18XEEM STORIES AND IMAGES COVERING FROM AUSTRALIA THAILAND CHINA VIETNAM FRANCE
AMERICA
LAOS
THE “SPECIAL” ISSUE
CULTURAL HMONG MAGAZINE
Bridging The
HMONG AROUND THE WORLD
02
NOV ISSUE
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Contents COVER FEATURES
12
SPECIAL
Bridging the Gap
23
Interesting Facts
16
Hmong Around the World: Life in Australia
39
Food for Thought
31
Hmong Around the World: Back to Laos/ Thailand
40
Where we Stand
46
HISTORY
08
The Longest Trek From China
06
Caroline Vang
ART & MUSIC
18
POETRY
44
PROFILES
CHAT: 6th Annual Hmong Arts & Music Festival
What I Love About Being Hmong
Submissions
FASHION
24 42
Hmong Market
Integrating Styles: Malia, LLC
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Dear Readers,
As the editor, and creator of 18XEEM, a cultural Hmong magazine, my goal is to preserve our culture, our people, and to document our achievements through language and art, so that it can continue to exist, when we all cease to exist. I hope that you all will help support this magazine so that it can continue to grow, and to reach more individuals; so that not only can they learn about a culture, through reading, but that those who were once a part of this culture, will also remember their history and their heritage, and their humble roots. Secondly, my goal was to showcase a beautiful and unique people, who, too often, are portrayed negatively in the mainstream media. Who, too often, is also mistaken, unknown, quiet, and unprivileged because of a language or cultural barrier. No one should be the main author of our culture and our people more than ourselves. 18XEEM is meant to be shared and given to those who know least, and I hope that when you finish reading, that you will pass it on to a friend, or a co-worker. In this issue, we are celebrating the Hmong around the world, and although we could not cover every country, we hope that this will give you an idea of how far the distance separates us from each other, yet how close we still are, in our language and our clothing. This is something that is so unique to the Hmong, and I hope it will inspire you to seek for more answers that we may not have covered. Thank you to everyone who has continued to support us and to those who we will meet along the way.
Sau npe,
Hlee Xiong Editor-in-Chief We’ll never understand anything until it happens, and we’ll never appreciate what we have until it’s gone. But, we’ll always remember the wrong things said, and we’ll never forget the good deeds we do. If there’s one good deed 18XEEM can promise; it’s giving you a new perspective about Hmong history, culture, and art. I invite you to learn about one of the most inspirational groups of ethnic people whose grounds are yet to be defined. Enjoy the magazine and all it has to offer for it is the reflection of yesterday and the beginning of tomorrow’s history.
Thank You,
Kay Yang President and CEO 4 18XEEM.COM | NOV 07
18XEEM Editor-in-Chief & Creative Director Hlee Xiong Publishing Director Vue Ci
Contact / Advertising 18XEEM P.O. Box 404 Cedarburg, WI 53012 PH 586 216 8256
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General Email / Comments / Questions & Concerns: info@18XEEM.COM
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Communication / Message Board http://18XEEM.com/forum
Contributing Writers Scott Kurashige Pangda Xiong Tou SaiKo Lee Sheree A. Lee Maikao
18XEEM Radio Show http://18XEEM.com/radio
Contributing Photographers Vang Xiong Myhli Her Lizzy Foulkes Jen Silver Kong Lor
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Special Thanks Center for Hmong Arts & Talent DAY Project Hmong American VOTE The Vang Family The Chonburi Xiong Family Toni Moceri Nhia Lee All our subscribers!
18XEEM is published six times a year.
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PROFILES
06
Caroline Vang
Caroline Vang spent the entire Friday night making signs for the next morning. “We need another Senator Mee Moua” she wrote on one of the signs. In the early morning, the signs would be placed around the tent where a group of her friends and colleagues were going to register their fellow Hmong-American citizens to vote in the United States. It was the annual Hmong Sports Festival in Michigan, and it was time that someone step forward to make the community transition into becoming full-fledge US citizens. But while Caroline was busy registering her fellow Hmong to become active voters in the democratic process, she would not be allowed to fill out her very own form. Twenty-three years ago, Caroline Vang was born to Guy and Genevieve Vang in France. Just 5 years later, Guy would bring his two French daughters and his wife to the United States. For 18 years, his family lived and worked in the United States. For 18 years, Caroline and her younger sister Melanie went to public schools. And within those 18 years, Guy and Genevieve had two more children, Stevan and Christine.
QUICK FACT SHEET The Vang family - Guy, Genevieve, Caroline and Melanie - has lived in the United States for 18 years. They came to America legally in 1989. They came to reunite with family members they had been separated from because of the war in Laos and Vietnam. They have lived and worked legally in the U.S. since 1989 and today own a successful restaurant, Bangkok 96, in Dearborn, MI. They have added 2 U.S. citizen children to their family. Due to errors on the part of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Vang family was forced to wait 10 years to hear back about their asylum case. Now the USCIS plans to deport them in less than 3 months! Read on to find out how you can help! Guy & Genevieve on their wedding day; Caroline’s Parents.
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You wouldn’t believe it. but by law, this girl is not an American (we couldn’t believe it for ourselves, until we asked). Who are Guy and Genevieve Vang? Guy and Genevieve Vang are contributing members of society and the parents of four: Caroline, 23, student at Macomb Community and Walsh College; Melanie, 18, a freshman at Northwood University; Steven, 16, a senior at Warren Woods Tower high school; and Christine, 11. The two youngest Vang children are U.S. citizens. In 1989, Guy and Genevieve and their two eldest daughters arrived in the United States from France to reunite with Guy’s family who were believed to have been killed by Lao communists in the midst of the Vietnam War. In 1996, the Vang family opened Bangkok 96 restaurant in Dearborn, MI. Like regular citizens, they pay taxes and help their community through charitable contributions. What is their case about? On May 31, 2007, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the family’s case to remain in the United States. In less than three months, the government will deport Guy and his family back to France, after they have made a life in America for 18 years. And since the family came to the United States on the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, it waived their rights to contest in court should they ever want to stay in the U.S. However, Guy was eligible for political asylum under the Visa Waiver. Since Guy’s parents immigrated to the U.S. through asylum/refugee Do you know someone who is also facing an immigration/deporattion issue? Write to us at info@18XEEM.com
status, he decided to apply for asylum at INS to seek the opportunity to stay closer to his parents whom he had lost as a child during the war. Unfortunately, the Vangs were forced to wait 10 years to get a response that they did not qualify for asylum (in 2000). Even then, the government continued to renew their work authorizations and allowed them to build their lives in the U.S. Now, 18 years later, this family is being punished and forced out of the only country they consider home. How can I help? Their last hope is a private bill that one of the senators can create to stop their deportation (pending as of November 2007). This important bill would have to go through the Senate and House of Representatives. The family desperately needs for everyone to contact Michigan lawmakers U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, and U.S. Representatives Sander Levin and John Dingell. The more lawmakers contacted the better! Voice your concerns about the injustice of the family’s impending deportation by signing this petition which will be delivered to Congress members: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Vang_Family/
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HISTORY
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The Longest Trek from China How the Hmong ended up scattered, around the world. This article is a continuation of our For many, the definition of “Hmong” is “being free”. Some define “Hmong” as Meo, a word in some languages meaning cats, and in Chinese, barbarians. Despite all the names Hmong have been called, they define themselves as tragic. Dating back to 5000 BC, the Hmong are one of the oldest groups of ethnic people to pass down and record history through artwork. Through all the tragic moments, hardship, and wars, they manage to keep their cultures, and beliefs alive through a piece of fabric, some yarns, and a needle. These people loved each other and lived peacefully together as large families. They knew nothing of hate and jealously. Other groups of people were jealous of their love and happiness. For centuries, the Hmong stayed close together until war broke out between them and the Chinese. Years of fighting caused many deaths and eventually, Chi You (also be spelled Ci You or ChiYou) Li who was believed to be the Hmong King at the time, lost his life to the Chinese. Chi You’s destiny was then taken over by his three sons, Pang Ci, Fu Ci and Ci Li. The three brothers had no choice but to divide the Hmong into three groups because there were so many. Ci Li, the youngest son took his group and escaped into the North. The second son, Fu Ci Li and his group were captured. Chi You’s oldest son Pang Ci took his group and escaped to the south, crossing the Yellow River. Today, Hmong people remember the saying, “Tsis pom Dej Dag siab tsis qhig.” This is interpreted, as,
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“Without seeing the Yellow River, life will not be satisfied.” Because the Yellow River divided Northern China from Southern, and little corruption existed in the South at the time, the Hmong people wanted to cross the Yellow River and escape from Chinese rule. As time went by, the Hmong population grew again and caused Pang Ci’s group to divide into other subgroups. This division explains why the Hmong language differs in sounds and has inherited words from other ethnic dialects. It also reflects how the Hmong have slightly adopted other cultures and styles. According to Chinese historians and researchers, there are Black, White, Red, Blue, Green, and Stripe Hmong. The Hmong people who escaped south into Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Europe, Australia and America only know of three types: Stripes, White and Green. The other types were a part of Ci Li’s group. Thus, the Hmong under Ci Li’s rule have remained in China to this day. Today, only a few Hmong elderly can recall the Black Hmong; they themselves fear this group. The three types - Stripes, White, and Green - that did migrate into the south, slowly dispersed throughout other parts of the world. A major rebellion took place between the Chinese and Hmong during the late 1700s. This became the turning point for the Hmong. The Hmong won many battles against the Chinese but eventually lost and were forced to flee China. By this time, seventy percent had died and only
“Tsis pom Dej Dag siab tsis qhig.” This is interpreted, as, “Without seeing the Yellow River, life will not be satisfied.”
