Phnong
Indigenous
Minority ααααΆαα·ααΎα ααΆααα·α αααα
ααΆααααααα’ααααα»α ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
αα½αααΎαααΆααα’ααααααΆααΌαααααααααΌαα’ααααα»αααΆα’ααααααααΆααααα’αααααΆαααΆαααααα ααααααααΆαα·ααΎαααΆααα·α ( β α’αΆαβαααΈ α’αα α’αΌ) αα·αα β αααα½αα’αα·αααααααααααααΆααααΆααα ααΆαααΆαα½αααΌαααΎαα We would like to express our deepest gratitude toward Indigenous Community Support Organization (ICSO) and the Ministry of Rural Development for collaborating with us. αααααααααααΆα References: http://www.culturalsurvival.org/who-are-indigenous-peoples https://kambunong.wordpress.com/bunong http://www.icso.org.kh/
ααααα»ααααα βαααααααΆ ααααΆα α’α α‘α₯ First published in September 2015
ααΆααΆαααΆαα·ααΆ ααα αααα αΈ α αααΎ
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ααΆαα’αααααα·αααΈααααααααα·
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Contents
2 4
INTRODUCTION
BELIEF & CEREMONY
14
TRADITIONAL LIVELIHOODS
22
EDUCATION & BIOGRAPHIES
32
CONCLUSION
ααα ααααΈααααΎα ααΆαααααα·αααααααααααααααΌαα’αα·αααααααααα ααααααααααα»ααΆααΆααααα»αααααΆαα·ααΎαααΆααα·α α ααα½αα’α€αααα»αα αααα»αααααΆαα·ααΎαααΆααα·α αααααΆααααααΆααα αααΎα ααΆαααααΊα αααα αα½α αα·ααααα·αα αα½αααααΆαα αααΎαααααα ααΌαα·ααΆαα¦ααΆαααααααααααααα»ααΆα ααα’αααα ααΎααΆαααααΆαααααΆαααααα’αααααΆαααΆαααααα ααααααααΆαα· ααΎαααΆααα·α (α’αΆα.αααΈβ.α’αα.α’αΌ) ααΆαααααΆαα·ααΎαααΆααα·α αααα ααααΆα‘α¦α ,α α α ααΆαα α¬α‘.α₯ααΆααααααααααΆααααααα»ααΆα ααααΆαα·ααΆαααααααα
αα αα ααααα ααα½αα€α₯α₯α αα½ααααααααα’ααααααααΆαααΆααααΆαα·ααΎαααΆααα·α αααααααα ααΎααααααα αααααααΈ ααΆααΆ α’αΆα αΆα α’ααααααααΆα
ααααααααααααααα αααα αα·αααααααααααα½αααααΆαααΊααααα»αααααα α ααααΆαα·ααΆααααααα·ααΆαααΆααΆαααααΈαααΊα’αΆααααααΌαααααΆα (Astronesian)β
αααααΆααΆααΆααααΆαα·α αΆαααΆα αα·αααααα·ααΆα ααΈα― ααααααα (Mon-Khmer) ααΆααΆααΆααααααααααΎααΆααα’αααα·ααΆα ααΎααααααα αΆαααΆα αα·ααααα ααααΆαα·ααΎαααααααΊααΆααααΆαα·ααΆαα αααΎααα½ααα αααααααααααΉααΈ ααα»ααααααααΆαα·αααααααΌαααΆαααα½αααααΆααααΆ ααααΆαα·ααΆααα·α αα ααααα»ααΆα ααααΆαα·αααααΊααΆααααΆαα·αα½αααααα·ααΆαααΆααΆααααααα (Mon-Khmer) α αΎααα½αααΆααααΏααΆ ααααΆαα·αααα½αααΆαααΆααααΈαααα αα αααααααααααα·ααΈαααααΆαααΆα’α α α ααααΆαααα αΎααβ αα½αααΆααααΆαα’αα·αααααΏαα ααΎααα·ααααΆαααααααΆαα·αααααΆααααααα ααΌα ααΆαααα αα»αααααΆαα· αααα ααα αα·ααααα‘ααΆααΎαβ α’αΆα αα·ααΆαααΆαααΆ αα½αααΆααααΆαααααΏαα ααΎα’αααΈααΆααα’ααα αα½αααΎαααΆαα·αααααΆααΆα’ααααααΆαα·α‘αα ααααααααααα»ααα·ααααΆααααΆαααααΆαα’αααΈααααΆαα·ααΎαααΆα αα·α ααααα αα½αααΎαααΆαα α»ααααααααα·α αα αα·ααααΆαα αααααααααααα·ααΈααΎααααΈαααααΉαααΈααααΆαα·αα½ααααα ααΎαααΆαααα½αααααααΆαααΆα ααααΈαααΌα ααΆ αααααααΈααααααα ααααΏ ααΆαα’αααα αα·αααΆαα αααΎααααααΈααααΆαα·αααα αα·αααΆααααα·αααΌαααΆαααΆα αααΎαααΈααααααααα αααααα½αααΆααα ααΆαα½αααΉαααααααΆααα·αααΌααααααααΎαααα½ αααΆα ααΎααααααΉαααΆαα·αααα’αααα’αΆαααΉααααααΉαααααααααΈααααΆαα·ααΎαααΆα αα·α αααααα ααααααααααα»ααΆα
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ααΎα’αααααΉααα?
ααααΆαα·ααΆαα·ααΎαααΆααα·α ααααΌαααΆαααα½α ααααΆααααΆααΆα’αααααΆαααΆαααΈαα·αααααΆα ααααααΆαα·αααααα·αααααααα½αααΆα αααααα αααααΉαααα’αααα ααΎααααααΆαα·α ααααα ααΆαααα ααααα Culturalβ Survivalβ αα ααΎαα·αααααααΆααααα»ααα ααΆαα·ααΎαααΆααα·α α ααα½αα₯α α α αααα»α αααααΆαααααΆαα·ααΎαααΆααα·α αααααΆαααΆα£α§α ααΆαααΆααβα αΎα α§α %ααααα ααααΈαα’αΆαααΈα ααααααααααα αα ααΆαα·ααΆααα·α αα ααΎαα·ααααααααα»αααααΎ ααααΆαααααα ααα€α α α ααΆααΆαα»ααααααΆαβ
Introduction Based on information from the Ministry of Rural Development, there are 24 different groups of indigenous people in Cambodia. The groups with the most population are Phnong, Kouy and Kreung. Most of the groups are located in northeastern Cambodia. The Indigenous Community Support Organization (ICSO) website states that an estimated 160,000 people or 1.5 percent of the Cambodian population are indigenous people. These indigenous people live in 455 communities. They can be authorized as a nation according to their culture, tradition, language, food, identification, how they control their community, and how long they have lived in a place. They speak two main languages: Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) spoken by the indigenous minorities, Jarai and Rhade; and Austroasiatic (Mon-Khmer) spoken by all Cambodian highlanders, except Jarai and Rhade. Phnong is the majority indigenous group in Mondulkiri province, but they are known as a minority in Cambodia. They speak the Mon-Khmer language and believe that they have been living in Mondulkiri for around 2,000 years. Their belief is animistic, which means the Phnong believe in the spirits within their natural environment like animals, plants, hills, stones, jars and others. We, the Phnong Exploration team at Liger Learning Center in Phnom Penh, took a field trip to Mondulkiri to discover about the Phnong. We collected data directly from Phnong people about their cultural traditions, superstitions, education and more. We also took plenty of pictures of the Phnongβs lifestyle, so we can explain to you more about them. With information collected by us and the pictures we took, we hope you enjoy learning more about the Phnong minority in Cambodia.
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Did you know? Indigenous people are known as an important group of people that protect the worldβs wildlife. Their lives depend on their natural environments. According to the Cultural Survival website, there are 5,000 different groups with approximately 370 million indigenous people in the worldβ and 70 percents of them are located in Asia. Today, indigenous people around the world speak 4,000 different languages.
