Cultural assimilation - adopting a new culture while forgetting your own - is an experience I have found myself in. Though it has been puzzling, in retrospect, the intricacies of my experience have been a lesson.
Being a Tuvaluan born and raised in Vanuatu is a recipe for the confusion of one's cultural identity. Growing up, I was a Polynesian amidst Melanesians, distinguished by physical attributes such as wavy hair and olive-tan skin in a milieu of fluffy curls and beautiful shades of rich brown. Physically, I looked different, but the blueprint of my cultural identity was solid; my values, beliefs, and behaviours were rooted in the Vanuatu way. Although some Tuvaluan practices were around and my grandmother spoke Tuvaluan regularly, it still felt foreign because Tuvaluans were the minority. In 2010, I moved to New Zealand with a strong sense of being Ni-Vanuatu.
My introspection on cultural identity resurfaced in mid-adolescence when a friend said, "Technically, you're not Ni-Van because both your parents are Tuvaluan." This truth unleashed internal turmoil, rekindled past traumas, and shattered all the mental constructs about my cultural identity. I began questioning myself. How can I not be if I was raised in their ways; If Bislama is my first language? If my family is Ni-Van? If I was always immersed in the art of the customs, witnessed my uncles and aunties marry traditionally, hiked from village to village with my cousins, swam in the river, and caught prawns? How can I not be Ni-Van?
Around my 18th Birthday, a family reunion in Tuvalu allowed me to explore my heritage. There I met the Tuvaluan side of my family, was invited by the land, and captivated by the culture. My resentment gradually dissipated into the mist of the waves. However, this newfound connection was tainted with the harsh reality that Tuvalu's land and culture faced the threat of submersion due to rising sea levels. This experience made me think about the ambiguity of what Tuvaluan culture would look like in the future, my ancestors who had once walked this land and their invaluable contributions. What role do I play? The seed of Tuvaluan culture was planted, nourished by ancestral blood, and continues growing alongside my personal growth.
My experience taught me that by nature I am Tuvaluan, and nurture, I am Ni-Vanuatu.
My academic journey has been instrumental in reshaping my sense of cultural identity. Delving into bi-cultural perspectives and cultural evolution gave me the ability to step back and adopt a more holistic view of what culture truly encompasses. Gaining awareness of the underlying patterns within cultures, each one interconnected yet distinct in its own way, leading to cultural integration and deepened my appreciation for language. As this year's theme sheds light upon Fakatumau kae fakaakoi tau ‘gana ke mautu a iloga o ‘ta tuā meaning 'preserve and embrace your language to safeguard our heritage identities'.
I remain grateful and mindful of culture's profound role in my personal journey. I have learned that to preserve culture, we must actively participate in its creation. Thus, my path to honour and perpetuate Tuvaluan culture involves embracing the Tuvaluan language to cherish its value, engagement in service to give back to the community, continuous learning to grow my awareness, and active involvement in cultural practices to appreciate the art of time.