Lia Vang: MY HOME IN GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN
IS ABOUT AS DIFFERENT
FROM THE HOME WHERE MY PARENTS GREW UP
AS ANY TWO PLACES CAN BE DIFFERENT.
THEY DIDN'T GROW UP WITH CARS OR CEMENT ROADS
OR ELECTRICITY, OR TELEPHONES OR INDOOR PLUMBING.
AND IN THEIR WORLD, CHILDREN LEARNED FROM PARENTS AND ELDERS
RATHER THAN FROM FORMAL SCHOOLS.
I'M SURE THAT MY MOTHER AND FATHER
FEEL THAT PEOPLE HERE IN THE U.S. ARE DIFFERENT, TOO
JUST AS DIFFERENT AS THE TELEPHONES
AND COMPUTERS AND TALL BUILDINGS.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES:
IT'S THEIR RULES, THEIR VALUES
THEIR LIFESTYLES.
THE HMONG CULTURE IS SO DIFFERENT
FROM THE WAYS AND IDEAS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY
THAT MOST HMONG PEOPLE IN MY PARENTS' GENERATION
HAVE HAD A VERY TOUGH TIME MAKING NEW LIVES HERE.
IN TRYING TO LIVE HMONG CULTURE IN THIS SOCIETY
THEY HAVE OFTEN BEEN FRUSTRATED
AND DISAPPOINTED.
MY FATHER HAS BEEN VERY DEPRESSED.
(speaking Hmong)
Lia Vang: MOST AMERICANS HAVE VERY LITTLE IDEA
OF WHAT THE OLD WAYS MEAN TO HMONG PEOPLE.
WE'D LIKE TO CHANGE THAT.
WE'D LIKE OUR NEW NEIGHBORS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES
TO KNOW ABOUT OUR BELIEFS
OUR TRADITIONS, OUR RITUALS AND OUR CUSTOMS.
AND UNDERSTANDING US AND OUR CULTURE
BEGINS WITH THE WORD WE USE TO DESCRIBE OURSELVES--
"HMONG."
IN OUR LANGUAGE, IT REPRESENTS BEING FREE.
TODAY, IN MY THIRD YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL
I, AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
ARE SOMETHING MY GRANDPARENTS NEVER IMAGINED
CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES
"AMERICANS !"
I WONDER AT TIMES WHERE WE'D ALL BE
IF THERE HAD NEVER BEEN
A "SECRET" PART OF THE WAR IN VIETNAM.
IF MY FATHER HAD CHOSEN NOT TO BE A SOLDIER
IF THE UNITED STATES HAD DEFEATED THE COMMUNISTS
AS THEY SAID THEY WOULD
I DON'T THINK I'D BE WEARING THIS.
THIS IS THE HOMELAND OF MY ANCESTORS
IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN LAOS.
AND THESE ARE MY ANCESTORS, MY FATHER'S FAMILY
GATHERED NEAR THEIR VILLAGE FOR A CELEBRATION
SOMETIME IN THE 1960s.
MY FATHER, CHER YANG VANG, IS HERE.
THIS WAS LONG BEFORE THERE WERE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT ME
OR ANY OF MY 14 BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
AND LONG BEFORE
ANYONE KNEW ANYTHING OF A PLACE CALLED "AMERICA."
THE PENINSULA BELOW CHINA, WHERE LAOS IS LOCATED
IS A BEAUTIFUL FERTILE LAND, LUSH AND GREEN
WITH ROLLING MOUNTAINS
AND SPARKLING RIVERS.
FOR CENTURIES, OUR PEOPLE GREW RICE AND MAIZE HERE.
THEY TENDED CATTLE, HORSES, PIGS AND CHICKENS.
THE CHILDREN, ALWAYS MANY CHILDREN
HELPED WITH EVERYTHING.
AND FAMILIES, USUALLY SEVERAL GENERATIONS
LIVED IN HOUSES LIKE THESE.
THEY WORKED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
THEY ABIDED BY THE RULINGS OF THE CLAN ELDERS.
THEY LOOKED TO THEIR SHAMAN
FOR HEALING AND COMFORT.
THEY PAID HOMAGE TO THE SPIRITS FOR PROTECTION AND GOOD FORTUNE.
THEY WERE BORN, LIVED, MARRIED, MADE AND RAISED FAMILIES
WORKED, DIED
AND WERE BURIED ACCORDING TO THEIR ANCIENT RITUALS.