ααααΏββ& αα·ααΈααααΆαααα αααααααααααα β ααααααααβ αα·αααααα’αΆαααα
ααααα ααΆαααΆααα·ααααΆααααΆαααααΆαααΈαα ααααααααΆαα·αααα ααΎαααΆαααΉαααΆααααΆαα·ααααααΆαααααΏαα ααΎααααααΈααααααα ααΆααααααααΉα
αα·ααΆαααΈααααααΆααααΈααααααααααααααααααα ααΆαααααα½ααααααααΆαα·ααααααΆαααααΏαα ααΎαα β αααΆαα·ααΎαααΆααα·α αααααα·αα’αΆα αααα α»ααααα ααααααααααααααα ααΈαααααααααααα αααααΆααααβ αα αααααααααααααα α»ααα αα½αααΆαααααααααΆαααααααΆαααααααααααα’αααααααΆααααΆαααααΎ
ααααΆαααα ααΆααα½αααΆααααΈααααααααα·αααΆααΎαα·αααΆααααΆαααααΆαααα α αΎααααααααΉαα’αααααααΆαααα ααααααΌαααΆαααααααΆαααααααΎααααΈααααΎααααΆααα ααΎαα·αααΆααΆαααααΆαααααααααααΆααααα αα½αααααΉαααΆαααααΊααΌα ααα αα½αααααααΌαααααααααααααααααααΎααααΈα’ααααααααΎαα‘αΎααα·ααβ ααΆαααααΆααααααΆαααααΆαα·ααΎαααΆααα·α αααααα½ααα»ααααα»ααααα½ααΆααα½αααααΎααααΈααααΆαααααα·ααΈα§αα·ααααα»ααααααα»αααααΆααΈαααααααα½ααα αααααΆαααΆα αααααααΌαααΆααααΌαααααααΆααααΉαααααΆααΎααααΈα’αα’αα
ααααΆαα·ααααααΏααΆααααααααααΆαααααααααααΌαααΆαααΆαααΆααααα’αααααΆα αΎαααααΏαααααΆααΆααΊααΆαααααΌαααα’αααααΆαααΎαα½αααααΆαααααΊαα
αααΆαααααΆαααΆααααΎαα½αααααααΌαααααΆαααααα·ααΈαααααααααα ααααααααααα½αααααΆαααααΎαα»ααββααααΆαα·ααααααΏαα ααΎααααααΈαααααα α αΎααααα»αα α αααααααααΆαααααααΊααΆααααααα½αα α ααΆααααα’αΆαααααααααα’αΆααααααΊααΆαααααααααααΆαα·ααααααααΎααΆααα½ααα½ααα αααααΆααα·ααΈααααΆααααααααααα α ααα»αα αααααααΆαα·ααααααΏαα ααΎααααααα ααααααα½ααααα·αααΆααΆαα’αΆααααα’αααααΆααααα
ααΈαααα ααΌα αααα αα½ααααα·αα’αΆα ααα’αααΈα ααααΈαααααααααΆααα αααααΆαααΆααΆαααααα·αααα·ααααα’αΆααααα’αααααΆ α αΎαααααα·αααΎαα½αααααααααα’αααΈα αα α’αΆααααα’αααααΆααΉαααααΎα±αααα½αααααΊα
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Belief & Ceremony BURIAL, PROTECTED & SPIRITUAL FORESTS Through our experience within Phnong communities, we learned there are three types of forests that they believe in: Burial, Protected and Spiritual Forests. Phnong cannot be buried anywhere else besides their Burial Forest.Γ’€‹The dead are buried with their personal belongings because they believe that even though they are dead, their spirit still needs some stuff to use. If someone takes these belongings, they will get sick, so they need to make an offer to the spirit to get well again. Every year, the Phnong gather with their family to celebrate the souls of dead relatives, often having a whole pig and drinking wine in their honor. Phnong people believe that the Protected Forest is guarded by spirits and the heart of the spirits. If they are sick from cutting down trees, they need to make an offering at the specific place where they cut the trees. The Spiritual Forest is a forest where Phnong worship when they have a ceremony. Phnong people believe in this forest because they think that there are spirits who live in the forest. So they are not allowed to take anything out of the forest because it belongs to the spirits and if they take anything out the spirits will make them sick.
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ααααααααααΌαααΆαααααΆαααααα ααααα·ααΈα αΌαααααΆαααααααααΆαα·αααααα·αααΎααααΈ
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αααααΉααααααααααΌαααΆ β α αααΎααα ααΆαααααααΆαα αα·ααΈαααααΆα
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ααΆααα·ααΈαα»αααααΆα αααΎααααααααΌαααΆαααααΆααααααΌα ααΆ:
αααααααα·αααΆααααααααααααααΆα αααΆααααΆαααααα»αααΆααααααΆααβ
αα·ααΈαααααααΌα
αα·ααΈαααααααΌαααααααααΆαα·αααααααααααααΆααααα‘αΎα ααΈαααααα»ααα½αααααΆαα
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ααααααααΎαα·ααΈααααα αααα αααΌαααααΌααα½α α αααααααααααα αααΌαααΆαα α αΎααααα½ααΆαααΆαααααΈαα·αααΆααααα»αααΆαα’ααααΎαα’αααααΌαα·αα·α
BELIEF & CEREMONY Rice ceremony Phnong hold a rice ceremony three times per year. The first ceremony is when they start growing the rice. The second ceremony is when the rice starts to grow big, and the last ceremony is when they finish harvesting and gathering the rice. They always celebrate the rice ceremonies every year for happiness and more rice yields.
PHNONG PERFORMANCE
Phnong dance performances are important to their culture and animistic beliefs, so the older generation tries to teach traditional dance to the younger generation. They dance to appease the spirits that surround them. Different dances are followed by different instruments and costumes. A traditional dance is also performed when they sacrifice animals for ceremonies throughout the year. For instance, if the Phnong people sacrifice a buffalo, they believe they must perform to calm the buffalo, otherwise the buffalo will be restless and move around a lot.
Dedicating Celebration Dedicating or forgiving celebrations have been a part of Phnong traditional ceremonies sinceβa long time ago. When someone misbehaves or makes mistakes, Phnong believe their ancestors and spirits will get mad and harm that person. In order to fix their wrongdoing, they must sacrifice chickens or pigs and offer wine. But, if someone has misbehaved in a serious way, the spirits could cause them to die, so they need to sacrifice a buffalo to get well.
