12/6/2011
A Brief Look at the Hmong Origins of the Hmong by KaShia Moua Scholars, anthropologists and linguistic experts have studied the Hmong but they December 6, 2011 do not agree as to their origins. The most recent ancestry can be traced to China. Within China’s diverse ethnic population, the Hmong are known as Miao.
Hmong in China
Hmong live primarily in Guizhou & Yunnan provinces There is no Hmongland (red stars) Origins near Huang (Yellow River; see arrow)
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas at Austin www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_china/china_pol196.jpg
Historical Timeline But things change…
200 B.C. – 1810 A.D -The Hmong The Qing Dynasty aka Manchu occupied the Yellow River region of Dynasty (1644-1912) China and survived the many dynasties The Dynasty reached its peak in the that ruled China 18th century Territory & population increases Chinese culture gets integrated
1 12/6/2011
Chopsticks How did Chinese and Hmong culture CLASH?
Spoons LANGUAGE
RELIGION Either assimilate to Chinese culture or… …be killed or …get out
2 12/6/2011
Thousands are killed… Millions Flee China 1790-1860
Hmong flee persecution in China Millions fled to Southeast Asia (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma, Thailand)
Hmong in Laos Living in Laos
1860-1960: The Hmong maintained relative peace in the highlands of Laos
Farming in Laos Cooking in Laos
3 12/6/2011
Playing in Laos Peace ends, War begins.
Leading up to the Vietnam War… 1963-1975 1946: The beginning of the Cold War; Viet Minh establishes The U.S. Secret presence in Eastern Laos in Army in Laos Hmong territory & the Vietnam War
1953: Viet Minh invades Hmong homelands in northern Laos
Hmong in CIA’s Secret War in Laos 1963-1975 A “Secret War” Late 1950s: “Mr. Pop” Hmong soldiers were recruited under the Edgar Buell, linked to U.S. direction of General Vang Pao, a general Information Office, worked under the Laotian Army, to fight in the with Hmong in Laos “Secret War” 1961: CIA rep. Colonel Bill Lair met with Vang Pao, leader of the Hmong army in Laos Initiation of secret cooperation between
“Mr. Pop” Edgar Buell Hmong and CIA in Laos Hmong National Development
4 12/6/2011
What happens to Hmong men?
Hmong boys as young as 8 years old are the promise… recruited to fight Hmong soldiers are trained to fly planes Hmong soldiers rescue American pilots/planes that are shot down in Laos Hmong soldiers guard supply trails
What happens to Hmong families? What happens in 1975?
Families are separated & displaced U.S. pulls out of the war & Families lose their grandfathers, fathers, husbands, brothers and sons returns to the U.S. Families live on foot, traveling to different Hmong are left behind & are locations on a daily, weekly basis viewed as traitors Babies and children die of starvation or drug over doses Hmong are hunted & killed
May 1975, the beginning exodus of Hmong What happens after the refugees. Only a selected few were airlifted to Vietnam War? Thailand while thousands made the dangerous journey by foot. Hmong in Laos crossed the Mekong River and fled to Thailand to seek temporary refuge in Thai camps
5 12/6/2011
Death in the Jungles Death in the Mekong River
Hmong in Thai Refugee Camps Hmong Survivors 1976 – 1990s: Hmong refugees emigrated to the U.S., France, Australia, French Guyana and Canada 1990s: UN refugee camps in Thailand began closing; Hmong refugees migrate to non-UN camp, ie. Wat Tham Krabok 2004: Approx 15,000 Hmong resettle in U.S. when the last refugee camp is shut down
Looking back, My family arrives in Eau Claire, WI Looking forward April 9, 1976
6 12/6/2011
Smiles all around Immigrant vs. Refugee
Immigrant can be broadly defined as any non-citizen in the United States, except for those legally admitted under specific non-immigrant categories or status.
Immigrant vs. Refugee Immigrant
Refugee is defined as a person “unable or An immigrant’s heart arrives in the new unwilling to return to his or her country of country years before their body does. origin because of persecution or a well- founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.” INA §101(a)(42)(A)
Refugee Worldwide Hmong Population* China: 6,000,000 An refugee’s body arrives in the new country Vietnam: 787,604 years before their heart does. Laos: 315,000 United States: 250,000 Thailand: 124,000 France: 8,000 Burma: 3,000 Australia: 1,800 French Guyana: 500-1,000
*2004 Diaspora Estimates from Professor Nicholas Tapp, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
7 12/6/2011
Top ten states with the highest Hmong population: Hmong Migration Profile in the
California – 71,244 U.S.* Minnesota – 50,200 Those currently living in the U.S. Wisconsin – 45,268 Michigan – 8,686 ► Entered before 1990 = 59% North Carolina – 8,451 ► Entered 1990-1999 = 28.9% Colorado – 3,875 ► Entered 2000 or later =11.7% Georgia – 3,407 Washington – 3,050 Oregon – 2,729 Florida – 1,856 *U.S. Census Bureau ~2006, American Community Survey
*U.S. Census Bureau ~2006, American Community Survey
Arrival of Hmong Refugees in the U.S. Hmong in Wisconsin
In 1976—the first wave of 500 Hmong to There are approximately 45,000 Hmong residing America in Wisconsin In 1980’s—second wave of 150,000+ Hmong to America Some of the counties with the largest In 2004 – a smaller wave of 15, 000 Hmong populations: Dane, Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, refugees were resettled in the United States Marathon, Milwaukee, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Sheboygan (from Wat Tham Krabok). and Winnebago.