THEY WERE PEACEFUL AND HAPPY
AND FOUGHT ONLY TO KEEP THEIR FREEDOM
THAT WAS SO DEAR TO THEM.
Lia Vang: SO, WHY DID OUR PEOPLE LEAVE THIS SERENE WAY OF LIFE
IN SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE ?
BECAUSE...
DIFFERENCES IN HUMAN BELIEFS, TRADITIONS
RITUALS AND CUSTOMS
CAN CAUSE CONFLICT AND WAR.
(explosions)
IN THE 1950s, VIETNAM WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO COUNTRIES:
NORTH VIETNAM AND SOUTH VIETNAM.
THE TWO SIDES STARTED FIGHTING FOR CONTROL.
AMERICAN SOLDIERS JOINED SOUTH VIETNAMESE
AND THAI SOLDIERS
AGAINST THE NORTH VIETNAMESE AND THE VIET CONG.
THAT WAS THE VIETNAM WAR EVERYONE KNEW ABOUT.
BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER WAR, A LITTLE-KNOWN WAR.
MY FAMILY LIVES IN WISCONSIN BECAUSE OF THAT WAR.
AS THE FIGHTING IN VIETNAM WORSENED
AMERICA'S CIA HIRED FAMOUS HMONG MILITARY LEADER VANG PAO
TO SECRETLY GO INTO THE MOUNTAINS OF LAOS
AND CONVINCE TRIBAL FARMERS FROM THE AREA
TO BECOME SOLDIERS FOR THE UNITED STATES.
THESE FARMERS WERE THE HMONG, NOT LAO
A SEPARATE PEOPLE, WITH THEIR OWN CLANS AND VILLAGES
AND ORIGINS AND LANGUAGE.
MY PARENTS' PEOPLE.
ABLE-BODIED MALES WERE RECRUITED
AND TRAINED TO USE THE WEAPONS OF MODERN WARFARE
AND HELP FIGHT THE COMMUNISTS.
THEIR SPECIAL AND SECRET JOB WAS TO BLOCK THE ROAD
THE NORTH VIETNAMESE AND VIET CONG USED
TO GET GOODS AND WEAPONS TO THEIR TROOPS IN THE SOUTH
THE ROAD CALLED THE HO CHI MINH TRAIL
WHICH PASSED THROUGH THE RUGGED MOUNTAINS
MY PEOPLE FARMED AND LOVED.
THE MATURE MEN OF THE VILLAGES WERE THE FIRST TO BE RECRUITED
AND THE FIRST TO DIE.
THEN BOYS AS YOUNG AS TEN YEARS-OLD WERE MADE SOLDIERS
AND MANY OF THEM DIED, TOO.
THEY SAVED HUNDREDS OF U.S. PILOTS
WHOSE PLANES WERE SHOT DOWN IN THIS FORBIDDEN AREA.
THEY SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES OF OTHER AMERICANS, TOO
AND SACRIFICED THOUSANDS OF THEIR OWN IN DOING SO.
IN THE END, BY 1975
WHEN ALL THE SUPPORTERS OF THE WAR HAD STOPPED FIGHTING
THERE WERE 30,000
DEAD HMONG SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS LEFT BEHIND
INCLUDING MY FATHER'S FIRST WIFE
AND THREE OF MY HALF-BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
ALSO LEFT BEHIND WERE VILLAGES, FARMS AND HOMES
TO WHICH THE WAR'S SURVIVORS
AND THE DESCENDANTS OF THEIR SURVIVORS
LIKE ME AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
COULD NEVER RETURN.
BEFORE THE WAR STARTED
OVER 300,000 OF OUR PEOPLE LIVED IN LAOS.
NOW, ONLY HALF THAT NUMBER ARE LEFT THERE.
AND ACCORDING TO LOCAL ADVOCATES
THEY ARE TREATED HARSHLY BY THE GOVERNMENT.
LAOTIAN GOVERNMENT AND VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENTS
ARE LAUNCHING FIVE DIVISION TROOPS TO LAOS
TO KILL THE HMONG PEOPLE IN THE JUNGLE.
AND WE'D LIKE TO DO DEMONSTRATION TODAY TO SHOW--
TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT TO HELP US
TO IMMEDIATELY SUPPORT AND HELP THE HMONG COMMUNITY--
THE HMONG PEOPLE IN THE JUNGLE TODAY.