history section from the previous issue. thirty percent of Hmong made their way into French Indochina. The Hmong in Southern China slowly broke apart and scattered throughout China into many different groups. They would send a few people at a time to check on lands suitable for farming and then make the move. The first clans to flee south into French Indochina were led by the Lor, Lee, and Moua. The other clans mainly stayed in southwest China until the very last few rebellions. After the last major rebellion in 1856, most of the Hmong had completely migrated into Southeast Asia settling in the mountains of Ha Giang and Lao Cai.
During French rule in Indochina, a significant economical change occurred for the Hmong. The Hmong had grown opium for traditional medicinal purposes. With French influence, the Hmong began to grow opium as a cash crop. Living in the mountainous regions, and at high altitudes, the opium eventually became a major source of revenue for the government through an opium levy for the Hmong who could not pay their tax in other forms. Today, the influence of French rule is still evident in the thousands of traditional clothing garments that are strung with twenty-cent French coins. The coins became a phenomenon in representing wealth in ones family. The more coins a person bears on his body, the more wealth he or she represents.
They, however, ran from one rebellion into another. During their settlement in Southeast Asia, the French were in control. The Hmong did not fear the French. Instead, they viewed the French as very well educated and powerful. They believed that because the French had held such a strong economy, they could provide them with protection. Only a few times was force used against the Hmong, and at time, it was peaceful, until jealously broke out again. This time, the jealousy was between the Hmong themselves. In 1939, Touby Lyfoung, the son-in-law of Kiatong LoBliaYao (also written as Lauj Npliaj Yob; a French loyalist and puppet leader), was appointed Toj Seeg (tribe leader; local authority) by the French, which gave the Lee (Ly) the clan of honor. This was very disappointing to Pha Dang Lor (can also be spelled as Faydang Lo), 18XEEM.COM | NOV 07
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because many thought he was the successor following Blia Yao Lor’s death. Blia Yao’s father was Pang Ci, the Hmong leader who led the Hmong out of China. To assure Pha Dang was appointed Toj Seeg, he gave his most honorable gift –his father’s rhino horns, to the Laotian prince. In return, he wanted the prince to help him gain the power to become Toj Seeg, but his plan failed.
work for them like slaves. Many men, women, and children died as a result. While Lyfoung and his followers helped aid the French, Pha Dang and his followers remained opposite of Lyfoung, and loyal to the Japanese. The Japanese controlled Indochina for five long years before the British stepped in to give way for the French. Japan eventually surrendered in 1945, and the French returned to Indochina.
The French appointed Touby Lyfoung. This honorable name made Pha Dang jealous and caused a bloody rebellion between the Lor and Lee clans. The Lor’s were no longer seen as the honorable clan. Pha Dang’s jealousy led him to join forces with the Japanese and Vietnamese.
In 1949, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia were granted Independence. The French withdrew their military in 1954, but the Hmong still lived in what was once French Indochina. The Hmong were solely controlled by the Laotians, if they lived in Laos, or the Vietnamese, if they lived in Vietnam. Both Vietnam and Laos learned the system of communism during Japanese control; now, it was their turn to utilize it. The Vietnam War followed in 1954, since then the Hmong have become part of American World History.
Vongvichit, a Laotion, also sided with the Japanese, attacking the French after the French wanted to take action against him. Vongvichit was appointed by the French to collect taxes from the Hmong people. Instead, he collected ten times the amount and cheated the Hmong people. The Hmong eventually got a hold of the French government, and complained. Under French rule, the Hmong were given a sort of independence and self-governance. During World War II, the Japanese took over French Indochina. Unlike the French, the Japanese were cruel to the Hmong. The Japanese forced the Hmong to
Key Hmong figures in Early China / French Colonialism Chi You – the first known Hmong King in China Pang Ci – eldest son of Chi You, took a portion of the Hmong into Southern China, beyond the Yellow River where the Hmong flourished in Indochina Fu Ci – the second eldest son of Chi You, captured by the Chinese army Ci Li – the youngest son of Chi You, took a portion of the Hmong into Northern China Touby Lyfoung – son in law of Kiatong LoBliaYao, appointed by French as tribal leader of the Hmong Map of Southeast Asia Indochina comprised the territory of the following countries: Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.
Pha Dang Lor – rival to Lyfoung, fought on the side of Japanese
Here are some resources to help you learn more about the History of the Hmong.
Tragic Mountains: The Hmong, the Americans, and the Secret Wars for Laos by Jane Hamilton-Merritt, Jane Dr. Kao-Ly, Hmong Contemporary Issues, Trilingual Website; Zhang Xiao - http://www.geocities.com/kaoly_y/HistoireCultureLanguage/ZhangXiaoEnglish112603.html Hmong in America: A Journey from Secret War By Tim Pfaff
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COVER FEATURE A story about a Hmong boy and his family; and how we can learn from their tragic experience. In the fall 2006, a diverse group of people came together in response to a tragic killing of teenager named Chonburi Xiong, a Hmong American youth. Since that time, we have become determined to better understand the problems we face and to develop positive solutions that will improve relations among all people in the community. When negative things happen, it is tempting to just say, “That doesn’t concern me. I’ll just mind my own business.” However, we understand that problems will not go away on their own. We all have a responsibility to become a part of the solution because we are all affected by the things that impact our families, neighbors, and friends.