Some performances occur many times a year, but some are held more often such as the wine drinking ceremony. The performance happens when they celebrate Phnong New Year and when there are new settlers to welcome them to their community. Instruments that are played at the ceremony are kung, gong, kareng, and flute. A significant part of their hospitality, the newcomers hold the stick inside a wine jar, and the Phnong people recite the words to them so that the spirits will bless them with good luck. Phnong cultural celebrations include:
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Wedding Ceremony Before a couple gets married, the groomβs family is required to bring as many gifts as possible to the brideβs family. Phnong people are free to love and marry whomever they want. The parents are interested in observing the manβs personality before the couple get married because they are scared that he will not take care of their daughter in the future. Usually, Phnong celebrate a wedding ceremony
` ααααΏβαα·ααα·ααΈααααΆαααα αααααααααΆαααα αΌααα½ααα·ααΈαααααΆαα αα·ααΈαααααΆααααα αα‘αΎααααα½α
αα»ααααα·ααΆα αα»αααΆαααα’ αα·αααααΆαααα’α αα·ααΈαααααααΆα
ααΆαα½αααααΆαααααααααααααΆααα’ααααΆαα ααααααααΌααααααα»αα·αααΌα
αα·αααααΆβ(α’αΆα ααΆααααΆααΆα α¬ααααΆα) ααΎααααΈαααα’αααααΆα
ααααααα α’αα‘α»αααααααααΆααααααα’αΆα αΆααααααΆαααα»ααααα»ααα αΎα
α αΆαααα»ααααα»αααΌαα·ααΆα’αααααΉαααΆαα αααααααααΆααααααΈααΈααα ααααααΎααααΌα
ααααααα β αα½ααααα·ααα αααααΆααααΆβααα αΌαααΆ β α α ααααααΆαααααααβ
αααααΆααααΈααααααΎαα·ααΈααααααααα αα ααααΆααα·ααΈααΉααααΈααΎααααΈα²ααααΆα
ααααΆααβααααα α·ααα αΉαααΆααΎα α αΎααα½ααααααααΆαααΆααα’ααααααΆα
αααααΆαααΆααα’ααααααΆα ααΎαα·αααΆααΆαα’αααααΎαααΆααααααααααααΆαααααα·ααΈ
αα·ααΈαα»ααααα
ααααΆααα²αααα α αΌααα½αααα ααΎααααΈα²ααααΆααααααΆαααΆααα’ααααααΆα
ααααΆαα·ααααααΆαααΆαααααΆαααααα·ααΈαα»αααααβαα·ααα·ααΈαα»αααα§αααα
ααΌα ααααΆαα·ααααααααα αααααααααΆαααααΎαα·ααΈα αΎαααααΉααααα
α’αα·αααααΏαααααααα
ααααΆαα·ααααααΆαα’αα·αααααΏα αααΎα αααααΆαααα·αααααα αΆαααα»αααα
ααααα α β ααααααααααα αα½αααΆαα½αααΉααααααΆααααααΎααααΆααααααααΆαα αααα
ααΆααααα½ααα αααααααααΆαααααααα ααα»ααααααααααααΆαα αααα»ααα αααα
ααΆααααΆααααΆαααΌα αα½ααα ααΆααα»αααααΌαααΎααααΈαααααααΆα ααααααααα»α
ααΆαααΏααΎα’αα·αααααΏααΆαααααα α§ααΆα ααα ααΆαααΆαααααα ααα
ααΆαααΆααααααΆαααΌαα ααα»ααΈα ααΈαα½αααΊαα·αα²ααα αααα½α ααΆα ααΈααΈα β
ααΎααααααα α½ αααα αααα α» αααααα α αααααααα αΆ α α ααααα α ααΉαα αΌααααααααα
ααΊα²ααααα αΌαα’αΆα αΆααααααααΆαα§αα·ααααα αααα’ααααααααΆαβα ααβααΆαβ
αα½αααα α αΎααα·αααΆααα·αααααααααα½ααααα ααΎαααααΎααα ααα
ααα‘αΎα αααααααααΏααΆαα·ααααΆααααααααααα·ααααΆαααΆααα
ααΉαααΆααΈααααΈααααααΆαααααα»αααααα
αα αβααααΌαααααΌαααααααααΆαα·ααααααααΎααΈαααααααΈα αα½ααααα·αααΌααΆααΆαβ
αααααααΈαααααα½αααααΎααααα β βααααα½αααααΏααΆααΉαααΆαααααααααΆα’αΆα
αα αααααβαααααααΆαααααΆ ααΆα αααααΆαααααααααααα’ααααααβ ααΆαα ααααΆα α’αααα ααΆαααα»ααα·αα·ααα αα½α αααα»αα αΆα
ααααΆαααααααααααααα ααααααααααΏααΆ ααΆααΆααααα’αααα ααααΆααα α
αα·ααΈαααα’αααααΆ
αααα’αααΆ βαα» αα ααΌαααΆααα·αααααΆααααΆααααΎαααΈααΈααΆααα’αααααΆαα½ααααααα αα αα·αααααΌαααααα½αααΎαααΆααα ααΎαα αα½αααααΆαααααΆα αα·ααΈααα α’αααααΆαααααΈαααα ααααααΆαααααα·ααΈααα ααααααα α ααααΆαααΉαααααα
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Wine distilling ααΆααα·αααααΆ
BELIEF & CEREMONY Spiritual Ceremony Kas Tov described to us one spiritual shrine near the grave that we visited. Every year they have to do this ceremony twice for their ancestorsβ spirits. They hold this ceremony because they want to bring rainfall, safety, good health and good luck. This ceremony is led by elders. When they celebrate this they offer pigs and wine to the spirits. At the end of the ceremony, they drink wine and have fun with each other. If anyone walks past the place while this ceremony is going on, they will call that person to join the ceremony with them to have fun together.
when they finish gathering the rice. Two or three days after harvesting, the coupleβs families will start to invite guests and elders to the wedding. Their wedding lasts for one day. During the wedding, they offer food in their ancestorsβ honor and guests tie a holy thread on the bride and groom. Participants will bring the hosts gifts such as wine, some food, meat, costumes and some animals to enjoy together. Funeral ceremony The Phnong people have a seven-day ceremony in their culture. When they finish the ceremony, they bury the dead body in their communityβs burial forest. They also bury the dead personβs personal things (clothes, jewelry, etc.) along with them and leave a jar in front of the tomb in which to place a wine offering. The Phnong remove the base from this jar for two reasons: one is so that the jar doesnβt get stolen and the second is so the food that they dedicate can go directly to the dead body. The roofs of Phnong tombs are made out of zinc. They donβt burn their dead because they believe that it hurts the spirits. Before finishing the celebration, they have a farewell party in front of the tomb to give the person a good send off to rest in peace. After the party, they leave all the stuff there.
PHNONG SUPERSTITIONS Phnong have many superstitions, which are ideas passed from elders to the younger generation. Everyone in their community believes in these superstitions. Two examples include: cutting their nails in the house at night and combing their hair on the stairs when their husbands go to the forest. They believe if you cut your nails in the house at night, a ghost will haunt you.. They also believe if a husband goes into the forest and his wife combs her hair on the stairs while he is away, a tiger might bite her husband in the forest.
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ααααΏβαα·ααα·ααΈααααΆαααα
αα·αααααΆαααΈα ααααΆααααααααααααααα α Long distanced view to the Burial Forest.
ααααΆαα·ααααααΆα αααΎαααααΆααααΆαααααΎααααΆααα’ααααΌαααΉαααααααΆαα· ααα αααααΆααααααα αα ααΈααααααΆα αααΎαααααΆαααα αΎαα Phnong people and their ancestors have been using this natural mountain well water for many years.
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Protected Forest
Burial Forest
BELIEF & CEREMONY
αααααααα
Spiritual Forest
αααααααααααα
Phnong Tomb
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ααααα’αΆαααα
ααααΌαααααΆαα·αααα
ααααΏβαα·ααα·ααΈααααΆαααα
αααααΆ ααα ααα αααααΆαα’αΆαα»αα·α α¨α ααααΆα α’αΆα α αααα ααα αααα»α αα·αααααΎααααΈ αααα αΆα αα·ααααααΆαααααααααΆααα Nhel Lang is almost 80 years old. He sings or plays flute and gong to preserve the old Phnong culture.
αααααΆααΆαααα·ααΆα ααΆαααα ααα’αΆα αααααΎαααααα (α§ααααα ααααα) α¬αααααΎααααα»ααααααααααααα½αα―ααEven though this man is blind, he makes his own bamboo instruments(Kang Reng) and creates his own songs.
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BELIEF & CEREMONY
ααααα’αΆααααα’αααααΆ Spiritual Shrine
αα·ααΈαααααα αα·αααΊαααααΆ Performance & wine drinking.
