12/6/2011 Origins of the Hmong A Brief Look at the Hmong Scholars, anthropologists and linguistic by KaShia Moua 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 & There is no Hmongland Yunnan provinces (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 But things change… Historical Timeline The Qing Dynasty aka Manchu 200 B.C. – 1810 A.D -The Hmong Dynasty (1644-1912) occupied the Yellow River region of The Dynasty reached its peak in the China and survived the many dynasties 18 th century that ruled China 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 Millions Flee China Thousands are killed… 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 The U.S. Secret War; Viet Minh establishes Army in Laos presence in Eastern Laos in & the Vietnam War Hmong territory 1953: Viet Minh invades Hmong homelands in northern Laos A “Secret War” Hmong in CIA’s Secret War in Laos 1963-1975 Hmong soldiers were recruited under the Late 1950s: “Mr. Pop” direction of General Vang Pao, a general Edgar Buell, linked to U.S. under the Laotian Army, to fight in the Information Office, worked “Secret War” with Hmong in Laos 1961: CIA rep. Colonel Bill Lair met with Vang Pao, leader of the Hmong army in Laos Initiation of secret cooperation between Hmong and CIA in Laos “Mr. Pop” Edgar Buell 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 in 1975? What happens to Hmong families? Families are separated & displaced U.S. pulls out of the war & Families lose their grandfathers, fathers, returns to the U.S. husbands, brothers and sons Hmong are left behind & are Families live on foot, traveling to different locations on a daily, weekly basis viewed as traitors Babies and children die of starvation or Hmong are hunted & killed drug over doses 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 Survivors Hmong in Thai Refugee Camps 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 Immigrant vs. Refugee Smiles all around 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 Laos: 315,000 years before their heart does. 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 Hmong Migration Profile in the Top ten states with the highest Hmong population: U.S.* California – 71,244 Minnesota – 50,200 Those currently living in the U.S. Wisconsin – 45,268 ► Entered before 1990 = 59% Michigan – 8,686 ► Entered 1990-1999 = 28.9% North Carolina – 8,451 ► Entered 2000 or later =11.7% Colorado – 3,875 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 Hmong in Wisconsin Arrival of Hmong Refugees in the U.S. There are approximately 45,000 Hmong residing In 1976—the first wave of 500 Hmong to in Wisconsin America In 1980’s—second wave of 150,000+ Hmong to Some of the counties with the largest America populations: Dane, Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, In 2004 – a smaller wave of 15, 000 Hmong Marathon, Milwaukee, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Sheboygan refugees were resettled in the United States and Winnebago. (from Wat Tham Krabok). *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 …in general Chue -Moua 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 conflicts when possible) Education is highly valued Expect to know one's role and Respect parents and elders responsibilities as a son/daughter; Know & respect the Hmong language, husband/wife; son/daughter-in-law, etc. – culture and customs *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 The answer is “NO” Hmong Spirituality and Beliefs • 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. About 50-60% still practice ancestral Featured in The Split Horn, 2001 worship and shamanism. www.pbs.org/splithorn/shamanism.html 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 What happens when Herbalism (treatment for toothache, morning sickness, pain after birthing, infertility, cultures CLASH? impotence in the family, etc.) 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 are deadly… gets you sent to the Principal’s office… 10
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