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Bridging The by Scott Kurashige & Pangda Xiong
WARREN & DETROIT In the 1950s and 60s, there were great racial conflicts between whites and blacks in Detroit. Many whites tried to keep blacks out of their neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces. As blacks fought for their rights, tens of thousands of whites left Detroit for the suburbs, where new jobs were springing up. Rather than living with the blacks, these whites built areas outside of Detroit, restricted only to their race; areas such as Warren, Sterling Heights, Troy, Utica, and Shelby Township. Almost overnight, Warren went from being a small town to a big city. But if you were not white, you were likely to face harassment and discrimination if you tried to buy a house in Warren. So for about 30 years, Warren stayed more or less 99% white. But like Detroit, Warren began to experience economic problems, too. Whites began leaving Warren at a fast rate in the 1970s. Since the 1990s, Blacks, Asians, and Muslims have been the people most interested in buying homes and going to school in Warren. So as a result, Warren became a diverse community where people of different backgrounds and speaking different languages learned how to live together and make their diversity a source of strength Michigan
FAMILY HISTORY When the communist prevailed over Laos in 1975, Pang Blia and his family fled for the jungles. For four years, they were constantly running to avoid gunfire from the communist soldiers. Sometimes they would go days without food. Many people from their village died. Despite that, their family was one of the lucky ones. In 1979, Pang Blia’s family made it to a refugee camp in Thailand and lived in the Ban Vinai camp for nine years, where housing conditions were poor and crowded, and they were only given small portions of food once or twice a month. Pang Blia met his wife in the refugee camp and they decided to come to America when she was pregnant with their first son Chonburi, in 1988. They arrived in Detroit, Michigan in 1990. Though it was hard adjusting to a new country where people spoke a different language, Both Pang Blia and his wife worked hard and did their best to support their family. They saved up money to buy a house in northeast Detroit, and in 1998, finally became proud citizens of America. In October of 2003, they moved to a larger home in Warren. They did not know much about the city, but decided to stay because they liked the houses and heard that their children would be able to get a good education in the Warren public schools. For nearly three years, they considered their neighborhood safe, and they trusted the Warren police.
Warren Detroit
Gap In 1970, Time Magazine called Warren the nation’s most racist city
But they never imagined that their own son Chonburi, would one day be harmed by those police in their own home.
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THE INCIDENT On the morning of September 17th, 2006, four Warren police officers near Detroit, Michigan arrived at the home of Pang Blia Xiong and his family. According to police accounts, on September 16th, 2006; the family called police officers to their home. Apparently, their 18 year old son Chonburi fired a gun into the ceiling of their house. This was just moments after he was denied permission to use the family car. After shooting the ceiling, Chonburi took off with the car and returned home later that night. The policemen spotted the car in the driveway and on the morning of September 17th, they proceeded to enter the house. According to the Xiong family, they did so without permission or a search warrant. When the four police officers entered Chonburi’s room in the basement, they claimed that he aimed the weapon at them first. In response, they began shooting. 40 shots were fired that morning. 27 of which pierced his body. His family was taken into custody, and were not notified of his death until hours later. An internal review and a Macomb County investigation concluded that the uses of force by the police officers were “justified” and they were cleared of all charges.
OUR TAKE Chonburi’s death was no accident. No teenager, no body deserves to be shot 27 times in their own home, in their own bedroom, no matter what their size or shape is. It’s absurd. Chonburi did not deserve to be punished in this kind of way. This was not the first time that police were called to the Xiong family’s house. There have been various other accounts of police officers going to the home because of fights or other conflicts between Chonburi and his parents. All people knew about Chonburi was that he was ‘a troubled child, and he always started problems’. So many questions surround the killing with many still unanswered, but one question we all need to think about is “what made this kid do the things that he did?” If we knew the answer to that question, we would have been able to help him, and help him get through his problems with his parents and his family and to maybe prevent such an incident from happening. Nobody will really know what happened in Chonburi’s room that morning, because the only person that could ever know is Chonburi himself. To be able to truly understand what happened that day, we’d have to be able to understand Chonburi’s heart and mind first. We’d have to first step into his shoes and even sit and have a talk with him. But unfortunately, none of us gave the time to do so.
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Pangda: As a teenager myself, I see in today’s society that, not only are children trying to distance themselves from their parents, but parents are also distancing themselves from their children. This is one thing that we as Asian Americans need to fix so that nothing like this ever happens again. As a teenager, I understand that, sometimes, we need to be alone for a while. But if we do not have anybody, like our parents to pick us up and say, “Hey, everything is going to be alright”… we just kind of stay in that permanent stage where we always want to be alone and we never want to talk to anybody or share our feelings with anybody. I’m not blaming any parents for their children’s mistakes, but I’m saying, if parents do not talk to their children, their children will do the exact same thing to them in return. Not only do parents need to understand, but also the Hmong and non-Hmong communities at large need to understand why Hmong teens act the way that they do. By learning this, we can stop many kids from being what society would call “bad”. When members of the community in Warren and Detroit heard about this police shooting, they were quite troubled and shocked. The Detroit Asian Youth (DAY) Project, along with a group of concerned individuals began questioning and learning more about their rights when dealing with the police, by reaching out to other groups, such as the NAACP for assistance, and hosting public forums. Individuals from these groups came together and brainstormed some amazing ideas to help raise a voice for Asian minorities, and all minorities living in the United States, so that an incident like the Chonburi shooting would never happen again.
27 SHOTS
After many hurdles, hard work, planning, and meeting, these individuals came up with the idea of a cultural awareness show, for people to come together and learn about a commonly unknown culture that is fading away as the elders become older, and the youth become more adapted to change; in a diverse community, so that people like you and me can come together and meet and understand each other better regardless of the language we speak, the clothes we wear, and the color of our skin.
Sources have stated that Chonburi was shot mainly in the back of his body, as he was trying to run away. All we know is that Chonburi was shot on his body 27 times by the Warren Police. This image is only a fictional representation of the shots. 18XEEM and the writers by no means has access or knowledge of where exactly Chonburi Xiong was shot on that day. This image should not be taken seriously and is not material that can be used in court or by law in any way what so ever.
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SPECIAL
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Life in Australia
Mrs. Ma y Lo Ya n Carla, Chane g, daughter l and B P aby Ma a Yang and 3 niece deline. s:
Staying close, despite the differences. Sheree A. Lee tells her story from the other side of the world. The experiences of growing up a Hmong Australian are very different, yet perhaps more similar than we imagine to that of a Hmong American youth. I’m sure we all share the common threads of growing up in strict Hmong homes where tradition and family loyalty often conflict with the equally strong outside influences of schools and friends from other cultural backgrounds. The expectations in the Hmong family household cause many conflicts. These conflicts include limited freedom, parental misunderstanding, and restricted curfews, which result in much emotional and problematic miscommunication between elderly Hmong parents and their children. Here in Australia, we also speak English, go to work when the clock orders us, ride the same Japanese imported cars on similar looking freeways and roads, and consume the same high-tech gears and clothing. We live in the same kind of houses in the suburbs –except our houses are made of bricks in different colours. Most of the Hmong families live in major cities on the east coast where work is easier to find. The number ranges from half a dozen families in Canberra and Hobart to several hundred in Cairns, North Queensland, where nearly half of the Hmong Australian population reside and work on banana farms. The outdoor environment is just like Laos, so many Hmong who move to Australia feel less homesick. As youth, we have all experienced the same feeling of displacement as the youth in America, perhaps even apathy in adolescence: not caring where our ancestral history has taken us, what it means or even if it matters in a desperate time of growing and maturing. It is only as you get older that you start to appreciate and respect your culture and individuality. We are often told about the many years of our parents’ struggle for freedom during the war in Laos. Everyone has a similar harrowing story to tell of the journey of their families and relatives to a foreign land. From this flight my family ended up on
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a beautiful big island continent, ready to integrate into a completely new life. We have done just that: celebrating Xmas or Easter, assimilating to Western values and ideals. We have adopted a very Australian way of living, eating vegemite, indulging in the good ol’ Aussie BBQ, and speaking in very Australian colloquialisms and slang. Growing up, there was always a strange disconnection and element to being Hmong. Many times we couldn’t find other ‘mainstream’ cultures/ friends that we could relate to. We weren’t exactly Chinese, although our ancestry stems from China, nor Laotian, because we couldn’t speak the native language. In the already insecure world of adolescence, we were in no man’s land. We were unsure of whom we were as individuals, and on top of that we didn’t even know where we came from and where we fit in as a people. So, growing up Hmong in Australia has been an experience filled with much confusion, conflict, and beauty all at once. This inner turmoil manifests itself through religious belief. We would practice animal sacrifice in the garage and walked around the New Year circle with a chicken swinging in the air –perhaps freaking out our neighbours. I strongly believe in these practices because it keeps us together. It reminds us that we have each other, no matter how few of us there are. We belong and are bound together by a cultural belief that is interesting, dynamic and family orientated. We know we can depend on each other as a family, and that is truly unique in today’s self preoccupied society. Few people in Australia know who the Hmong are or where they come from. People are generally intrigued when I explain my ethnicity, but in my lifetime I have only met a handful of people who knew what Hmong was. There are currently 2,000 Hmong residing in Australia, with almost seventy percent between the ages of 13-35 years. To many young Hmong Australians, there has always been a sense of not belonging to a greater, extended Hmong cultural milieu because there are so few of us here in Australia.