α’αααααααααααΆαα½αααΊαααααααααααΆαααααααααΈ Performers with traditional costume
ααααα»αααααααααααααααΆααααααΎααα αααΆβ α»ααΆα Mixed rare stuff for traditional medicine
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ααΆαααααα ααααααααααΈ αααααααααααΈ αααααααααααΈααααΆαα·ααααααΆααααααΈα«ααααΈ ααααΌα αα·ααααααΆαααααααΆαα·αααααααααα ααΆααααααΆ ααααααΆααααα α αααΆααααααΈααααΎααααΈααΆααααα ααΆαααΈααΎα ααααΆαα· ααααααΆα αααΎαααααα αααα»αααΈαααα αααααααΈ ααα»ααααααααααααααα ααΆααααΎαααααΆαααααααΆαααααα»ααα α αΎαα αα αααα»αααααααΆαα αααΎα ααααΆαααΆααααΆαααααΆαα½αα ααα½α ααΎααααΈααα½αααΆααααα»ααα½α αααααΆα ααααα α¬αααα»ααα·ααΈαα»ααααααααααααα αααααααααααααΆααΈα αααααα ααααΆααααααΆααααααΈα α αΎαααααΆαααααααααΆαααααα»ααα ααΆααΌαα ααααΆαα·ααααα ααα’α·αααΆααα αααααΆααααα α αΎααα½αααΆααααΆαα α ααα’ααααααΌααα ααΆαααΎ ααΎααααΈααααα½αααΆαααααααΎαααααααααΎαα ααααΈααΆ αα ααα’α·ααααα ααα αΌααααααααΈ ααααΆαα·ααααααΆααααααααα αΆααααααΌαααΆα αααΎααα»αα αα½αααΆαα ααααΎαααααα»αααΈααααΆααααααα αααα»ααα·ααΈαα»αααααααααα ααΈα―αααααααα ααΆααααααααααααααα ααΉααααααααα αΎα ααα»αααααααα ααααααΆααααΆααααααααα αΎαααααα·α α ααΎαα·ααΆαααΈααααΏααα·α ααααΆααααΌα ααααααααΆαα·αααααααα ααΆααααα α’ααα·α αα·αααΉαααααΈααΆααΎαα αα αααα»ααα·ααΈαααααααΆα ααα αααΎαααααΎαααααα»α·α
αααα»αααααααα ααααΆααααΆα ααα ααΆαα½αααΉααααααααα α¬ααΆα ααααααΈααΆαα½ααααααααααααΈα ααααΆαα·ααααααΆααααα’αα αααααααΈααΈααα»ααααααα αααα’ααααΈαα½αααΊ αααααΆαααΉαααΉααβ αααααααα αα ααΌαααΆαα½αααΉααααα»α ααΎααααΈααααΎαααα½ααααα ααααΈααΈαααΊααααΆαα‘ααα αααα½ααααααααΎααΈα’ααααααααΎα ααΆαααΆαα½αααΉααααα»α α αΎααααα αα»αα α³αααααααααΈαααα ααΈα’ααΈαααΆα ααααΆαα·αααααα·αααΆααααααΈααααααααΎααααΈααααΆααΆααααααΊ ααααα ααα»ααααααΆαααααΌαα»ααΆααααααααΎααααΆααα³αααα»ααΆαααα ααααΎα’αααΈααααααααα αα»αααααΆαα·αααα α¬ β αααΎ ααααααΆααα’αααααααααα ααΆαα½αααααΆααα ααααααΆαααΆαααααΆααΆαααΆααααααααααΆαα·ααααα ααααααα αααααααα αααααΈααΆααΆααααααΈαααααααα αααα»ααα αααα ααααα ααααΆαα·αααααααα αααα ααααααΌα³αααα»ααΆααααα ααΆαααααΆ ααΆαααααααααααΈααααααααΆαα·ααααα’αΆα ααααΎα²ααα’αααααααα αΊβ αΌαααααΎα ααΎαα·ααα½αααααΆααααααΊαααα»ααααα ααΊααα α¬ααααΆαααΌαααΆααΎαα
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Traditional Livelihoods TRADITIONAL HOUSES Traditional Phnong houses are built from bamboo, thatch and other natural materials. These houses usually take three months to build. In the past, there used to be a lot of traditional houses, but now there are not many left in Phnong communities across Mondulkiri. In most houses the Phnong keep a lot of wine in jars to drink during the week and for ceremonies. They divide their sleeping places into two, one side for females and the other side for males. Phnong who live in traditional houses often cook rice in the middle of their house. They place a natural woven tray of rice above to dry it using the smoke from the fire cooking the rice below. TRADITIONAL FOOD Phnong people have a lot of traditional food. They make Bok soup once every three years for their ceremonies. Lavae soup is similar to Broher (Khmer traditional food) soup, but it is more viscous than Broher soup. Phnong
use the same ingredients that Khmer people use in their soup, like sugar, salt, fish sauce and others. For wedding ceremonies, they make Vec soup. In this soup, they put beef with cow intestines or buffalo meat with buffalo intestines. Phnong has two tradβitional dessert. The first one is NomβPai Toek Chherk, where they combine flour with honey to make it. The second dessert is Pan Laik. It is made of sticky rice mixed with honey and then roast. TRADITIONAL MEDICINE In the past, Phnong didnβt have any hospital to go to when they were sick, but there were some holistic Phnong practitioners who used natural medicine that contains animal teeth, rare plants, herbs, animal organs and other natural cures. Today, even though hospitals exist in these communities, the Phnong still visit holistic practitioners. Their natural remedies can make patients feel better if they have a fever, stomachache or diarrhea.
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` ααΆαααααα ααααααααααΈ ααααΌαααααΌαα»ααΆαααααααα»ααααααααΆααααα»αααΆαα½ααααααΎααααΈα²ααα ααααΆαααΆ αα·ααααΆααα½α ααΆαααΆαα½αααΉααααααΆααααα²ααα’ααααααααΊααΉαα ααΆαα αααΎαααΆααα ααΆααΆαααΆαααααα·αααααΆα ααα»αααααα αααααααααααΌαα»ααΆαααααΌαααααααααααα» αααααααααααααααΎαα·αααΆααΆαα·αααΆαααααα·αααααΆαααα’αααααΆααα’αααα ααααΊα ααΆαααΆαααα‘αΌαααΈ αα αααΌ αα·ααα»αααααα ααΆαααΆαααα‘αΌαααΈ αα αααΌ αα·ααα»αααααα ααΊααΆαααααΌαα αααααααΆαα·αααα αααα»αααααΎ αααααααααααα ααα‘αΌαααΈααΆααααΆααα½ααααααΆααααα½αααΆα αα·ααα½αααααΌααΆαααααααα½αααΆαααααΆααα αααΌααααααα ααΈαααααααα‘αΌ αααΈααΆααααΆααα½ααααααΆααααααα αα αααΌ αααααααααααα»αααααΆαααααααα αΌ αααααααααα’α α α ααααα»αα‘α.α ααα»αααααα½ααααα ααααααααααΎααΆα αα αααΌ α‘ααΎαα’αΆα ααΌαααΆααααααΆααααα»αααααααα€αα α₯ααααΆααα»αααΉαααΆα αΆ ααααααΎαααα·αα ααααα α αΎαααα’αΆα ααΆαααααααΆααΆααα αΌααααα©α ααααΆαα ααααΆαα·ααααααα’αΆα αααααααΎααΆααααααααΆααααααΎααΆα’α»ααα»α ααΆααααα
ααΆααα»αα α·αααααααΆ ααααΆαα·ααααααΆαααααΆαααα»ααααααααααΆααααα ααααα αα½ααααα·αααΆαααα ααΈαα»ααααα·ααΆαααααααααα»ααΆαααααα‘αΎααβααΎαα·α ααΆααΎαααααΎααααΎαααΎαααΉαααΎααααΌααΌ αααβαααααα αα ααβαααααΈ ααΆααβααΆ αα αααααααΈααααααα αααααΆαααααα·ααααα·ααΌαααααααααα·α ααα ααΈααΌαααΆααααΆ ααααααΆαααΆααα»α αα·αβαα·ααα½α αα·ααααααααα ααα α’αααΈααααα·ααααααΆαααααα·αααα·αααααααα½αααα ααΆαααααααααααααα ααΆααααααΎαα²ααααΆαααα ααααΈαα»αα ααααΎα αα·αααΆααα»ααα»αααααααΆ αααααα·ααααααΆαααααα»ααααα ααΎαα·αααΆααααΆααααΆααααΆααααα·αα αααα½α ααααα’αααααααα α’ααααααααΉαααααΌαααΊααααα»αααααΆααα αΆ αααΈααααααααααααα½αααα ααΆαααααΌαα’αααΎ α¬αααααΆααΆαααα αΎα ααααΎα²ααα’ααααααααααΌααααααααααααααααΆααααΆααα½α αααα ααααα αΆαααααα·αα ααα»ααααααΎαα·αααΆαααα·αααα½ααα»αααααΌα α αΎαααααΌαααΆααααααααααΆαα αΆααααΆαβααααΊαααααΌαααα½ααα·ααααααΆαααααα αααααα ααΆααααααααααααααα»αααααααΆααα½α α
αααααΊααΆααααΆαααααααΆαα·ααααΆαααα½αααααα½ααααααΎαααααΎαααααΆ ααα αααΌαααααΆαα·αααα αααααααα ααΉαααα‘αΌαααΈαααα αα ααααα ααα½αααΆαααααααααΈααΆαααα‘αΌαααΈαα·ααα αααΌ αα½αααΆααα αΌααααααααααααΎ ααααΆαααααΌααΌααα ααααααα’αΆα αα½ααα½αααΆααααααΎααααΎαααΆααααΆαααΆα αααα½αα ααΎααααΈααααααα½αααΆααααααΌαααΆαααααααα ααΎααΎαααα αα½α αα»ααααα»α αααααααα αΎαααααα·αα ααααΈααΎαααααααΆα αα ααααααααα‘αΌαααΈαα· αααααααααΌαααααΆααα½αααΆααααΉααααααααΆααααααα α²αααααα½α αααααΆαα
Rubber ααααα αααΌ
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TRADITIONAL LIVELIHOODS
First, the holistic practitioners grind the ingredients with a rock to form a powder that they mix with water. Then, they let the patient drink it. Most of the time the remedy is successful, but sometimes the holistic practitioner needs to mix some new ingredients together if it doesnβt work well for the patient.
