roots in the earth

One of the things I've come to really appreciate about living in New Zealand is the Māori practice of mihi or pepeha, a self-introduction that roots the speaker in the place(s) and people from whom they originate. This is to acknowledge one's ancestors, home and the land as well as to create connections between the speaker and listeners. I've written a couple versions of my mihi and a poetic adaptation of mine, which I'd like to share with you now:

The mountain from which I've come is Yangminshan, on the outskirts of Taipei, situated on the fringes of the big, bright and noisy. A story I'm beginning to learn is of my grandmother who died when I was a baby. She was from the indigenous tribe of the Shiraya, a people of the plains. The land of my ancestors is Taiwan, a beautiful island.

I come from Turtle Island, which is also known as Canada. The Don River runs behind my childhood home and throughout the city of Toronto. I found my place along the rocky shores of Lake Ontario in Kingston, where I came to know myself.

I now sit in the countryside just beyond Waikanae, New Zealand within the community of Ngatiawa River Monastery.

My name is brenda wang. I spell it in all lower case letters.

Hello.