Hmong wedd
ing for Belinda
Lee, 2005
Geographically, Australia is isolated from other parts of the world, and only a small number of Hmong relocated to Australia after the Vietnam War, with that we have lost many traditions, and as our parents become older, we fear that all of our traditions may be lost forever. This is a shared sentiment between all the young people I interviewed for this article. We all have questions unanswered and wonder, to differing degrees about what will happen to the culture and traditions. How and who will maintain them? December 23, 2006, Hmong New Year in Sydney
Even though we respect and embrace the fact that we are Hmong, I have witnessed times where some have lied about who they were in order to fit in. They either identified themselves as Chinese or Laotian. It is hard to grow up denying your ethnicity because of
It is only as you get older that you start to appreciate and respect your culture and individuality. ignorance of others or fear within yourself. Still, there was no sense at all of isolation from fellow peers. Many people are genuinely intrigued to have met someone from a culture they have never heard of before. As I get older it often becomes a unique and interesting conversational topic. In regards to the environmental and ‘ethical’ aspects such as animal sacrifice and the inequality between men and women, some Hmong have isolated themselves from these traditions. Many of the young women that I spoke to refuse to tolerate the traditional relationship between males and females. As they become more independent and educated, they are able to say out loud what they think, decide who they date and how they dress, etc.
Many have agree that these customs will fade within the next 20 some years, as the elder become aged and the adaptation to a fast modern Australian society will lead to less interest and time to learn all the traditional customs and values. These customs and values are not readily taught through the past generation, due to complacency on both sides. Some are willing to learn if given the direction, time, focus and motivation. Through time, we have to become strongly appreciative of our Hmong identity because our culture, language and tradition are vital to our path of self-realization. I went to visit my father, Dr. Gary Yia Lee, who is teaching at Concordia University, Minnesota, USA, this past December with my younger sister, Debbie. Wow, did it open our eyes to the different realities that young Hmong Americans are living. I don’t think we’d ever met or seen so many Hmong in our lives, especially during the New Year in St. Paul or in Fresno, which were attended by so many people that they just about stumbled on each other. The New Year Festival is a huge event, compared to the events in Laos and Thailand, where I have visited twice. I was stunned and slightly amused to discover Hmong only clubs and bars in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We’d never experienced anything like it; it was truly surreal. If we were to go out to a club in Sydney, Australia, I know with certainty that I would be the only Hmong person there because I know all the Hmong youth that live in Sydney. I thought, finally, all these young people know why the shaman is riding the horse to heaven when ...continue on page 48
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ART & MUSIC CHAT 6th Annual Hmong Art and Music Festival
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The Hmong have always been artists. Their creativity is exhibited through their colorful and delicate clothing, their bamboo instruments, and their cooking and farming ceremonies. Which is perhaps why, when the Hmong finally started arriving in the United States, did they prefer to strive for education, money, nice housing, stable careers, and the many other things that life brings.
Arts & Talent (CHAT), has found its niche. “Art Saves Us’, as the words were confessed on a giant poster and signed by the dozens of youth who participate in the many programs that CHAT offers.
This has been the case for more than 30 years. The Hmong culture and its traditions, has become meager in the eyes of those who have grown accustomed to western cultures.
On August 25, 2007, CHAT held its annual Hmong Art and Music Festival at the Western Sculpture Park in Saint Paul.
Often Hmong parents are skeptical to allow their children to have the freedom to express themselves through art and music, and to allow their children to thrive within this realm. But what they don’t realize is, that only through this realm, can a culture really live on. Children are discouraged from the arts, and are swayed to become doctors, lawyers, teachers --typical careers that are often expected of ‘Asians’. But not everyone can become a doctor, lawyer or teacher. The world is full of diverse people, and within this, the Center for Hmong
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Pillowcases were scattered and hung on clothing lines throughout the sculpture garden that day. The theme this year was ‘Dreaming in Hmong’. The wind blew gently and the cotton swayed along with the sound of music coming from the main stage. In just six years, CHAT has turned the heart of Minnesota into a festive art and music community, all influenced by the history, heritage, and culture of the Hmong.
Programs & Projects Overview
Our vision is to creative a substantial Hmong arts community with a network of professional artists and a supportive audience that values and understands the benefits of the arts.
Youth Arts Program: Art Saves Us (ASU): after school art classes Youth Leadership Group Innovative Community Elevation (ICE) Outreach Program: Theatre Productions & Tours “Voice Your Mind” Monthly Open Mic Artist Residencies Media & Video Production: Hmongtopia: All about ABCs Hmong Today: CHAT’s Art page Annual Events: Hmong Arts & Music Festival
CENTER FOR HMONG ARTS & TALENT Vision Statement 18XEEM.COM | NOV 07
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Recap
By Tou SaiKo Lee CHAT’s annual event has become the venue for emerging and established Hmong performers. Past performers have included Gospel singer, YangMe Lor from Colorado; Hip Hop group, Delicious Venom; Rock band, Shattered Echo’Z; Spoken Word Poets, F.I.R.E.; Pop Singer, Monica Thao; Hmong Cultural Center Qeej Players, Breakdancers, Kollaboration; Creative Writers; Portraits of Boiled Thoughts and Former Hmong Idol, Pagnia Xiong. This year was spectacular with a display of active, gifted and community orientated artist performers sharing their expression on stage. In past years, there having been singing and dancing talent competitions which has been replaced with the emergence of “In Session” a singer/songwriter competition that encourages creativity, cadence and originality. Some of the qualifications for “In Session” include writing your own lyrics, composing your own music with a live instrument usually guitar or keyboard and creating your own vocal melodies. There were 5 final contestants that have advanced from a preliminary round at the ICE Open Mic. Four musically experienced judges determined the 2007 “In Session” winner to be charismatic and thoughtful 18-year-old musician Tousue Vang from Duluth, Minnesota. All artists were required to consider the theme of the Arts Festival -Dreaming in Hmong, for their performances. There is always a variety of performance arts that are meshed together to entertain and inspire audiences. Main Stage highlights included Comedian, Sai the Funny Guy; Creative Drama Artist, Katie Vang; Hip Hop Lyricists, Ill Ego Aliens from Wisconsin; Alternative Rockers, Watching Leona; Spoken Word Poet, Talee Vang; Caucasian-Hmong Singer/Poet, Josh “Gemeng” Wallin; Rapping Dynamo, Money Mike and a Fusion of Stylistically Diverse Hmong Musicians called The Outer City Projects. There was also a magnificent showcase of young artists that were a part of the Art Saves Us After
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We hope to keep showcasing dedicated artists and give future Hmong performers something to work for at the main stage at the festival. School Classes that CHAT offered during the summer. Both the classes, ASU Choir taught by Watching Leona singer, Meng Yang and ASU Hip Hop Dancers taught by Chandara Pen made an impact on stage attracting people from all over the park and captivating the audience. We hope to keep showcasing dedicated artists and give future Hmong performers something to work for at the main stage of the Festival. We want to bring together more traditional Hmong performance arts such as Hmong dancing, the poetry chanting of kwv txhiaj and instruments such as the Hmong flute and traditional violin with more contemporary arts that Hmong artists are now immersed in like pop and lock dancers, saxophonists, harmonica players, musical theatre artists, hoolahoopers, jugglers, martial artists, Trip Hop Turntablists and Funk Soul Musicians.