need to make a hole in a specific kind of tree and burn it so the resin will come out. Once the cassava, rubber and resin are harvested, the Phnong will sell these products to a middle man. TRUST Phnong always leave their personal belongings outside of their house because of their trusting culture. When traveling around their communities, you will see motos, cows, chickens and baskets everywhere. Their mindset is very honest with the things that they own. But some people in their community still have the idea to steal things. If anyone steals, they will get sick immediately because of a curse. They need to give back the things they stole. But, if they donβt do it and get caught by the leader of their community, they will receive punishment depending on the value of the things that they stole.
CASSAVA, RUBBER & RESIN Growing cassava, rubber, and finding tree resin are the most common jobs that Phnong have. Cassava is easy to grow and helps families earn more money since cassava is a valuable crop. Rubber is decreasing in value, now worth about 2,000 riel per kilogram, but many Phnong still have rubber farms. One rubber tree must grow for four to five years before it starts producing rubber, and then it can produce rubber for up to 90 years. Phnong also use the dead branches of rubber trees as firewood. Resin is one of the main natural resources that helps the Phnong economy similar to cassava. When they have free time from growing cassava or rubber, the Phnongββ often visit the forests with their invented motorcycle that can travel through thick forests easily. To get resin, they
Rice cooking ααΆαα αα’α·αααΆαβ
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` ααΆαααααα ααααααααααΈ ααΆααα»αααααΌα Unhusking rice
ααααααααΆαααααΌα The way of carrying a baby
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TRADITIONAL LIVELIHOODS
αα αααΌ Rubber
αααααααααααΈ Traditional House
αα»αβααΆααα αΌααααααααΈαα½α Bok, a traditional food
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αααΌααΌααα ααα Invented Moto
` ααΆαααααα ααααααααααΈ
αααααΆα ααααΌα αα»αΉαααΊααΆα’ααααααα’αΆα ααααΆα αααααΆ αα·ααα½αααΆαα Kver Perng is an old woman that makes blankets or Kromas to sell.
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TRADITIONAL LIVELIHOODS
ααΆαα αΆαααααΌα αα·αααΆαααααΆα The way of drying rice and wine jars
αααααΆα ααααΌα αα»αΉααααα»αααααΆααα½αα Kver Perng weaves a blanket.
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ααΆαα’αααα αα·α ααΈααααααα·αα ααΆααΆααααα αααααααΆαα·αααα ααΆααΆααααααααΆαααΆααΆααααααα ααααΆαααΆααΆαα·ααΆααβαααα ααα»αααα αΎα ααΎα αααααΆαα·ααΆααααααΆααα²ααααΆααΆααααα ααααααααααααααααΎαααααααααααααααααααΎααααΈα²ααααΆααααα½ααααα»αααΆααααααααΆαααααααααααα ααααααα’αΆα α αΌααααααΆααα α’αΆαα»ααααΆααα½αααααΆαα αααααα·ααΈαααααΆααααΈαα½ααααααααΆααααΈααΈαααααααα ααΆαααααααααΌα αα ααΉαααΆααΆααααααα ααα»αααααα½ααα ααααΎααααΆααααΆααΆααααα αααΎααααα»αααΆαααααα·αααααααα ααΈααααΆααααΈαα½ααααααααΆααααΈααααΆααα½α αα·αααααααα·ααα·ααΆαααΆαα αααΎαααΆααΆααΆαααααα ααΆααΆαα ααααααααΆαα·αααααααα αααααααα·ααΈαα·ααααΆαα ααααΆααααΈααααΆααα½αβααΌα αααα αΎαααΎαααΆααα·ααααα·α αα½α ααΆαααααααααααΆααα·ααααΆ αααααααΆααααΈαααααΈααβαα·αααααααααα ααααααΆααααΈααααΆααα½αα‘αΎααα ααΎαα’αΆα ααΆααααΆαααααΎααααΈααααΆαααΆααααΌαααααααα ααααααΆαα ααααΌαααααααα αααααααΆαα·αααα ααα ααααΈα’ααΈα ααΆααααΌαααααααα ααα αα ααΆααΆααααα·ααααΆααΌααΈαα α’αααααααΌα β αααααββαα·αααααααΆααβααΈαα½αααΈαααΆααΆααΊααααααα·αααααα ααααα β ααααα’αααααααΌααΊα ααα± β ααα β ααααΆααβαα βαααα»αα β α αααααβ αααα β ααα½αα β αΉαα β ααΈβ α β αααβαααααβαα·ααα·ααΆαβααΆααΆααΆααααααα·αααααα αααΆααααΆααα α’αααααααΌ ααΆααααααΈααααααααΆαααααααααΈα’αααααΆαααα (CARE)αβα’αααααααΌα»ααΆα ααααααβαα·αααα’αααΈβα’ααΆαααα β αααΆαααααα½ααααααβα§ααΆα αααα ααααααααΈααΆαααΆαβαααα’αΆαααβααααα β α½αα β αα²ααααΆαααααΉαααααΌαα
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Education & Biography COMMUNITY SCHOOLS Phnong has no written language, only a spoken language. Since there is no written language, the government has schools in Phnong communities use the Khmer alphabet to help with the pronunciation and spelling of words. Kids can start school at the age of six. From grades one to three, their learning curriculum is the same as in Khmer government schools but the difference is they speak mainly in the Phnong language. From grades four to six, students learn and speak primarily in Khmer. Phnong community schools end their curriculum at grade nine, so it is rare that students continue on to grade 12. The regionΓ’€™s only high school is far away from many Phnong villages, in the town of Sen Monorom. Only students in grade nine or higher can apply to be a community teacher. COMMUNITY TEACHER Kaek Sreyin is one of the community teachers at Poutil primary school. She teaches grade one students about Khmer and Phnong languages. Her goal is to have all the people in her community know how to write and speak in the Khmer and Phnong language. She learned how to become a teacher from an organization called CARE. Sreyin also teaches her students about personal hygiene, like showing them how to wash their hands properly.
