were treasured memories of the good old days.
ID: The Lord provided what little we had!
I recall my brother Matthew speaking at my Dad's 80th birthday, acknowledging and highlighting the sacrifices our parents made to ensure all their children had enough to eat while they would often go without food. To my surprise, as I wouldn’t have remembered this, I felt immense gratitude for the tausiga (service of care) our parents provided to us. We didn’t have much, but in some ways, our parents blessed us with so much. Four years later, my Dad was called home to glory, but Mum remains the matriarch of our family today at the age of 88 years old.
ID: Heritage
I am an indigenous Samoan woman who takes great pride in my rich heritage. My parents set the foundation for my siblings and me to excel in our respective journeys, and now, I embrace my indigeneity with confidence. I am grateful to the Lord for the solid values my parents taught me, which I strive to share with others. I love the concept of "valu le popo," where the coconut is utilised in many forms, similar to how my life embodies the diverse influences that have shaped my identity today.
Pause & Reflect:
Think about significant memories from your childhood, taking into account the richness of your heritage. Remember those childhood moments that fill you with joy and bring a smile to your face.
Scroll down and share a memory / comment.