Great Prices.
10 Questions
With Kathy Mouacheupao
3. What is the benefit of joining a CHAT Program? There are many benefits to participating in arts activities. Studies have actually shown that participation in arts activities has a direct affect on the ability to learn in other academic areas as well. Arts instruction develops crucial cognitive and social skills that helps people advance in life. If you ask our students they will tell you that being a part of ASU has enhanced their social skills, increased their self-esteem and confidence and has overall helped them to feel better about themselves. Furthermore, joining CHAT programs gives you the opportunity to be directly involved with the community. So, you not only learn and produce great art for yourself, but you also get to inspire the community and to participate in programs, projects and events that affect the community. 4. How many youth/students are in CHAT’s programs? There were 25 youth from the ASU program that participated in the festival this year. But, throughout the entire year, we hold three 12-week sessions – with all of the sessions combined – we have had 104 youth in our programs this year.
6. What can we expect to see from CHAT in the long run (and how can we help to sustain CHAT)? CHAT’s vision is to create a substantial Hmong arts community with a network of professional artists and a supportive audience. We will continue to support and create opportunities for Hmong artists until this vision comes to fruition. In order for this to happen, we’ll need the support of the entire community and we need Hmong artists to be proactive and to produce artwork. CHAT is merely the middle-man that connects the community with artists – we rely heavily on both to embrace the connection.
8. As a youth, why should we become involved? Because you’ll have TONS of FUN while learning skills that aren’t taught like this anywhere else. A lot of youth get involved because they want to try something “different” and because our methods of programming is appealing to youth today. The staff and volunteers create a comfortable atmosphere that allows the youth to gain formal training in an informal environment. Furthermore, we like to make sure that the community is aware of the hard work the youth put into their art, so the youth can always look forward to a good showcasing of their work. 9. How & when did the first festival come about? The first “Hmong Art Festival” was held in 2002 at the same location, but a lot has changed since then. 10. Describe what it takes to organize the Art & Music festival. A LOT OF HARD WORK! It takes a great team, months of planning and meetings, creativity, energy, dedication and a deep passion for art and community.
To learn more about CHAT, visit their website at http://www.aboutchat.org/
www.TajLajHmong.com
5. Does CHAT plan on expanding to areas outside of MN? Currently, we do not have any plans to expand. However, we are happy to collaborate and work with other groups outside of MN. We have to be very honest with ourselves and realize that with only 2 ½ staff, we just don’t have the capacity to expand beyond our borders yet. Right now, we really have to focus on sustaining what we have.
7. As a parent, why should we encourage our children to join CHAT? Parents come to CHAT all the time asking if we offer homework help – to which I respond that, although we don’t have tutors and/or we don’t sit down with the youth to do homework from their school, the arts activities we do with their children helps their children to open their minds. The activities that they participate in at CHAT have a direct affect on their cognitive AND social development helping them to become more well-rounded individuals. These are benefits that are unique to the arts and can’t be reaped in other programs. We also use the arts to build leadership skills, build community and address social issues that affect our community.
Get it all online now!
2. What is the mission of CHAT? CHAT’s Mission is to nurture and develop Hmong artists to enhance the community.
Kathy Mouacheupao, Executive Director
Great Things.
1. Who founded CHAT & when? The Center for Hmong Arts & Talent (CHAT) grew out of Pom Siab Hmoob Theatre (PSHT), the first Hmong theatre company in the world. In 1998, PSHT organizers decided to expand their focus beyond theater arts in order to serve more Hmong artists. PSHT changed its name to the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent (CHAT) and expanded its reach into six artistic disciplines: visual, theater, literary, music, traditional Hmong arts and multi-media arts - making it the first and only multidisciplinary Hmong arts organization in the United States.
Hmong Cultural Center Qeej Players on the main stage at CHAT’s 6th Annual Arts & Music Festival (MN). Photo by Kong Lee
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SPECIAL Interesting Facts Every year around this time of the month, Hmong all around the world gather eggs and chickens to conduct a social and cultural ceremony to call home the souls of themselves and their children. They call it Hu plig. Every year before the New Year, hu plig is done to call home wherever the souls went during the year and to help start a full new year with love, happiness and abundant wealth. Hu plig is conducted by a Shaman or elderly who is an experienced caller or chanter. He/she takes the stand by using a bull’s horn, split down the middle into two pieces, while chanting or calling by the front door. A bowl of rice filled with enough eggs for each member of the family, one incense, and two chickens (a rooster and a hen). The caller or chanter calls homes the lost souls of the family, making sure they come home and leave behind all illness, poverty, and troubles. The souls are to come home with only wealth and happiness. After the chanting, the split horn, or kuam, is tossed gently on the ground several times. If on the last two tries, the kuam both opens and then closes, the souls have made it home with wealth and happiness. If one side opens and the other closes, the chanter will try again, for the soul is still upset, until it split horns fall into place.
The hyoid horns of the chicken tongue, the fascial sheath, in which they rest (the fascia vaginalis), are also pulled out to see whether the souls show signs of turning back or foresees trouble. If the tongue’s back tip shows a slight curl in, the soul is said to be firmly home and safe. The same goes for all males in the house when the hen is observed. Later a feast is provided, bringing family members, relatives, and friends together; similar to that of Americans having turkey for Thanksgiving. Hu plig is also performed three days after a baby is born. The baby and his/her soul is called home and shown to the spirit that this is their baby now. It is said to protect the baby from any spirits who may mistake the baby for theirs or want to take the baby for themselves. Hu plig is also done is when someone is very ill. The Hmong believe the ill person’s soul is lost and needs a calling in order to be well again. The Shaman wears a red cloth over his face when he is chanting. This will take him into the other world. In addition to the split horn, a gong is also used during the chanting.
The rooster and hen are then sacrificed, cleaned and cooked in boiling water; and the chanting starts again. This time with a bowl of cooked rice, hard boil eggs, and the two boiled chickens. One incense is burned to guide the good spirits and souls to where they belong in celebration of the successful homecoming of the wealth and happiness. The cooked food awaits for the souls to come and eat, since the sacrifice has been made to them. When completed, the top of the roosters head is gently peeled and observed by the chanter. If it is clear, sickness has passed for the females in the house. If the rooster’s eyes are puffy, luck is in the air; and if the toes of the rooster are curled in, no more trouble will come, but if the toes are not curled in, others will likely A diagram of the hyoid horns of the cause trouble with the chicken’s tongue family in the near future. 18XEEM.COM | NOV 07
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FASHION
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Hmong Market In recent years, the Hmong New Year Festivals and Sports tournaments in the states have turned into flea-markets, where families meet to find the latest medicine on the market, the latest music and movies, and the latest fashion to be imported into the country.