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ααΆααΆαα·ααΆα ααΆαααααααα
ααΆααααααα
ααΆαααααααα
ααΆααααααα
αα½ααααΈ αα»ααααααΆαα αα·ααα»ααα ααααα αα ααΆ ααΆαα·αα αΎα α’ααα»α αα·αα’αΈα αααα»α α’ααα ααΎα αααα»α ααααΈ ααΎα αα ααΉα ααα’ α’αΆααααα αα»α α ααα’αΆα αααα αΆ α αΌα αα·α ααΎαααΎ αα
ααΆαααααα‘αΆαα αααα‘αΆαααααααΊ ααααα»: αααΆ: α’αΆαααα»α αααα αΆααα’αΊ ααα ααΌα αααΆαα’α»α ααα: ααα(α),α’α(α) αα»α·α ααΌααααα: ααΌα’αΌα ααΉα ααΆαα αα»α ααα ααΉα αααα»α ααα ααααα·α ααΌα ααα ααΎαααΈ αα
α αααα»α ααααΆα ααα αΌα ααΊ ααΆ ααΆα αα½αααΎα α’αα ααααΆα α ααΆα ααααΆ αααα αα α α αΆα ααΆα α‘ α’ α£ α€ α₯ α¦ α§ α¨ α© α‘α β
ααααα»α ααα ααααα ααΈ α α α’ααΌ αααα’αααΌα ααΈαααΌ ααααΆα αααΆαα ααΉαααααα ααΌα α αααΆα α’αΊα ααα½α αααα ααα ααΆαα ααααΆα ααααΆα α αααΆα αΊ αα·α αα·α
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SPOKEN LANGUAGE
English
Phnong Pronunciation
English
Phnong Pronunciation
Hello How are you? Not well Name Where are you going? Bye Thanks Itβs okay I You We Boy Girl Laugh Cry Angry Good Bad Lie Beautiful Handsome Eat Think Tree Hand Nose
Tang vas lang vas lang dong per bas doh ror nyah ah proh nak han er weh moo jerau Kub may (boy) : eh (girl) pun pou clav pou ohn kum ta nhom noh weh merk meroh weh weh nyoun choung ror vey derm chβey daiy tro moh
Head Food Hurt Grandfather Grandmother We Shy Scared Brave Shoulder Ear Neck Yes (girl) Yes (boy) One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten
poh drau jee jae ou pel om pull deeb pou pleag paan cherng mlache dole gahr raanh in pou-ey ror-pay ror-pai poan pram prau bur paii chin jet
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` ααΈααααααα·αα ααΈα ααΈα ααΆα: ααΆαα’αΆαα»α€α€ααααΆαααΆααααΆαα·αααααααααααααΆαααΆαα½αααΉαααααΈααααΆαα·αααα
ααΆααααΈααααΆαα‘α©α¨α§αααααααα ααΆααααΊααΆααα·αα αααααααα ααΌαα·αααααααααααααα α©βααααΆαααα αΎαα α’αααααΈαααΆαααΌαααααΈααΈααΆαα αα·αααΌααααα»αααΈαααΆααα αααααααα ααΆααααΆαααααΆααααααα»αααααααααααΆα
αα’αααααΆα α’αΆα.αααΈ.α’αα.α’αΌ α αΎαα’αααααΈαααααΆα’αααααααΆαα²ααα β αααααΈαα ααΌαα·ααααααΆαααααααα ααα
αααα’αααααΈααα ααααα α’αααααΈαααααα ααααααααααααα αΎαα’αααααΈαααααΆαααααααααααΆααααΈαα½ααααα α’ααα ααΈαααΆααααΆαα·αααααααααααΆααααααααα’αΆα αα·ααΆαααΆααΆααααααΆαααα’αααααααααΈαααααααααααΆα’ααα ααΈαααΆααααΆαα·αααααααααΈ α’αααααΈαααΆαααΉααααααΆαααΆα αααΎαααΈαααααααααααααααΆαα·ααααα
Chhin Nak is a 44 year-old Khmer woman who married a Phnong man in 1987. They have three daughters and two sons. She is a farmer who has been living in Krang Tes commune for the past nine years. When she was younger, she lived in Kampong Thom province and went to a government school until grade four. In addition to farming, she is also in charge of the saving group for ICSO and is a representative for issues and equal rights in her community. As a Cambodian, she not only speaks fluent Khmer, but she also speaks very good Phnong. She knows a lot about Phnong traditions after living in their community for so long and believes in preserving the Phnongβs culture.
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BIOGRAPHIES ααΌ ααα ααααΌα: ααΆαα’αΆαα»α€α’ααααΆαααΆααααΆααααΆαα·αααααβ ααααΌααααΌαα αΆααααααΎααα ααΌαα·ααΌαα·α αα»ααααΌααααΆ αααα»αααααααΆααΆ αααααααααααα·ααΈα αααααΌααααααα»ααααααΆααα·ααααΆαααααα ααα‘αΌα
ααααααααααααΆααααααΎαααααααααα ααααααααΈαα»ααααααΆααα·αα αααααΌααΆαααααΆααααα αααα
ααααα’αααααΆα α’αΆα.αααΈ.α’αα.α’αΌ (α’αααααΆαααΆαααααα ααααααααΆαα·ααΎαααΆααα·α )ααα αααααα ααΆααααΆααα»αα αΎαααΆααα αααα·ααααΌααΌ ααΊαααααΆαααααααααΆααααααΌααα·ααΆααααΆααΆαα½ααα·ααααα»ααααα½ααΆα ααααααΆααααΆααα’αααα½αααΆαααΌαααΌα αααααα αααααΆααααα½αααααΆααα·αααα·ααααα α α·αααααΆαααΈ
ααααααα½αααααααΆα αααααα½ααααα»αααΆααα½ααα·α αα ααΆααααα½ααΆαααΌα ααΆααΆαα αΆα ααΆαααΆαβαααααα’αΆαβ αα·αααααΆαααααΆααΎα α ααΆαα αΌααα½ααααααα α α·ααααααααΆααααααα½ααααααααααααααΆαα·αααααβ
Ros Klonh is a 42 year-old Phnong man. In addition to being a farmer, Ros Klonh is a community networker for ICSO (Indigenous Communities Support Organization) in Sen Monorom. Klonhβs family follows an important Phnong cultural tradition about family roles and responsibility. Before Klonh buys something that costs a lot of money, he first discusses the decision with his entire familyβincluding the children. His children can make decisions because they help the family by washing clothes, cleaning dishes and taking care of the cows. This is a part of Phnong culture.
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` ααΈααααααα·αα
αααααΆ ααΆαββββ ααΌα: ααΆαα’αΆαα»α¦α₯ααααΆα ααΆααααΆαααΎααα ααα» αααΌααααΆαα ααααΆα α‘α©α₯α‘α ααΆαααααΆααααα»ααα αααααΆααααΌαααΆααααααααΆαααα
αααΆααααααΈ ααα»ααΌαααααΆαα αααααααα αα ααααΆαα‘α©α§α£ α β αΎαααΈ αααααααααααααααα αα ααααΆαα‘α©α§α₯α αααααΆααΆαααααα ααααααααΈααααΆαα‘α©α§α₯
αααααααΆαα‘α©α¨α‘βαα½α ααΆααααααααααααααααααα·ααβαααααΆααΆααα·ααΆαααΆ α’αα‘α»ααααααα»ααα (α‘α©α§α₯) αα·ααΈααααααααααααΌαααΆαααα’αΆααα αΌαβ αααααααΆαα‘α©α§α©ααΎαααααααΎααΆα‘αΎααα·ααββααΆαααΈααΎα α’ααΈααααααα αΆαααααααααα»αα²ααααααΆαα·ααααααα½αααΆαααΆαα’ααααααΌα ααααΆαα·ααααααααα
αααααΆααΊααΆαααααααααΆαααααααααΌαααΆααααααα αΌααα ααΆααΆααααα ααα»ααααααΆααααΆαααααΉααααααα ααααααΆααααααα·ααααΆααααα»αααααα αααααΆααΊααΆ α’ααααααααααΆαααα αααα»ααα ααααααααααΆαα α αΎαααααααααααΆααααΆαααΆαα·ααααα»αααααΉααααΆαα αααααααααα
Kas Tov is 65 years old, born in Bousra Commune in 1951. The Khmer Rouge forced him to evacuate from Bousraβ commune to Krang Tes in 1973 and he moved from Krang Tes to Koh Nhek in 1975. He lived in Koh Nhek from 1975 to 1981, then he came back to live in Krang Tes. During that time (1975), the Phnong didnβt get to celebrate their ceremony until 1979. In the past, the former king encouraged the Phnong to get educated in the same way as Cambodians. He was sent to school, but he could only finish primary school. He is one of the literate Phnong people and heβs now is a member of the community council.
