The presentation will explore the conference theme through the lens of a minority community in Malaysia, the Melaka Portuguese (MP), whose ancestry can be traced to the arrival of the Portuguese in Melaka in the 16^th Century. The MP language continues to be used mainly by older members of the community, particularly by those who live in Melaka (about 145km from Kuala Lumpur). The largely Catholic MP community have been navigating through complex socio-cultural, economic and political scenarios over the years, compounded by an increasing migration of young people from the heart of the MP, the Portuguese Settlement. The decline in the use of the MP (Papiah Cristang), and many of the cultural practices unique to the MP Eurasians, is leading to a loss of traditional knowledge systems of this small community. Efforts to ensure that such knowledge does not die out has to be made by the community. This presentation will show how efforts are being taken by one particular female community member. Based on a case study of her journey, the presentation will show how she has transitioned from being a not-so-confident-collaborator to a cultural leader in her own right. The case study, based mainly on interviews with her and other related parties, will map her journey of innovating from the ordinary. The case study will show how she navigates between tradition and change, and how, despite the many challenges she faces, she finds ways to pass on cultural practices to the younger generation in the community. Thus, this presentation will not only celebrate a female cultural warrior but will share practices that show how innovative ideas and practices can preserve traditional knowledge systems inherent in language, food, and cultural practices, in the face of modern-day challenges.