We took a walk past each booth to see what they had to offer. Influences range from China, Laos, Thailand, and even Vietnam. The clothing draped itself beautifully on the corners of the tents waiting to be bought; hanging there, as if ornaments to draw people in.
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Hmong men’s clothing is not as commonly seen as the women and children. Although styles have changed dramatically in the female pieces, the male’s style of clothing has stayed fairly the same for centuries. Beads and jewelry are used sparingly.
Little girls outfits, adorned with jewelry, are similar to the outfits of their mothers.
Each outfit comes with every piece that a little girl would need to complete their costume: shirt, skirt, hat, sash, and jewelry.
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LIVE. DRINK. 30
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PHOTOGRAPHY
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Back to Laos This photo was taken in the village of Hongtha, Laos. I remember jumping out of the truck and being completely mesmerized. The village was so breathtaking, the air was fresh and pollution-free, everywhere I looked there were mountains. But there was one problem, it was so secluded that even indoor bathrooms didn’t exist. This photo was taken after 20 minutes in the village, my mom, aunt, sister and I stretched our legs as we walked to the woods to use the bathroom. To our surprise, we had little kids spying on us. If you look close enough you can see the heads of five small children peeking behind the small hill. - Myhli Her.
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What I loved most about my trips to Laos were the people. Without them Laos wouldn’t be the same. This photo is of my great grandfather and grandpa (right). He has gone through so much in his life that when I first saw him I was just speechless. With one look I could see that he was such a fragile man but at the same time I could see that he carried so many stories, experiences and with one word the family would stop and do as he requested.- Myhli Her.
The dating game, rural style. Near Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. - Lizzy Foulkes
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I’d never been looked at with such inquisitiveness before, and surely haven’t since. But no doubt I returned their gaze with equally intense curiosity. I don’t know the name of this village, with its animals free of cages and its costumes hung out on the line like art, but the peacefulness and ease felt there could teach the rest of the world a lesson it is dying to hear. Near Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. - Lizzy Foulkes
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Three artists. Different stories. One World. Myhli Her | Bio
My name is Myhli Her. I am 20 years old and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. I currently attend the University of Minnesota and am pursuing a degree in graphic design. In my spare time I like listening to music, watching movies, hanging out with family and friends and photography. I never took my interest in photography seriously until about two years ago. Today I do photography as a hobby and hope to one day travel the world and have the experience of taking photos of different cultures. To see more of my photos visit http://maileehawj.deviantart.com/ or contact me at myhliher@hotmail.com Lizzy Foulkes | Bio
I love to explore, to wander, to discover, to learn by experience and to interact with my surroundings. I spent my freshman year at a university in Thailand and got to do an awful lot of all of the above. In my home country, I’m part of the ethnic majority; during my time in Southeast Asia, I caught a glimpse of what it’s like to be the odd one out. I’m continually fascinated by the diversity of cultures, languages, and people on this planet, and I long to share what I encounter. I was introduced to the Hmong culture by fellow students at the university, by vendors selling tables of intricate, colourful Hmong skirts in the markets, and by further travels into the hills of Laos. Everything and everybody I encounter in life helps to shape who I am and how I see the world, and the Hmong culture, though I am still learning about it, has helped to shape me just a little bit more. Some of my past and future encounters from this planet can be found at www.theta.ca.
Watching these girls play, I came to realize that if they are any different at all from children at home, it is that they are more content. Near Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. - Lizzy Foulkes
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Where have you been? Send us your photo. Submit yours today, simply at http://18XEEM.com or email to submit@18XEEM.com
Jen Silver | Bio
I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I am a 17 year old high school graduate of Alberta High School of Fine Arts. I am entering first year in university, majoring in photography, hoping to achieve my Bachelor of Design. Photography has always been a major passion of mine, along with traveling, music and culture. I shoot with a Canon 20 D EOS digital camera. I have done a lot of photography for local bands and a lot of photography for different events at my high school. I also have hosted and been involved at several art shows at my high school, I also had 2 of my photo’s exhibited in Expo ’06. All these opportunities became minor when I discovered photography on a whole new level this past couple of months when I independently traveled through SE Asia with my camera by my side. I learned a lot about myself and about culture. My trip was a major realization for me that photography was what I wanted to pursue for the rest of my life. After finishing at art college in four years, I hope to work as a photojournalist for National Geographic. I would be happy spending the rest of my life traveling with my camera, connecting with people of every culture and sharing their stories through my art.
The Oldest, The Wisest. Chiang Mai, Thailand. This photo was taken outside of Chiang Mai on a hilltribe trek. We came across this woman and she kept on repeating to us that she was 109 years old. This photo speaks to me about this woman and her heritage. The deep wrinkles in her leathered face tell stories of her past and her eyes, a window to her soul. I think that she in herself is quite a contrast, dressed in modern clothing, but having experienced so much history in the past years of her life. - Jen Silver
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SPECIAL Thailand
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Life On The Step.
Band-aids To Toilet paper. Outside Lao Cai, Vietnam. This picture was taken at the Coc Ly hilltribe trading market outside of Lao Cai. The Flower Hmong people come here on Tuesday’s to trade their many goods. I was surprised to see what these people take as treasures. Many people would just sit on the ground and sell band-aids, q-tips, salt, tape, and pillowcases. It was quite the experience to see the demand for these goods in a country far from my own, where we can get them any time we need. This lady was taken by surprise that I took a photo of her, many people there were offended when I pointed my camera at them, but after I shot a picture of her she wanted me to take more and more. The items that the Hmong sold here were as unique and bright as the people selling them. - Jen Silver Life On The Step. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai, Thailand. This photo was taken on my way up to the summit of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep outside of Chiang Mai. This temple is a prime place for locals to target tourists for an extra dollar, being one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chiang Mai. These girls are made to sit here on these steps adorned in their traditional dress and pose for pictures, that is if a tourist can spare a dollar. I didn’t have any money so I took some candid photos and one of them spotted me and I made them laugh and snapped another shot. I enjoy communicating with locals and getting to know them, rather then being a tourist and just paying for their smiles.
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Young Mother. Outside Lao Cai, Vietnam. I took this photo at the Coc Ly hilltribe trading market outside of Lao Cai. I went there on a Tuesday which was the day the Flower Hmong people occupied the market area for trading their many goods. The girl in this photo is 14 years old and the child on her back is her offspring, the one in front is her sister. She was sent down to the market to sell handmade head bands and jewelry to visiting tourists (all though, aside from me, I must have seen 2 other tourists) and she was to purchase raw meat with her earnings. I loved seeing her and all the other Flower Hmong that day ornately dressed in their traditional clothing. It was such a spectacular experience, photographically and culturally. - Jen Silver
SPECIAL Food for Thought
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Stir-Fried Baby Bok Choy with Pork Zaub Ntsuag Dawb kib xyaw Nqaij Npuas Hmong people are especially fond of pork belly because it has wonderful textures and flavors. When cooked, the skin is chewy, the fat is soft and the lean meat is very tasty. Pork belly is usually sold in a slab. It is available at some mainstream supermarkets and most Asian grocery stores. This dish tastes best when it is made with an Asian-style bouillon cube. However, beware - it includes MSG as well as salt. If you prefer to avoid MSG, use a regular bouillon cube.
Makes 6 servings Ingredients
1/2 pound pork belly 1 bunch of baby bok choy (about 10 small heads) 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 teaspoon salt 1 chicken bouillon cube (Asian-style, or regular) Preparation Cut the pork belly slab into 1 by 1/8-inch pieces and set aside. Carefully wash the bok choy, pulling each leaf off of the head. Cut each leaf in two, from tip to stem. Drain on paper towels. Heat the oil in a wok over high heat. Add the pork, salt and the bouillon cube. Stir-fry about 10 minutes. Add the bok choy and stir fry about 5 more minutes. The dish is done when the meat is cooked, the bok choy leaves are limp, the stems are still a little crispy and a glossy glaze covers it all. Top with a little bit of black pepper for flavoring. Serve hot accompanied with fluffy jasmine rice.