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BIOGRAPHIES ααΆααααΆαα·αααα αααααΆ ααααα αααα α’αΆαα»α§α©ααααΆα ααααααα»ααααααΆα’αααααααΎααΆααΆα αα β αααΆα ααααααΎ ααΆααΆα’ααααααααα€α ααααΆαααα αΎα αααααΆααααΈααααα»ααΆα αͺαα»αααΆααααααααααα²ααα αααα
ααααΆαααααβ ααΆαααααααΆααΆαα½ααααα»ααααααα‘α αα»αΊααααα αααααΆααααααΆααααααΌαααΆαααΊαααα αα·αα¬ααααΈ
α αΎαααααΎααααααααααΈααααααα»αααααα ααααΆαα·ααααααααΎααααΆααααΆαααα½αααΆααΆαβααααααα αααααααα ααααΆααα αααααααααααα·αααΆαα αααα ααΎαααααΆααα·αααααααα α¬ααααααααααααβα‘αΎαα ααΆααΆααααΌαααΆαααααΎααααΆαααααααααΆαα·ααααααΌααααααΆααααα αΎαα ααα»ααααααα αααααααΎαααααααΆαα’αααααΆααααΎααΆα‘αΎα αααααααααΎααααΆααααααααααααααααα½ααα·α
ααΈαααααααααΆαααΆααΆαααααααααααααα βααΌα αααααΊααΆαααα’ααααααααΆαααΈαααΆααααααα¬ααΌαααΆααα ααα»ααααααααα’αΆα ααΆαααααααΆαα’αΆα αα·αααΆααΆαα
Krem Nhes, at the age of 79, has been making baskets (Kapa) for 40 years, since he was taught by his father. He sells the basket for $25 each. He needs bamboo, timber and three days to finish a basket. Phnong use it instead of bags, normal baskets and plastic. Itβs very useful for going to the forest, market and when buying things or selling things. The Kapa basket has been used by the Phnong culture for many centuries. Yet now, almost no one uses it anymore, they use only plastic bags. Also the price of the basket is very high. So it gives the chance only to tβ he high social class that can afford to buy it.
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` ααΈααααααα·αα α’αααααααΈ ααααΌαααΉα»α: ααΆαα’αΆαα»α¦α₯ααααΆα ααΆα’ααααααααΆαααααΆαααα αααα»αααΌαα·ααααααααα ααΆααααααΆα ααααααα½α ααΆααΆαααΌαααααα αα½ααα ααααα α’αΆα ααΉα»α ααΉα»α αα·αααααααα ααΆααααΆαααααα»ααα·ααααΆαααααααΈααααΆααα ααααΆααα αΎαααΆαααα·αα’ααααααΈαααβα’αααααΈαααΆαααΌαα§ααΆαα αααα»αα£ ααααΈα€α ααΎαα·αααΆααΆα
ααααααααα²ααααΆααααααΎααΎαααΆααααααΆαααα ααααΎααααΆαα’ααααα·α ααΆααααΉαααααΎαααααΆαβαααααααΎααααΆααα ααααααααααΆααα½ααα½ααααΆαααΏαααΊαααα ααα’α ααααααΎαα αΎααβααααΎααααΆαααΊααα·α
α‘ααααΎαααΆαα αΎαα αα ααΆααααααα»αααΆαααααΆαα·αααααααααααααααΉα»ααα·αααΉα»α ααα»αααααα αα α»ααααααααα ααααΎαααααααΆαα’ααααααααααΆαα α αΎαα ααΆαααα·αααΆα ααααααααααΌαααΆααα²ααα αααα ααααΆααααααΆααβ ααα»ααααααΌαααααααΆαααα·αα αααααα‘αΎαα
Kver Perng is 65 years old and has seven children, three boys and four girls. She is the main weaver in Krang Tes village. She weaves bags, backpacks, blankets, skirts, loincloths and towels. Blankets and towels are traditionally made with handspun thread by older Phnong women. Perng learned these skills from her mother. If a villager or foreigner wants to buy her handicrafts then she will weave for them, otherwise she will weave for her family. It takes between 20-30 days to finish one blanket, which costs 60,000 riel. In the past, most Phnong wore traditional clothing, but now not so much. She really wants to teach her daughter how to weave, but her daughter is not interested in learning the craft.
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BIOGRAPHIES α’αααααααΈ αααα·αααΎα ααΆααααΆαα·ααααααααΆααα ααΆ β ααααΆαααΎααα ααααααΈα‘α αααα»ααΆ ααααΆαα‘α©α§α©αβ
ααΆαααα·αααΆααα ααΆααΆαα αααααΆαααααΈαααΆααααα»ααααα½ααΆαααΆαααΆαααααΆααααα
ααΆααααΆαα αΆααα’ααααΆαααααΎααΆααααα ααααΆααα½α αα·ααααααααααααΆααααααααα»αα’αα‘α»ααααα»αααα αααααααααΆ αααααΆαααααΆαααΉααααααΆααααααΎααααα αααΆαα ααααααα½ααααααα‘α ,α α α α αα½ααα½α
αααααα¦α ,α α α αα ααΆ β ααααααΌαααΆαααααΆααα ααααΆααα½αααααααΎααααΈααααΎαα½ααα½αα ααΆααα’αΆα ααααΎαααααα’ααααΆαααΆα αα½ααααα»ααα½αααααα αα αααα»αααΌαα·ααααααααααΆαααααΆαααα·αααααΆαααααααΆαααααααααααααααααααΎααααα
αα½ααα·ααααααααααααΆααααααβααα»ααααα½αα ααα½ααα αααα»αααΌαα·αααααααααα ααααΆαααΆαααααααΌααααα αααααααΆαα αα·ααα ααα ααααααααΈααα ααΆααααΆααααα α’ααα αααα ααααΌα ααααα αα·αα β αα‘αΌαααΈα ααααΌα αα·αα β αα‘αΌαααΈαααααααα·ααΆαααααΆαααααα½ααΆαααΆαα αααΎαααΆαααα
Krane Chert was born on 10 October, 1979. She didnβt go to school because her family was poor. As a farmer, she grows pumpkin, zucchini, rice, gourds and cassava. Rice and cassava raise the most money for her family, but she still finds other ways to earn money. Every year between February and April when there is no water for farming, she makes colorful beaded necklaces to sell. Her handmade necklaces are made with beads from Vietnam. One necklace costs 10,000 riel and one blanket costs 60,000 riel. Her community also trades in goods. In Krang Tes village, only she and her mother (Kver Perng) make and sell necklaces, blankets and towels.
