Jenjee Txujci Sengkhammee, M.S.Pre-doctoral Psychology Intern Illinois State UniversityPresentation to AsiaConnectMay 24, 2013

HMONG IN BRIEF:HISTORY, CULTURE, AND THE U.S.

HMONG MEANS FREE• Distinct ethnic/cultural group• Ancestrally Southern Chinese who migrated south

due to religious persecution• Primitive life with limited contact with

industrialized cultures• Populated Laos, North Vietnam, Burma, China and

Thailand…• Not Lao citizens; lived peacefully in the mountainsides

HMONG CULTURE• Diversity within the Hmong• White, Blue/Green, Striped, Suav

• Traditional religion “Shamanism”• Spirit Calling

• Organized religion• Christians • Catholics

Photo from UC Davis

HMONG CULTURE• Live in Clans - 12 Original• Example: Yang, Lee, Her• Demonstrate lineage of relationship

• Traditional roles of men and women• Men head of household• Women caretakers• Children caretakers• Sons versus daughters

HMONG LANGUAGE• Two dialects• White Hmong (majority)• Blue or Green Hmong (minority)

•Written Language developed in 1952-53• Father Yves Betrais, Dr. Lindwood Barney, & Dr. William A.

Smalley• Romanized Popular Alphabet (RPA)• Tonal Language, 7 tones and 13 vowels

• Example: Nyob Zoo - Hello or Hi

•Chao-Fa (Hmong rebel group)• Similar to Thai and Lao written language

Photo from UW Madison

THE SECRET WAR IN LAOS

• Covert Operations with U.S. CIA involvement in 1950-1970’s• Late General Vang Pao –

Hmong leader

• Soldiers • Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos• Blockage of army supplies• Medics & Rescuing soldiers• Plane mechanics • Interpreters & Guides• Est. 30,000 killed

(Hutchinson, 1997)

ESCAPE FROM LAOS & REFUGEE STATUS

• Perceived as traitors to the Pathet Lao government• Air-lifted by U.S. Military• Escape crossing the Mekong River

• Refugee Camps in Thailand• Poor living conditions = Hepatitis B• Ban Vinai• Chieng Kham or (Kong)• Nong Khai• Last Wave (2003-2004) Wat Tham Krabok

• Refugees moved to Australia, France, Canada, French Guyana, United States• 1970’s refugee status in the U.S.• First Generation

HMONG IN THE HOMELAND

• Hmong-Thai Refugees repatriated to Laos• Live as Thai people• Controversial - Hmong are missing• Lao government denies persecution• No international involvement or observation (HRW, UNHCR)

• Hmong in Laos• Live as Lao people• Living in the jungles• Considered rebels by Lao PDR• Controversial - Hmong persecution • Lao government denies persecution• No international involvement

• Hunted Like Animals

HMONG IN THE UNITED STATES (2010 Census)

• Hmong Population• United States - 260,076 (.08% of the U.S. population)• California - 91,224• Minnesota - 66,181• Wisconsin - 49,240• Illinois – 651

• Birth and Citizenship Status• 148,499 U.S. born• 102,792 Foreign born• 65,060 Foreign born – Naturalized US citizen• 37,732 Foreign born – Not US citizen

HMONG IN THE UNITED STATES (2010 Census)

• Entry into the U.S.• 20.5% 2000 or later• 28.9% 1990-1999• 50.6% Before 1990

• Hmong Educational Attainment (25 years and older-104,031)• Trends show increases in educational attainment• 35.5% Less than a H.S. diploma• 27.9% Some college or Associate’s Degree• 13% Bachelor’s Degree• 2.6% Graduate or Professional Degree

HMONG IN THE UNITED STATES (2010 Census)

• Language spoken at Home (Age 5 and older)• 90.3% Speak language other than English at home

• Household Income (48,607 households)• $46,500 Median family income

• Poverty Rates• 21.3% Living in poverty

Photo from www.galenfrysinger.com

RESOURCES• Shamanism and Medicine• The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Anne Fadiman• The Split Horn, PBS Video

• Involvement in the War• Tragic Mountains, Dr. Jane Hamilton

• Hmong in Laos• Hunted Like Animals, Sommerfield Films• Hmong Human Rights Watch