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SPECIAL A Survey of Hmong in America
Where we Stand
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70.0 52.5 35.0 None Middle School High School College Other
17.5 0
Highest Education
On August 18, 19 2007, during the Hmong Michigan Summer Sports Festival, 173 people ranging from ages 15 - 67 were surveyed. The majority of those surveyed were of Hmong decent. Survey volunteers were a part of the ad hoc group Hmong American VOTE. Survey compiled by Hlee Xiong, with assistance from Tracey Kue.
100 75 50 25 0
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Male Female
Sex
75.00
70.0
56.25
52.5
37.50
35.0
Additional Notes:
18.75 0
Non Citizen US Born Naturalized Other
Males seem to be more willing and enthusiastic about surveying than females
17.5
U.S. Citizenship Status*
0
Not Registered Registered
150.0
56.25
112.5
Traditional Modern Rap/RnB Country Pop Other
18.75 0
Music Choices***
65.00
16.25
0
***Numbers reflect the younger generation, who is very influenced by Hip Hop/Rap and the western culture in general but somehow also have a strong hold on their Hmong roots
75.0 37.5 0
Hmong English Other
****This question may not be as accurate because ‘fluently’ might not have been stressed, the assumption should be that the person can speak and understand Hmong but not very ‘fluently’.
Languages Spoken****
150.0
48.75
32.50
**Some of the participants surveyed were unable or unwilling to register to vote. Of those who checked ‘Registered’ the number also reflects those were registered during the two days (approximately 200 were registered at the festival)
Voters Registration Status**
75.00
37.50
*A lot of those surveyed were 2nd & 3rd generation of the Hmong who came to America.
+Other issues included: Political Representation, Leadership, Social Recognition, Welfare Services. Among these issues, Racial Profiling and Education were the highest
112.5 Education Healthcare Immigration Low Wages Lack of Jobs Domestic Violence Racial Profiling Other
Issues You Face as a Minority/Hmong+
75.0 Married Single Divorced Widowed
37.5 0
Marital Status++
++This is a huge difference from just years ago when young Hmong adults and teens were married at an early age. There are a lot more responses for single status.
Help us help you by submitting your own information to info@18xeem.com. Log on to WWW.18XEEM.COM and stay tuned to the latest surveys, information, and data!
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FASHION
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Integrating Styles About the Fashion Designer Where did you grow up? I grew up in St. Paul , MN . What school you attended? University of Minnesota- Twin Cities What inspired you to get into fashion? EVERY WHERE and from ANYTHING. It can be the arch of bridge to the little pucker in the fabric. Inspiration also comes from emotions to colors. What are your future goals/aspirations? As a designer, I have started my own business, Malia, LLC. I started in November 2006. Taking on this adventure will allow me to see a new perspective of a Hmong woman entrepreneur. So look out for me in the next five years. What does it mean to be Hmong to you? Being Hmong is strength. Growing up in two cultures and learning to merge them. I still find myself feeling more Hmong than Hmong American or American at all. I divide and see that I am Hmong in America. Knowing that you have the ability to sustain and obtain anything and everything because my parents have already struggled the struggle to allow me to reap the harvest. Being Hmong has given me knowledge to move beyond the minimum of what people view us as seen and portrayed through media. Being Hmong is being me.
Fresh Traditions Fashion Show Malia, LLC, maria@maliallc.com
About the Piece What was your inspiration? Malia, LLC’s inspiration came from the fabric of course. It took me in the direction to create something that would flow with the rest of my outfits. Does it have any functions/unique aspects to it? The top has a hood with it and it’s more of an aesthetic than functional aspect of the top. The shorts are velvet and definitely functional. How long did it take you to finish? It probably took us about two weeks if you count it down. There was given a lot of time to finish it so the time was prolonged. Who would you want to wear this piece? Someone who wants a unique look and is looking for to entice the crowd for the night. How much does it cost? This piece is valued at $175 for the jacket and $75 for the shorts and is custom made to order.
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POETRY Ode To Hmong Clothes
Seev Txog Peb Hmoob Qawb Ncaw Hmoob By: Maichou Lor and Dia Shia Yang Translated By: Maisee Lor You symbolize who I am Koj tim ntsej tim muag hais tias kuv yog leeg twg You are my artistic representation Koj thuav txog kuv lub tsw yim, txoj kev npeev xwm, thiab kev zoo nkauj You are the red and green veins wrapped around my body Koj yog txoj hlab si liab thiab ntsuab tam li cov hleeg Kiav cig lees kuv lub cev You are the bells and coins who speak my voice Koj yog cov tswb thiab nyiaj npib co yuj lees tam li kuv lub suav seev You reflect my richness of jewels Txawm muaj thiab npluag los koj zoo npaum tus duab ntxoos piav txog kuv txoj kev muag nyiaj muag kub You are as precious as diamonds Koj muaj nuj qis npaum cov pob zeb ci ntsiab huv si You give me honor and sovereignty Koj muab lub meej mom thiab hwj cim rau kuv You posses my heart to beat in a rhythm for freedom Koj tswj kuv lub siab ntsw nthaug kiav raw seev kev ywj pheej You convince me to be my true color Koj qhuab qhia kom kuv ua ib tug neeg caj cee rau kuv tus keej thiab kuv haiv Hmoob You’re the music that portrays my happiness Koj yog cov paj raug suav seev ua qhia txog kuv lub suav hluag kev zoo siab You’re my skin that da-peeks diversity Koj zoo tam li kuv daim qaij daim tawv ua ntxua txua haiv neeg ntiaj teb los sib haum xeeb vaj huam sib hluag You stitched the stories of my history Koj yog diam paj ntaub uas xaw zaj dab neeg ntawm kuv haiv neeg Hmoob keeb kwm You’re the witness of my sorrow past Koj yog tus tim kawv ntawm kuv haiv Hmoob lub neeg ua tau poob kua muag kev txom nyem You’re the motive of our celebration Koj yog txoj kev vam ntawm peb Hmoob noj tsiab txai kev zoo siab You’re my Hmong that runs through my blood Koj qhia hais tia kuv yog Hmoob, cov ntsav Hmoob kiav ahuv kuv lub cev You mean this much to me, that’s why I wear you MY HMONG CLOTHES Koj muaj nuj qis txiaj tsim npaum no rau kuv vim li no kuv zoo siab tau hnav koj, thiaj qhua koj thiab hwm koj KUV HAIV HMOOB COV ME QAWB NCAW HMOOB Ode to you……………….. Kuv thov seev txog koj……………
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Amanuensis in Flight Samy Elisabeth Yang
I was born with tears on my lips And I wander through this world With an air of vague bewilderment, Snuffling at words here and there. I am a lost poet, A misheard prophecy of warm cheeks and cold fingers. Tendrils of longing cling to my eyes, My hair smells of snow, My feet of the mango and papaya That I have trampled in my mother’s garden. Over mountains and lamaseries, Beyond the field of churning lemongrass, Back to the fabled rock of my mother’s land, I have a tree that bleeds in unison With each crack in my sole. Bloodied footprints lead me back to myself. I will fly Among the hedge row of cultured letters Like an amanuensis taking flight, Ink and manuscript crumbling Beneath my withered winged nails to Behold the truth which No one Knows But only you. Wrought steel bends like nickel iron, Tears make the metal rust. And like you and I, my dearest love, It all comes and goes Into dust.
