In the heart of Rakiraki, a powerful movement of resilience, love, and transformation is quietly rewriting the narrative for the region’s most vulnerable. At the center of this movement is Sam Tuilevukana—affectionately known as Mama Sam—the founder of Cattaliya, a dedicated vakasa and trans group.
Cattaliya isn’t just an organization; it is a community movement, a lifeline, and a fierce act of love. Under Mama Sam’s matriarchal guidance, the group provides a vital safe space where individuals can find belonging, build collective strength, and foster an inclusive environment where everyone is celebrated exactly as they are.
Behind the Matriarch: A Journey of Sacrificial Love and Duty
To understand the sanctuary Mama Sam has built in Rakiraki, one must look at the foundation of her life—a testament to unconditional love, fierce protectiveness, and radical selflessness.
Originally a transplant from Namara, Tailevu, Mama Sam now resides in Rakiraki out of a profound, sheer call of duty to her community. But long before she became a regional beacon of leadership, she was quietly proving her devotion within the walls of her own home as a proud adoptive mother.
When her older brother and his wife tragically passed away, leaving behind two toddlers, Mama Sam didn’t hesitate. She stepped into the gap, inheriting a monumental responsibility when she herself was still young. Confronted with the harsh realities of poverty, she spared no effort to provide her boys with the best possible life. She did whatever it took to make ends meet—from navigating the complexities and vulnerabilities of sex work at a young age, to the grueling, back-breaking labor of cutting sugar cane under the blazing sun.
Today, those two toddlers are exemplary young men in their twenties, thriving as a living reflection of her sacrifice. It is this exact maternal instinct, forged in the fires of personal hardship, that she now brings to her advocacy. She looks at the most vulnerable vakasa individuals in Rakiraki not just as group members, but as family deserving of the same fierce protection and dignity she fought to give her own sons.
Rooted in Transformation: The Queen of the Orchids
The group takes its name and inspiration from the Cattleya—widely revered as the “Queen of the Orchids.” In many spiritual traditions, the Cattleya orchid represents spiritual awakening, growth, and profound transformation.
Much like the orchid, the journey of the vakasa and trans community in Rakiraki is one of delicate beauty and immense strength. The vibrant, diverse colors of the flower mirror the energy, joy, and vitality of life within the group. Meanwhile, its gentle petals signify the exquisite beauty—and the inherent fragility—of navigating life as a gender-diverse person. Mama Sam has cultivated Cattaliya to be the fertile soil where these unique orchids can root, protect one another, and ultimately bloom.
A Pillar of Wisdom and Mentorship
Mama Sam’s impact stretches far beyond Rakiraki. As an elder and a deeply respected mentor, she serves as a guiding light for the VST+ Navigators Forum. Established under the Trans Affirmative Action Guild’s Project SAUTU: Strengthening Ecosystems of Healing, the forum is aptly referred to by its members as a Community of Practice Sanctuary.
It is a space dedicated to collective healing, strategic navigation through societal challenges, and passing down ancestral and lived wisdom to the next generation of leaders. Mama Sam’s presence ensures that this ecosystem remains grounded in deep care, empathy, and mutual survival.
A Vision of Healing and Survival: Mama Sam’s Pride Message
As we celebrate the spirit of community, authenticity, and the power of chosen families, Mama Sam leaves us with a resonant message that encapsulates the heartbeat of Cattaliya:
“The rainbow in our communities can shine a healing hue in every space it occupies as every color is a signature of our duplicity and our survival adaptability.”
It is a reminder that our ability to adapt, to bring healing color to dark spaces, and to embrace the multi-layered beauty of our identities is what makes us unstoppable. Thank you, Mama Sam, and the entire Cattaliya family, for showing us what true sanctuary looks like.
To learn more about Cattaliya’s local initiatives or to support the ecosystems of healing driven by Project SAUTU, please visit our get-involved page or reach out via our contact portal.
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