Lia Vang: SOME OF THE WAR'S SURVIVORS, THE LUCKY ONES
FLED TO NEW HOMES --
FIRST IN REFUGEE CAMPS IN THAILAND
THEN IN PLACES OF SAFETY ALL OVER THE WORLD
INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES.
BETWEEN 1979 AND 1989
NEARLY A MILLION SOUTHEAST ASIAN REFUGEES--
90,000 OF THEM HMONG--
CAME TO MAKE THEIR HOMES IN THIS COUNTRY
FORCED FROM THEIR NATIVE HOMES AND COUNTRY
BY EVENTS THEY DIDN'T CAUSE AND COULDN'T CONTROL.
THE NEW ARRIVALS INCLUDED MY MOTHER AND FATHER.
IN 1975, MY FAMILY ESCAPED LAOS
AND CROSSED THE MEKONG RIVER TO THAILAND.
THERE WERE NO SHELTERS ESTABLISHED YET.
NO HOSPITALS, NO SCHOOLS
AND THEY WERE JUST PUTTING UP THE FENCING
THE BARBED-WIRE FENCING.
I WAS BORN IN LAOS.
AND I CAME HERE WITH MY MOTHER AND MY SIBLINGS
WHEN I WAS 6 YEARS-OLD, BACK IN 1980.
MY DAD SAID, "AMERICA ? WHAT IS AMERICA ?"
"IT'S A LAND WAY UP IN THE SKY."
BECAUSE TO GET TO AMERICA, WE NEEDED TO GET ON A PLANE.
AS A YOUNG BOY, KIND OF COMING OUT OF THE JUNGLE
LIVING IN HUTS AND HOUSES
I COULD NEVER PICTURE THIS CIVILIZATION
OF BIG BUILDINGS, FAST CARS, RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT.
THEN, AS TIME GOES ON, I KIND OF GET ACCLIMATED TO IT.
I THINK MY DAD HAD THE HARDEST TIME
BECAUSE HE HAD A CHOICE BETWEEN WORKING OR GOING TO SCHOOL.
HE HAD TO WORK, BECAUSE HE HAD TO SUPPORT ALL OF US.
SO HE DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO GO TO SCHOOL LIKE MY MOM DID.
MY MOM WENT TO SCHOOL, BUT IT WAS HARD FOR HER, TOO
BECAUSE SHE HAD TO SUPPORT ALL OF US, RAISING US
TEACHING US ENGLISH, TOO.
HMONG PEOPLE LIKE MY PARENTS BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY
THAT LIVING AS THEIR ANCESTORS DID
WHICH INCLUDES SPEAKING THE HMONG LANGUAGE
IS THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE.
IT'S TOO BAD, REALLY, THAT THE ONLY TIME
OTHER AMERICANS GET A CHANCE TO SEE SOME OF THAT LIFE
IS AT OUR ANNUAL NEW YEAR FESTIVAL.
THIS CELEBRATION HAS BEEN A PART OF HMONG CULTURE
FOR AS LONG AS ANYONE CAN REMEMBER.
IN LAOS, IT BEGINS IN EACH VILLAGE
ON THE 30th DAY OF THE LUNAR MONTH
AFTER THE YEAR'S RICE HARVEST IS COMPLETED, IN DECEMBER.
HERE, BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER
IT'S HELD IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER.
IN OUR HOMELAND
HMONG FAMILY MEMBERS ALL WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
EVERY WEEK OF THE YEAR
EXCEPT FOR THE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
THE ONLY TIME WHEN ALL WORK MUST CEASE FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS.
SOME OF THE FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES
INCLUDE VOLLEY BALL
SOCCER
KATOW
PERFORMING TRADITIONAL DANCES
DRINKING, EATING
AND THE BALL TOSS GAME.
IN THE BALL TOSS GAME
UNMARRIED MALES AND FEMALES STAND OPPOSITE EACH OTHER
AND TOSS A SOFT BLACK BALL BACK AND FORTH.
SINCE DROPPING A GOOD THROW
MEANS THE PERSON AT FAULT
MUST GIVE THE THROWER SOMETHING OF VALUE
LIKE A PIECE OF SILVER OR SOME TRINKET
FROM HIS OR HER CLOTHING
THE GAME WOULD SEEM TO BE ABOUT WINNING OBJECTS.
