The Little-Known History of Asian-Indigenous Cultural Connection & The Story of the Name "RainDancer"
(Plus Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Lifestyle Recommendations)
Is it September, already?! I don’t know about you, but I feel that summer just sped by in the blink of an eye. Maybe because I worked most of it. Thankfully, I had a small window (a few days) over Labour Day weekend to pop over to Bowen Island for a short and sweetest quarterly retreat ever… then, just like that, it’s back to school or back to business!
Noticing the leaves turning from green to beautiful red/orange hues, the air has turned crisper and chillier, I can’t help but feel more snuggly and cozy.
The great paradox of this season is that as we feel crave to cocoon and slow down, it also feels like a “last chance” to move something forward this season that we can feel proud of. Aside from the fact that Autumn is gorgeous, I love that we get another chance to re-focus and tackle our goals for the year—about 90 days of fruitful productivity before winter beckons.
What are you zeroing-in on as front and centre these days? What about what's zooming out into the background?
This days, I am zero-ing in on what’s important on the identity front. Therefore this month, I honour and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Harvest Festival and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, two holidays near and dear to my cultural heart. When people meet me, 90% of the time they will inevitable ask about my name:
“I love your name!”
“You have such a beautiful name.”
“Your name is so unique… is that your real name?”
The answer is Yes, it is my real name now, although I was named by my birth parents differently—I have preserved that as my legal name (Rosalyn Cua). In 2015, after about a decade of deep and intense personal healing and transformation, I experienced a complete identity shift coming into my true authentic soul essence. With the support of being initiated into the Qu’echuan Indigenous medicine lineage from Peru, I decided to go through a process of name integration (a beautiful story for another time) that:
preserved the first name given to me by my parents;
included and honoured my family name’s initial; and
added my chosen/given name as an adult, RainDancer.
It's because when I was a little girl, my favourite thing to do is dance in the rain. I have been blessed with the name Rosalyn C. RainDancer for 7 years now (or Roz RainDancer for short). It brings me so much joy that it blesses others, as well.
I can’t even begin to tell you how claiming a new name has changed my life for the better. I hope to be able to write about it more in the future (as a book, perhaps). You can read more about the origin of RainDancer on my personal website.
What does all this have to do with the September holidays? I would like to spotlight the little-known history and beauty of Asian-Indigenous cultural connection and integration, and share my personal story. As someone born with Asian heritage, I first encountered Indigenous culture as child, through my relationships with the domestic help that my family hired. I remember having closer relationships with them than my own parents, which is common for those who grew up in similar cultures. I loved spending time with the maids and nannies. Aside from helping with the household chores, I loved listening to their stories—myths, legends, and folklore from their Indigenous origins. There are over 100 Indigenous groups in the Philippines (a country I affectionately call the ‘Hawaii of Asia’). I felt so connected to their traditions. As I child, I never understood the racial tensions between the Indigenous Filipinos, mestizas (mixed-race) and immigrant Chinese that made up most of the country’s population. Because to me, we are all the same citizens. I had developed close, kin-like relationships with my Filipina aunties. My child-self did not care that they were hired help—they were family. My cultural identity was formed by both my Chinese ancestry and Filipino national heritage.
After my family immigrated to Canada when I was 12, I tried my best to adapt to the new country and culture, but no doubt I had lost a huge and precious piece of myself (the impact of which I mourned almost 15 years later as an adult). I first encountered Indigenous culture and teachings in Canada at the First Nations Longhouse at UBC when I was a university student. I remember stepping into the House for the first time. A deep, visceral, guttural sensation overcame my body, and I dropped to the ground and sobbed my heart out. Pretty embarrassing especially when you’re 17 years old. After this, I realized this connection wasn’t going to go away, so I have since then dedicated my life to experiential learning of Indigenous ways, true and trusting relationships, allowing their teachings and wisdom to penetrate deeply and integrate into my consciousness. My journey took me to the point where said YES to the ultimate calling to step into training and initiation into Shamanic Medicine Healing—first for my own personal liberation, then to empower others in my family and community. Over the years, I came to feel even deeper resonance and soul-shaking connection. It all came full-circle as I decided to get genetic testing done in my 30s to optimize my health in preparation to start a family. It was then I discovered I had a small percentage of Indigenous genes showing up in my DNA, which completely explained my previously inexplicable draw to it.
Knowing who you are informs your values, activates your purpose, and inspires your vision of the best life you could possibly create for yourself and those around you. I hope that this becomes your guiding principle this season as you get honest with yourself as to WHY you have the goals that you do, and what’s truly important to spend your time and precious energy on.
🥮🧧 Celebrating Mid-Autumn / Mooncake Festival 🥮🧧
It’s that time of the year again! Next to Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival is my second-favourite Chinese holiday. Also known as the Moon Festival, it is a cherished East Asian tradition celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month (this year, it is September 29th to October 6th [8 days] in the Gregorian calendar). It honors the full moon and the autumn harvest, symbolizing unity among families and friends who gather to share mooncakes, admire the moon's beauty, and express gratitude for abundance.
😋 Where to Buy One-of-a-Kind Mooncakes in Vancouver, BC:
I love blog posts here and here on where to source these delectable mooncake treats in Vancouver. Oh my goodness, talk about eye candy! 😍🥮😋🧡
This year, Honey 🍯 Bear 🐻 and I are planning on taking a mooncake-making workshop. How fun is that! Here’s one by donation (suggested $40) and another one for those who would appreciate a health-conscious option ($80).
Finally, check out these free, family-friendly community events around town:
Mid-Autumn Moon Family Day on September 23rd @ 12:00 – 3:00pm at Coquitlam Heritage Mackin House
Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival on September 23rd @ 4:00-9:30pm at Slocan/Renfrew Community Park
The Fire Dragon Festival on September 23-24, 2023 in Vancouver Chinatown
I invite you to reach out participate in at least one event this month to honour the Asian and Indigenous members of our community. In this age of further digitization and the rise of AI, "love thy neighbour" is still relevant; creating those real-time, in-the-flesh connections is more valuable than ever.
🎲 Last but not least, check out this new board game to enjoy with family and friends:
Steam Up serves a dim sum board game for Chinese immigrant families — like mine
Just in time for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, I was so tickled to learn about this board game born in Vancouver. Dim Sum, an Asian-inspired board game, celebrates culinary culture and strategy. Players step into the shoes of dim sum chefs, competing to craft delectable dishes with a mix of ingredients and techniques. As they manage resources and unique abilities, they aim to outshine rivals and embrace the rich tapestry of Asian cuisine. With its colourful components and cultural flair, Dim Sum serves up a delightful blend of tradition and entertainment, making it a must-try for those seeking a taste of Asian tabletop gaming.
Read More:
https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/23710294/steam-up-dim-sum-board-game-review
Order the game here ($47 USD):
https://hotbananagame.com/products/steam-up-a-feast-of-dim-sum
© 2021-2023 Rosalyn C. RainDancer
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