*Bureau of Migrant & Refugee Labor Services, Department of Workforce Development, State of Wisconsin
Hmong Clan System Social infrastructure is based on clan names There are 18 original clans: Hmong Stuff…. Chang/Cha -Lee/Ly Cheng -Lor/Lo/Lao Chue -Moua …in general Hang -Phang/Pha Her/Herr -Thao Fang -Vang Khang/Kha -Vue Kong/Soung -Yang Kue -Xiong
8 12/6/2011
Common Traditional Common Traditional Hmong Values Hmong Values Cont… Peace seeking (avoid confrontations or Education is highly valued conflicts when possible) Respect parents and elders Expect to know one's role and responsibilities as a son/daughter; Know & respect the Hmong language, culture and customs husband/wife; son/daughter-in-law, etc. – *these views and expectations are changing in the U.S. Personal belongings or assets are an Interdependency is an expectation; indication of hard work independence is not widely encouraged
Hmong Spirituality and Beliefs The answer is “NO” • Traditional beliefs are that a spiritual world coexists with the physical world • Spirit types include ancestral spirits, house spirits, and natural spirits • Hmong spiritual teachings believe in reincarnation
Featured in The Split Horn, 2001 www.pbs.org/splithorn/shamanism.html
Hmong Shamanism Ancestral Worship vs Christianity • Shamans communicate between the Ancestral Worship - Animism physical and spiritual worlds A family/clan in each generation • Shamans perform rituals and sacrifice holds the belief and worships three animals to pacify spirits and cure illness generations of ancestors.
Featured in The Split Horn, 2001 About 50-60% still practice ancestral www.pbs.org/splithorn/shamanism.html worship and shamanism.
9 12/6/2011
Some Hmong belief systems that Christianity CLASH with Western Ideology Christianity was introduced to the Hmong by missionaries (Catholicism Marriage was the first) in the 1940's. Since then, Family size / family interdependence the number of Hmong converting into Religion different religions has increased. Health & Healing Gender Roles
Hmong Healing Practices that may conflict with the U.S. legal system
Herbalism (treatment for toothache, morning What happens when sickness, pain after birthing, infertility, impotence in the family, etc.) cultures CLASH? Egg Coining (hard boiled egg, white cloth, silver bar or coin) Coining is common cure for diarrhea, fever, body ache, and headache. Shamanism (sacrifice of certain animals)
Sometimes the clash Sometimes the clashes gets you sent to the are deadly… Principal’s office…
10 12/6/2011
Racially Charged Hunting Tragedy Racially Charged Hunting Tragedy
November of 2004 January of 2007 Chai Vang shoots and kills 6 Caucasian hunters James Nichols stabs, shoots and kills Hmong near Hayward, WI hunter, Cha Vang near Peshtigo, WI November of 2005 November of 2007 Chai Vang sentenced to six life prison terms with James Nichols sentenced to 69 years in prison no chance of parol
RACIAL CLIMATE in Wisconsin Tension, fear and misunderstanding How do we improve the between Hmong and non-Hmong racial climate between Stereotypes Hmong and non-Hmong in Misconceptions Wisconsin? Animosity
Hmong Migration Education Act
Legislation that encourages school districts to include instruction that educates students about the role The Hmong Migration Hmong people played in the Vietnam War. Education Bill has The bill will also encourage education in the on the persecution of the Hmong by failed 5 times the government of Laos, and the Wisconsin Legislature subsequent migration of the Hmong to Wisconsin.
11 12/6/2011
In 2007 RESOURCES Hmong National Development, Inc. (HND), Washington Wisconsin legislature DC www.hndinc.org authorized construction of the Hmong Resource Center Library, Hmong Cultural Center Hmong Cultural Center (St. Paul, MN) www.hmongcenter.org in Dane Hmong Nationality Archives (St. Paul, MN) of Wisconsin www.hmongarchives.org County (has yet to be financed www.hmongcenter.org and built) www.learnabouthmong.com http://www.jefflindsay.com/Hmong_tragedy.html Special thanks to Yer Vang, Esq.
THANK YOU
Contact Information: Questions & Answers KaShia Moua [email protected]
12