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ααα ααααΈααααα·ααααΆα ααααααααααα ααααΆαα·ααααααααααα»αααΉααααα αΆααΆα αααΎαα αααα αΆα αααααΆαααΌα ααΆααΆαα’αααα αα·ααα»αααΆααβααΆαα’ααααααΆαααα αΆααααααΆαααα½α αααααα’αα‘α»α αααααααΎααααα αααΆααͺαα»αααααΆαααααα»αααΌαα²αααα αα½α ααΌα ααααααΌαααα·αααΆαα αΌαααΆααΆαα α αΎαα ααα½αα’αα»αα·ααααΆααααα ααΆαααααα·ααααα»α
αα ααααααααααΆαααβαα»αααΆαααααΆαααα αΆαα½αααα αααααΆααααααααα’ααΆααα ααΉαααα’αΆαβαα·αααΆααααααΊαααααααααααΆαααΌαααΆαα αα
α’αα‘α»αααααααααΎαα α»αααααΎαααααα·ααααΆαα αα ααααααααΆαα·αααα ααΎαααΆαααΉαααΆααααΆαα·ααααααΆαααααΆααααααΌααααααααΈαααααα½αααΆααα αα αα ααααααααα ααααΆαα·αααααα·ααααααααααααααααΆαααααααααΈααΉαααΆαααα ααααααΆαααα·ααα·ααΆαααΆααΆααααα αααΎα ααΆαα·αααααααααααααΆαααααααα
ααΆα α»αααααα ααΎαααΌααααα»αα²ααααααΆαα·αααααααΆααα’ααααααΆα αΌααα½ααααα»αααΆααα½αααααααααααΆαααΆα ααα»α’αααΈααΆαααΆααΆαα’ααααααααΆαααααααΆαααααααααβαααααΉαααΉα αααα αΆαααααΎαα‘αΎαααΌα ααΆαααΎααα αααααΆαα·ααΆααα½ααααααααΎαα’αα»αα·ααααΆααα αα·ααα·ααααΆαααα²ααααΆααααα αααΎα ααΌα αααααα·ααααΆαα»αα·αααα’αΆα ααααααΆααα·ααααΆ
ααααα·αα αΆαααΆα αααααΎααααΎαααααΆαααΈαα αααααααααα½αααΆααα‘αΎαα αααααΆαααα α₯α‘αΌαααααΆαα·ααααααΆαααααααα»αααΆααααα’αΆα ααααΆααΆααα½αααΆαα
αα αααααΆααααααΊ α αΎααα½αααΆααααααΆααααααΉαααΈααΆαααααΆααα»αααΆαααα’ααΆααα»αα ααααααααΈααααα½αααΆααααΆαααααααα’ααΆαααααααΉαααααΌα ααΆαα½αααΉααααααααα ααΉααααααα’αΆαααΆααα»αα ααααα ααΆααααααααααααα½αααΎααααα»α ααΎαααΎαααΉαα α·ααααααα’αααααααΆαααα»α α²αααα½αα αααααααα ααααααΉαααΈααΆαααααα ααααααααααααααΈα αΆααααααααααααα ααΆααααααααααααΆααααααα ααααααΆααααΌαα²αααα½αααΆαααα·ααΆαααΆααΆααΎαααααααααα²ααααΆαα αααΎαααΆααα»αα
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Conclusion There are many issues that Phnong people face every day. The main issues are education and health. Education is one of the main issues because kids help their parents during the farming season, so they miss school. There is also a lack of lower secondary schools in their communities. Health is also an issue because of improper hygiene, unsafe water resources, and illnesses caused by mosquitoes. While visiting Phnong communities on our field trip, we noticed that this indigenous minority has changed their cultural customs a lot. They do not wear their traditional costumes as often, their houses are becoming more modern, and they donΓ’€™t speak as much Phnong language as before, particularlyΓ’€‹the younger generation. In conclusion, we would like to motivate all Cambodians to help Phnong people understand the importance of education for their children. The government should build more secondary schools, so students are able to further their education without traveling to other schools that are very far away from their communities. On the other hand, right now, they have public health centers that can take care of them when they are sick and they understand what is good for their health and what is not good for their health. In addition, they have safer water systems. From our perspective, we would like to encourage the older generation to spread awareness of their traditional lifestyles and to speak more of their native language (Phnong) as much as they can.
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` ααΆαααααα ααααααααααΈ
ααααΆαα·αααααααααα ααααααΎααααΆαααααααα¬ααααΈααΎααααΈα αα’α·αααα αΌα(ααααααααΌα) Some Phnong still use bamboo to cook food (Prong).
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SOME PICTURES OF LIFESTYLE
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αααα»αααααΆαααααΆαααααααΎα
αααα»ααα·ααααΆααααΆαααααΆαααΈααααΆαα·ααααααΆααα αααααΉαααααααααΌααααΆαααα»αααααααααααααΈααΈα ααααααααΌααααΆαααααααααααΆαααααααααΆαα· ααααααααΎααααΆααααΆααΆααΉααα·ααΆα ααααΎααααΆαααααααα αα·αααΆαααααααα½αααΆααα’αΆα ααααααααααα α’αΆα αΆα ααααααααααΆαα αα·αααααα»α’αα»ααααΆαααΈ αααααΆα αααΎαααααα ααααααααα αααα The Phnong Exploration group visited Bousra waterfall in Mondulkiri province. Bousra waterfall is an important resource for the Phnong, as they use it for water, washing, and as a place for selling food, clothes, and other souvenirs to tourists.
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OUR TEAM
αααα»ααααΆαααΆαα’αααααααα ααααΌαααΆα αα·ααα ααΆααααα ααααα½αααΆαα αα½ααα»α (α-α) α αΆαα ααΆααΈα ααα αα»ααΆα ααα ααααααα ααα ααααΆα αα»ααΆβαααααΆααΈα βα αΆα ααΈααΆα αα½αααααα (α-α) αα»αααα αααα αα ααΌ αα·ααΆα ααΏα αααΆαααΆ ααΆαααα αα»ααα ααα ααΆαα·ααΈ ααΏα ααΌααααΈααΆα The wonderfully hard working writers, photographers and designers of this book are: Front (L-R) Davith Chan, Sophat Seng, Somphors Yun, Vornsar Ses, Kangnaneat Sophea, Chimean Hav Back (L-R) Rattanak Sovann, Visal Sou Sao, Maya Yoeung, Sopor Thanann, Tha Thiny Tep, Sreyneang Pho Loeung
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β
αααα»ααα·ααααααααΆααααΆααααααα’αααΈααΆαααΆααααααααααααααααααααΎααα (αααα)α ααα»αααααααααααααα»ααα· αααΈααΆααααα αΎαααααααα ααΎααααα»αααααααααΎαααΆαααααααααααααΎααααα»αααααΆαααααααααα·α αααααα αααααΈααα ααααΆα αααΈα (αα»ααααααΆαα·αααα)
I never used to worry about the extinction of our culture. But when I think about it over and over again, I notice our culture is fading. β Plang Sin (Phnong man)
β
αα·ααααΆαα»αα·αααααΆααΆα’ααααααΆαα·α‘αα αααααα ααΈαααα»αααααααααα½ααααα»αααΆαα α»αααααΎαααααα·ααααΆαα αααααααααααα·ααΈ ααΎααααΈαααααααααααΈααααααααααα ααααΆαα·ααΎαααΆααα·α ααααα αα αααα»αααααα αααα’αααβααΉααααααΉαααααααα’αααΈααΆαααααα ααααααααααΈ ααααΏααΈααΈαα»ααααααααα ααΆαα’ααααβαααα ααΆααααΈααααααααα·ααααααααααααΆαα·ααΆααα·α αααα ααΆ β ααααααΆααααααΆααααααααααΆαααααααα½αααΎααααΆααΆα’ααααααΆαα·α‘αα αααααα αααα»αααΈαααα»ααααααα ααααααα²αααα·ααααααααΆααααααΆαα»ααααααααααα·αααΆααα·αααα·ααΆααααααααα·ααΆ ααΌαααΆαα’ααααααααΆααααααΆαααα·αααααα αΎααααα»αα²αααα½αααααΎααααΈ ααααΆαααΆα’αααααΉαααΆααα ααααα’ααΆααα
A group of students from Liger Learning Center in Phnom Penh traveled to Mondulkiri to study indigenous Phnong culture. In this book, you will learn about Phnong traditional livelihoods, their belief, ceremony, education, and their lifestyle through our interviews. Liger Learning Center in Phnom Penh provides high-potential, economically disadvantaged students with a world-class learning experience β empowering them to become leaders of tomorrow.