But Things Change - University Of Wisconsin-Madison

12/6/2011A Brief Look at the Hmongby KaShia MouaDecember 6, 2011Origins of the HmongScholars, anthropologists and linguisticexperts have studied the Hmong but theydo not agree as to their origins. The most recent ancestry can be traced toChina. Within China’s diverse ethnic population,the Hmong are known as Miao. Hmong in China There is no Hmongland Hmong liveprimarily inGuizhou &Yunnanprovinces(red stars)Origins nearHuang(YellowRiver; seearrow)Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas at Austinwww.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle east and china/china pol196.jpgBut things change Historical Timeline200 B.C. – 1810 A.D -The Hmongoccupied the Yellow River region ofChina and survived the many dynastiesthat ruled ChinaThe Qing Dynasty aka ManchuDynasty (1644-1912) The Dynasty reached its peak in the18th century Territory & population increases Chinese culture gets integrated 1

12/6/2011ChopsticksHow did Chinese andHmong cultureCLASH?SpoonsRELIGIONLANGUAGEEither assimilate toChinese culture or be killedor get out2

12/6/2011Thousands are killed Millions Flee China1790-1860 Hmongflee persecution in China Millions fled to Southeast Asia(Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma,Thailand)Hmong in LaosLiving in Laos1860-1960: The Hmong maintained relativepeace in the highlands of LaosFarming in LaosCooking in Laos3

12/6/2011Playing in LaosPeace ends,War begins.Leading up to the Vietnam War 1963-1975The U.S. SecretArmy in Laos& the Vietnam War1946: The beginning of the ColdWar; Viet Minh establishespresence in Eastern Laos inHmong territory1953: Viet Minh invades Hmonghomelands in northern LaosHmong in CIA’s Secret War in Laos 1963-1975 “Mr. Pop” Edgar BuellLate 1950s: “Mr. Pop”Edgar Buell, linked to U.S.Information Office, workedwith Hmong in Laos1961: CIA rep. Colonel BillLair met with Vang Pao,leader of the Hmong armyin LaosInitiation of secretcooperation betweenHmong and CIA in LaosA “Secret War” Hmong soldiers were recruited under thedirection of General Vang Pao, a generalunder the Laotian Army, to fight in the“Secret War”Hmong National Development4

12/6/2011What happens to Hmong men?the promise What happens to Hmong families?Families are separated & displaced Families lose their grandfathers, fathers,husbands, brothers and sons Families live on foot, traveling to differentlocations on a daily, weekly basis Babies and children die of starvation ordrug over doses What happens after theVietnam War?Hmong boys as young as 8 years old arerecruited to fight Hmong soldiers are trained to fly planes Hmong soldiers rescue Americanpilots/planes that are shot down in Laos Hmong soldiers guard supply trails What happens in 1975? U.S.pulls out of the war &returns to the U.S. Hmong are left behind & areviewed as traitors Hmong are hunted & killedMay 1975, the beginning exodus of Hmongrefugees. Only a selected few were airlifted toThailand while thousands made the dangerousjourney by foot.Hmong in Laos crossed theMekong River and fled toThailand to seek temporaryrefuge in Thai camps5

12/6/2011Death in the JunglesDeath in the Mekong RiverHmong in Thai Refugee CampsHmong Survivors 1976 – 1990s: Hmong refugees emigrated tothe U.S., France, Australia, French Guyanaand Canada 1990s: UN refugee camps in Thailand beganclosing; Hmong refugees migrate to non-UNcamp, ie. Wat Tham Krabok 2004: Approx 15,000 Hmong resettle in U.S.when the last refugee camp is shut downMy family arrives in Eau Claire, WILooking back,Looking forward April 9, 19766

12/6/2011Immigrant vs. RefugeeSmiles all aroundImmigrant can be broadly defined asany non-citizen in the United States,except for those legally admitted underspecific non-immigrant categories orstatus.Immigrant vs. RefugeeRefugee is defined as a person “unable orunwilling to return to his or her country oforigin because of persecution or a wellfounded fear of persecution on account ofrace, religion, nationality, membership in aparticular social group, or political opinion.”INA §101(a)(42)(A)RefugeeImmigrantAn immigrant’s heart arrives in the newcountry years before their body does.Worldwide Hmong Population*China: 6,000,000Vietnam: 787,604 Laos: 315,000 United States: 250,000 Thailand: 124,000 France: 8,000 Burma: 3,000 Australia: 1,800 French Guyana: 500-1,000 An refugee’s body arrives in the new countryyears before their heart does. *2004 Diaspora Estimates from Professor Nicholas Tapp, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia7