BUT THE REAL PURPOSE
IS TO ALLOW GIRLS AND BOYS TO MEET EACH OTHER
AND FIND OUT IF THERE IS MUTUAL ATTRACTION.
MOST OF MY ANCESTORS MADE THEIR FIRST PUBLIC CONTACT
THROUGH THE BALL TOSS GAME AT A NEW YEAR CELEBRATION.
I DON'T MEET GUYS BY BALL TOSSING
LIKE HOW MY PARENTS AND THEM DO.
I MEET THEM BY THEM COMING TO ME AND TALKING TO ME
OR I GO AND TALK TO THEM.
I USUALLY BE FRIENDS WITH THEM FIRST.
I'M USUALLY FRIENDS WITH THEM
TO GET TO KNOW WHO THEY REALLY ARE FIRST
AND THEN START TO DATE THEM.
BUT SOMETIMES-- JUST SOMETIMES
IF I JUST HAPPEN TO SPOT THE RIGHT GUY, I'LL GO FOR IT.
IN TRADITIONAL HMONG CULTURE
BOYS AND GIRLS DON'T SPEAK IN PUBLIC
OTHER THAN AT THE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL.
THEY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS SLEEPING.
AFTER SEEING A GIRL HE MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN
A BOY GOES TO HER HOUSE
AFTER SHE HAS GONE TO BED.
HE TALKS AND PLAYS MUSIC AND SINGS TO HER
TRYING TO COAX HER TO JOIN HIM OUTSIDE.
IF SHE DOES SO, THE COUPLE IS FREE TO BE TOGETHER
SO LONG AS SHE IS HOME BEFORE EARLY MORNING.
BOYS AND GIRLS MAY GO THROUGH SEVERAL OF THESE COURTSHIPS
BEFORE FINDING THE PERSON EACH WANTS TO MARRY.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS
AND IT DOES ONLY IF NEITHER FAMILY HAS AN OBJECTION
THE BOY BRINGS A BLACK UMBRELLA TO HER FATHER'S HOUSE
THEN SEEKS HER PARENTS' PERMISSION TO MARRY HER
THROUGH A THIRD PARTY.
THAT PARTY THEN GOES TO THE GIRL'S FAMILY
AND MEMBERS OF THEIR CLAN
AND WORKS OUT THE DETAILS OF THE MARRIAGE
INCLUDING THE GIFTS THAT ARE TO BE GIVEN BY THE HUSBAND
TO THE GIRL'S FAMILY.
AND THEN, THERE'S THE TRADITIONAL HMONG WEDDING...
LIKE MY OLDER SISTER ZOUAPA'S !
THIS IS AT OUR HOUSE.
IT'S THE SECOND DAY OF CELEBRATING
THAT STARTED THE DAY BEFORE AT THE GROOM'S FAMILY HOME.
TOMORROW, EVERYONE WILL GO BACK THERE FOR A THIRD AND FINAL DAY.
SOME OF THE MINOR PARTS OF THE CUSTOM
HAVE CHANGED HERE IN THE U.S.
BUT OVERALL, THIS IS THE SAME RITUAL
THAT JOINED ALL OUR ANCESTORS IN MARRIAGE
LIKE THE GROOM, NENG
AND HIS "PHIB LAJ" OR "BEST MAN" DOING PE.
THIS RITUAL HONORS ALL MALE RELATIVES
AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD.
BOTH THE BRIDE AND THE GROOM HAVE "MEJ KOOB"
A MARRIAGE BROKER OR MARRIAGE NEGOTIATOR
TO REPRESENT THEM.
HERE, THE BRIDE'S MEJ KOOB, ON THE LEFT
INSTRUCTS THE MALE MEMBERS FROM BOTH FAMILIES
ABOUT PROPER ETIQUETTE
DURING THIS VERY HAPPY, BUT IMPORTANT AND SERIOUS RITUAL.
LATER, THE GROOM'S MEJ KOOB CHANTS MARRIAGE SONGS
BACK AND FORTH WITH THE BRIDE'S MEJ KOOB.
THESE CHANTS CAN GO ON FOR AN HOUR, OR MORE
AND MUST BE PERFORMED VERY PRECISELY
ON EACH OF THE THREE DAYS OF THE CEREMONY.
(singing)
A LIST OF WHAT GIFTS THE GUESTS
AND FAMILY HAVE BROUGHT FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM
IS CAREFULLY KEPT AND THEN READ ALOUD
NEAR THE END OF EACH DAY--
THINGS THEY WILL NEED TO START THEIR LIVES TOGETHER:
LIKE SILVERWARE, DISHES, CLOTHES, FURNITURE
MONEY, AND OF COURSE, FOOD !
