Kelowna华人史.之十- 感言-箭花香脂 Kelowna Chinese History: Part Ten – Reflections – Arrowleaf

Original 谭仁先 K屯华人论坛2024年04月26日 13:30

Kelowna的春季悠长且气候怡人，4月到5月间，漫山遍野会开满了一种黄色的花，依着山坡，迎着春芳相映于湖水，为这里的风景涂上一层充满活力的黄色色调，令人赏心悦目。这种本土野花叫Arrowleaf，在本地被称为奥肯纳根向日葵，2001年被选为Kelowna的市花。其学名为箭花香脂， 箭叶香脂根的名字来源于其叶子的形状和根部发现的芳香香脂和树脂的组合。箭叶香脂根是适应大师，它能在奥肯那根山谷干燥的沙质土壤中茁壮成长，可达 8 英尺深根部使其能够在最干燥的月份获得水分，而宽阔的箭形叶子旨在最大程度的捕获阳光。这种适应性正是当地生态系统不可或缺的一部分。其次，土著人民长期以来一直崇敬这种植物的药用和营养价值。 箭叶香根可用于缓解疼痛、帮助感冒康复、治疗烧伤、伤口、昆虫叮咬和肿胀 。Kelowna’s spring is long and temperate, from April to May, the mountains are adorned with a vibrant display of yellow flowers, blooming on the hillsides and reflecting the spring’s beauty in the lake, painting the landscape with a lively yellow hue that is pleasing to the eye. These native wildflowers are called Arrowleaf, locally known as Okanagan Sunflower, and were designated as Kelowna’s city flower in 2001. Its scientific name is Balsamorhiza sagittata, with the name “Arrowleaf” derived from the shape of its leaves and the fragrant balms and resins discovered at its roots. Arrowleaf is a master of adaptation, thriving in the dry, sandy soils of the Okanagan Valley, with roots reaching up to 8 feet deep, allowing it to access water during the driest months, while its broad, arrow-shaped leaves maximize sunlight capture. This adaptability is an essential part of the local ecosystem. Furthermore, Indigenous peoples have long revered this plant for its medicinal and nutritional value. Arrowleaf can be used to relieve pain, aid recovery from colds, and treat burns, wounds, insect bites, and swelling.

图片来自网络 Images from the internet.

近几年，我有一直组织每周的华人徒步活动，足迹遍布了奥湖地区。每当春季行走在奥肯纳根的高山河谷中，阳光明媚下的箭叶香根草的存在，常常使得我在脑海里将其和Kelowna 150多年来的华人特质相联系。In recent years, I have organized weekly hiking activities for the Chinese community, covering the Okanagan Lake area. Every spring, walking in the high mountain valleys of Okanagan, the presence of arrowleaf balsamroot under the bright sunshine often makes me associate it with the characteristics of the Chinese community in Kelowna over the past 150 years.

不论是因背井离乡还是追逐梦想而散落在世界各地的华人，正如箭叶香脂根一样，即使在最恶劣的环境下，也能扎下跟，发出芽，开出花，结出累累果实，散发出芬芳，并成为当地历史的一部分。这种华人的适应性和倔强性，正式中华传统文化精髓的体现，而这种中华传统文化驻扎在了我们内心深处，成为内核，每天每日每时每刻驱动着我们一滴点的积累，并在先人的基础上前行。不仅如此，他们改善现状的的付出和韧性，他们的闯劲和奉献，不单单使得家庭子嗣收益，使得周围华人团体得以安居乐业，也能散发芬芳，给多元化的社会带来风采，留下遗产。Regardless of whether they are overseas Chinese who have scattered around the world due to leaving their hometowns or chasing dreams, just like arrowleaf balsamroot, they can take root, sprout, bloom, bear fruit, and spread fragrance even in the harshest environments, becoming part of the local history. This adaptability and resilience of the Chinese people is precisely the essence of traditional Chinese culture, which resides deep within us, becoming our core, driving us to accumulate day by day, moment by moment, and advancing on the foundation laid by our ancestors. Moreover, their efforts and resilience in improving their circumstances, their adventurous spirit and dedication not only benefit their families and allow Chinese communities to thrive, but also spread fragrance, adding charm to a diverse society and leaving a legacy.

多谢您阅读Kelowna华人历史的线索稿。很多朋友通过微信和当面对我表达了感谢之意。相反，我对能有机会记录书写Kelowna的华人历史的机遇充满了感恩！对朋友和义工的帮助充满了感谢！对您的阅读和反馈充满了感谢！对那些尚存的亲历者充满了敬意！Thank you for reading the draft on the history of the Chinese community in Kelowna. Many friends have expressed their gratitude to me through WeChat and in person. On the contrary, I am full of gratitude for the opportunity to document the history of the Chinese in Kelowna! I am grateful for the help from friends and volunteers! I appreciate your reading and feedback! I hold great respect for those who have lived through these experiences!

我的孩子已近成年，每当遇到困难挑战的时候，我就提醒他，嚼一嚼 Arrowleaf的根，看一看历史的长河，我们就知前行的路该怎么走。今天我们记录和传播历史，目的是能让我们华人的这种文化内核继承下去，让我们的后代走的更高更远，让华人的精神之花在未来继续绽放。My child is now nearly an adult, and whenever facing challenges, I remind him to “chew on the root of arrowleaf balsamroot and look at the long river of history,” so that “we can know how to move forward.” Today, we document and spread history with the aim of ensuring that the cultural core of our Chinese community is passed on, allowing our descendants to go higher and farther, and for the spirit of the Chinese people to continue to blossom in the future.

在接下来的几篇文章中，我们将整理如下线索，尽情期待：

• 1. Kelowna 洪门的发展史
• 2. Kelowna Chinatown的兴起，繁荣和消退
• 3.  各个博物馆保存的Kelowna华人文物及文献
• 4. 西班牙大流感时期的Chinatown
  5. 二战华人Commando Bay特工训练营-Operation Oblivion
• 6. 孙中山Kelowna之行的详细记述
  7. 口述系列-我与Chinatown的故事-  采访几位西老人与日本老人
• 8. 其他几个有名的家族及故事
• 13. 报纸对Kelowna华人的报道列表-摘录
• 14. 当代华人及华人社团的影响与贡献

注：本文为线索收集稿，为后期整理完备准确的记录做准备，欢迎提供线索和相关资料。