12/6/2011Hmong Migration Profile in theU.S.*Top ten states with the highest Hmong population:California – 71,244Minnesota – 50,200Wisconsin – 45,268Michigan – 8,686North Carolina – 8,451Colorado – 3,875Georgia – 3,407Washington – 3,050Oregon – 2,729Florida – 1,856Those currently living in the U.S. Entered before 1990 59% Entered 1990-1999 28.9% Entered 2000 or later 11.7%*U.S. Census Bureau 2006, American Community Survey*U.S. Census Bureau 2006, American Community SurveyHmong in WisconsinArrival of Hmong Refugees in the U.S. In 1976—the first wave of 500 Hmong toAmericaIn 1980’s—second wave of 150,000 Hmong toAmericaIn 2004 – a smaller wave of 15, 000 Hmongrefugees were resettled in the United States(from Wat Tham Krabok). There are approximately 45,000 Hmong residingin Wisconsin Some of the counties with the largestpopulations: Dane, Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse,Marathon, Milwaukee, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Sheboyganand Winnebago.*Bureau of Migrant & Refugee Labor Services, Department of Workforce Development,State of WisconsinHmong Clan System Hmong Stuff . in general Social infrastructure is based on clan namesThere are 18 original clans:Chang/ChaCheng Chue Hang Her/Herr Fang Khang/Kha Kong/Soung Kue ng-Xiong8

12/6/2011Common TraditionalHmong ValuesCommon TraditionalHmong Values Cont Peace seeking (avoid confrontations orconflicts when possible) Expect to know one's role andresponsibilities as a son/daughter;husband/wife; son/daughter-in-law, etc. – Education is highly valued Respect parents and elders Know & respect the Hmong language,culture and customs Personal belongings or assets are anindication of hard work *these views and expectations are changing in the U.S. Interdependency is an expectation;independence is not widely encouragedThe answer is “NO”Hmong Spirituality and Beliefs Traditional beliefs are that a spiritual worldcoexists with the physical world Spirit types include ancestral spirits, housespirits, and natural spirits Hmong spiritual teachings believe inreincarnationFeatured in The Split Horn, 2001 www.pbs.org/splithorn/shamanism.htmlHmong ShamanismAncestral Worship vs Christianity Shamans communicate between thephysical and spiritual worlds Shamans perform rituals and sacrificeanimals to pacify spirits and cure illnessFeatured in The Split Horn, 2001www.pbs.org/splithorn/shamanism.htmlAncestral Worship - Animism A family/clan in each generationholds the belief and worships threegenerations of ancestors.About 50-60% still practice ancestralworship and shamanism.9

12/6/2011ChristianitySome Hmong belief systems thatCLASHwith Western IdeologyChristianity was introduced to theHmong by missionaries (Catholicismwas the first) in the 1940's. Since then,the number of Hmong converting intodifferent religions has increased. Marriage Familysize / family interdependence Religion Health & Healing Gender RolesHmong Healing Practices that mayconflict with the U.S. legal system Herbalism (treatment for toothache, morningsickness, pain after birthing, infertility,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 clashgets you sent to thePrincipal’s office What happens whencultures CLASH?Sometimes the clashesare deadly 10

12/6/2011Racially Charged Hunting Tragedy November of 2004 Chai Vang shoots and kills 6 Caucasian huntersnear Hayward, WINovember of 2005 Racially Charged Hunting TragedyChai Vang sentenced to six life prison terms withno chance of parolJanuary of 2007 James Nichols stabs, shoots and kills Hmonghunter, Cha Vang near Peshtigo, WINovember of 2007 James Nichols sentenced to 69 years in prisonRACIAL CLIMATE in Wisconsin Tension,fear and misunderstandingbetween Hmong and non-Hmong Stereotypes Misconceptions AnimosityHow do we improve theracial climate betweenHmong and non-Hmong inWisconsin?Hmong Migration Education Act Legislation that encourages schooldistricts to include instruction thateducates students about the roleHmong people played in the VietnamWar.The bill will also encourage educationon the persecution of the Hmong bythe government of Laos, and thesubsequent migration of the Hmongto Wisconsin.Hmong MigrationEducation Bill has Thefailed 5 times in theWisconsin Legislature11

12/6/2011RESOURCESIn 2007 Wisconsinlegislatureauthorized construction of theHmong Cultural Centerof Wisconsin in DaneCounty (has yet to be financedand built) Hmong National Development, Inc. (HND), WashingtonDC www.hndinc.orgHmong Resource Center Library, Hmong Cultural Center(St. Paul, MN) www.hmongcenter.orgHmong Nationality Archives (St. Paul, rnabouthmong.comhttp://www.jefflindsay.com/Hmong tragedy.html Specialthanks to Yer Vang, Esq.THANK YOUQuestions & AnswersContact Information:KaShia Mouaktmoua@gmail.com12

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 A "Secret War" Hmong soldiers were recruited under the direction of General Vang Pao, a general under the Laotian Army, to fight in the "Secret War"