Hmong
By Kazoo Yang Hmong means free, but why aren’t we? We’re living in jungles While Vietnam is on patrol to hunt us. To be Hmong we have to be refugees. Cross the Mekong River to get to the other side, So we could be Hmong. We have crossed many hills of dead, Rivers of blood, And climb every mountains infact many of us still live In the cave of mountains, Just to be Hmong. Some of the little 1, 2 months Had to take opium, So that others could survive, So to do that they have died. That’s probably why there’s not many of us living. May I ask, why do you want Laos so bad? Don’t you already have a place of your own? We’re in desperate need So to be Hmong we travel and we’re scattered All around the world. We are nomads, that’s how we’re Hmong, Free!
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What I Love About Being Hmong
and eep culture I love the d l ways that we fu the meaning ery little thing v do things. E , all of our that we do at meaning gre actions has hat’s what I to it. And t MONG. Plus tH LOVE abou “SEXY” Hmong is e wear our --the way w the way we es, Hmong cloth or kwv txhiaj, um sing a lus ta , everything... the poems rt &
HAT A -Yeng @ C Festival Music
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What I love about being Hmong is that we have a culture that we can be proud of. We’re a beautiful group of people with such a unique background. How can we not be proud of that? -Cha Vang @ CHAT Art & Music Festival
A Tribute to My Mother By Maikao Smoke smothering in the air, flames flickering in every direction, and bombs bursting left and right, my mother ran for her life. With one child grasping her hand, and another on her back, she stumbles in the jungle and tumbles through the woods. She vanished into the rice field as the invasion accelerates. My mother disappeared into a cave grasping her children. The Vietnam War had begun. Guns fired continuously, people scrambled for their sake, and animals scattered in circles. Screaming and crying came flourishing from every direction as others raced away with children. Lives were taken by rebels one by one, and explosives quickly ignited villages. Smoke pumped up into the air as my mother escaped with my brothers. The sky filled with darkness, and the villages stood silently still. Bodies and animals lay spiritless throughout the night. Trees and brushes became targets for bullets, and caves and holes were called homes. Children that cried were drugged with opium, and seniors were left to die. Like birds, humans migrate towards the border of Thailand. Giving up her land, my mother fled across the camps of rebels. With years of hiding and creeping through
streams and meadows, she finally arrived at the Mekong River. Waiting hopelessly, my father succeeded to meet up with my mother. So silent and still in the twilight, they waited patiently until night fall to cross the river. Past midnight, while the rebels were sound asleep, a raft was poorly mended with logs, twigs, and strings, and together my family floated across the river. Weighing another ten pounds, my mother slowly swam across with me inside. Closer and closer the other side became, and further and further the battle fields dissipate. Running and hiding no more, we were safe. I was given life; we were free. But for others, it was depressing to see them come through without a mother, and disappointed it was to see a mother without others. A complete family we are today, five boys, four girls, a father, and a mother. This tree and its branches will continue to recruit others, all because of my mother. Through horror and terror, my mother kept my family together. From sickness to suffering, my mother kept us flourishing. And from each breathe that we grasp, she made sure it was fresh.
When I wear th is a w e s o m e s h ir t , I feel extremely p r o u d t o b e H m o n g ! I t ’s w h o I am and who I w il l a lw a y s b e ! -Thomas Ly @
hmong is g n i e b t e abou the culture is v o l I t Wha usic and e going to the m e h t t v y tha i f u l . I l on a m e n t s w i t h m t t u a e b o s s ur o c c e r t o a n d y o u c a n j un d s g n o m H I t ’s f u n utiful a friends. t. Hmong is bea it! h a n g o u u s h o u l d b e l i e v eg n yo stine Va -Chri
H m on g M I S po rt s T ou rn a m en t / F es ti va l
What do you love about being Hmong? Email us your response: INFO@18XEEM.com or join us for a discussion on our message board: http://18XEEM.com/forum 18XEEM.COM | NOV 07
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Life in Australia ... continued from page 17
someone is sick, or that we throw a ball at each other in courtship. It was exhilarating and emancipating to see this. Debbie and I felt like we’d just landed from Mars. This really was a defining experience to see it first hand. The difference in Australia is that every Hmong person knows one another. If we see each other on the streets, we will always greet and say, Nyob zoo. I found this to be really strange when we were in the US, there were so many Hmong everywhere, but we were walking past each other without a salutation. If you come to Australia, you’ll meet all the Hmong community at one party.
There are many Hmong in Australia who want to see how other Hmong are living around the world to further validate their identity, to find their roots, and connect with these people. Additionally, we’re all aware of what is happening with Hmong people who still live in Laos. Through volunteering our time, we hope to help and support them from abroad. We don’t have strong social groups and support bases in the form of Hmong community media and newspapers, specialized university courses and outreach/cultural centres. The only main contact with the Hmong community is at New Year celebrations, Hu plig gatherings and funerals. We associate mainly with group clans, cousins and closer relatives. I would like the opportunity to get to know others better through associations, outings and ‘fun activity’ initiatives. These would be positive steps to engage the Hmong youth and give them time outside of their clan network.
Like other young people we all enjoy doing a myriad of things, going out to see friends for coffee, dinner and parties and generally working hard towards fulfilling our individual goals and ambitions. Our hopes and dreams for the future are vast and varied but most of us share the desire to continue towards higher education as a higher priority than marriage. Work and self-fulfillment comes before starting a family. Most young Hmong in Australia are students either in high school or at universities and colleges. Many now want to further their studies, to broaden their horizons, and to educate themselves for a successful and fulfilling career. Education is a higher priority than marriage for most. Many aren’t fazed about what nationality they marry -Hmong or non-Hmong. It is more crucial to find someone who shares the same interests and beliefs in an equal and respectful relationship. Like the Hmong in America, we also have soccer tournaments that are an exciting initiative to bring together groups of young Hmong men from all the states to participate in a formal and engaging game of sport. Some do meet and chat online with Hmong kids from all around the world further opening up their interest and involvement in strengthening their cultural ties.
Some initiatives that would help keep us closer to each other include:
Visiting the U.S.A. further reiterated our isolation from the broader Hmong community. We even dressed up for the Hmong New Year in Fresno, California with our cousins. We haven’t dressed in traditional costume since we were 13 years old. It was a lot of fun. My poor mum couldn’t believe it. All the keepsakes, costumes and jewelry that she has ever bought us were still lying in cupboards gathering dust. But she still insisted on buying the newest Hmong fashions that we would never wear –except for the occasional family photo shoots in the backyard. I like how involved so many people are with the Hmong community in America and elsewhere: there seems to be a true identity that we all still share. Perhaps it is because we feel alienated from other people.
-Hmong exchange students to live with other Hmong families all over the world.
It is only as I’ve grown older that I’ve learned to appreciate that being Hmong defines me as a unique individual. I have found solace in the push and pull of my Hmong heritage and my Australian ideals and habits. I am grateful to be able to balance the two, without losing either.
Although we may have our own experiences growing up as a Hmong person in different parts of the world, our geographical boundaries cannot separate us from a culture that is dynamic, unyielding and alive.
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-Reconnect on a formal international platform- artistically, culturally, intellectually with each other sharing through the internet and cultural magazines such as 18XEEM. -Build a strong sense of self and bond with each other, interacting and sharing a collective cultural identity.
Youa Yang, Miss Hmong International 2006, Fresno, CA
Doua Yang, 1st Runner up, Hmong American New Year Pageant 2004-2005
Bao Yang, 4th Runner up, Hmong American New Year Pageant 2005-2006
For a free Calendar, Call and ask for Xia Vue Yang
Nou Xiong, Miss Hmong American 2004, Mpls, MN
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