THAT'S A HALF-LEG OF THE PIG WITH THE TAIL
THAT GOES TO THE DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW.
ALSO, THEY HAVE...
TWO CHICKEN, WITH ONE BAG OF RICE
SO, THEY GO-- THEY TAKE IT WITH THEM.
Lia Vang: THE BRIDE'S FAMILY PROVIDES THE FOOD AND OTHER REFRESHMENTS
FOR WHICH THE GROOM'S FAMILY
SHOWS THEIR THANKS AND APPRECIATION.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE BRIDE'S FAMILY EXPRESSES THEIR GRATITUDE
FOR THE GROOM'S FAMILY'S GIFTS
WHICH HELPED MAKE THE FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS POSSIBLE.
WITHIN WHAT SEEMS TO BE JUST SOCIALIZING
A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE RITUAL IS TAKING PLACE.
PERSONS CHOSEN BY THE GROOM'S PARENTS TO REPRESENT THEM
ARE GUARANTEEING THE BRIDE'S FAMILY
THAT THEY WILL TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY
IF SHE SHOULD EVER BE MISTREATED
IF SHE SHOULD EVER BE MADE TO SUFFER ILLNESS OR SADNESS
TO CRY, TO BE COLD OR HUNGRY, OR BE IN PAIN
IF SHE SHOULD EVER BE ALLOWED TO COMMIT ADULTERY.
IN THE HMONG CULTURE
A WIFE'S UNFAITHFULNESS
IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HUSBAND.
JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE ASSURANCES
FROM THE GROOM'S FAMILY TO THE BRIDE'S
ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE BRIDE
FROM MEMBERS OF HER FAMILY.
UNCLES, OLDER MALE BROTHERS AND COUSINS
TAKE TURNS TELLING HER
THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER.
SHE IS NOW AN ADULT, NOT SINGLE ANYMORE
AND MUST SEPARATE HERSELF FOREVER
FROM HER MOTHER AND GO TO HER HUSBAND'S FAMILY
WHOM SHE WILL ALWAYS HONOR, RESPECT
AND HELP MAKE PROSPEROUS.
SHE IS TOLD HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
AND RESPECTABLE INDIVIDUAL
IN HER NEW FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
SHE'S TOLD THAT HER OLD FAMILY
WILL LOSE RESPECT FOR HER AND BECAUSE OF HER
IF SHE FAILS.
TODAY, SOME OF OUR PEOPLE
ARE MARRIED THROUGH CHRISTIAN CEREMONIES
LIKE THIS ONE FOR NOU AND YENG.
(speaking Hmong)
(singing)
(ceremony continues in Hmong)
Lia Vang: WHEN THE SONGS AND PRAYERS
AND CEREMONIES AT A CHRISTIAN WEDDING
AND THE FEASTING AND DRINKING AND EXCHANGING OF HONORS
IS FINISHED AT THE TRADITIONAL HMONG WEDDING
ALL HMONG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING
ABOUT WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED:
THIS HAS BEEN MUCH MORE
THAN THE JOINING OF A MAN AND A WOMAN.
IT HAS BEEN THE CREATION OF FAMILY TIES
THAT WILL BE EVERLASTING.
I FEEL THAT, IN THE HMONG CULTURE, MEN--
BOYS, I SHOULD SAY--
THEY GET ALL THE APPRECIATION, YOU KNOW, SPECIAL TREATMENT.
THOSE GIRLS--
I KNOW MY PARENTS AND THEM CARE ABOUT US A LOT.
BUT WE DON'T GET RECOGNIZED A LOT.
BECAUSE WE'RE MAINLY THERE TO, YOU KNOW, COOK, CLEAN
HELP THEM OUT, YOU KNOW.
BUT ONE REASON WHY THAT IS, IS BECAUSE WHEN WE GET MARRIED
WE'LL GO OFF AND LIVE WITH OUR HUSBANDS AND THEIR FAMILY
AND WE WON'T BE PART OF OUR FAMILY ANYMORE.
BUT MY BROTHERS AND THEM
THEY'LL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR MY PARENTS.
BECAUSE WHEN THEY GET MARRIED
THEY'LL BRING THEIR WIFE HOME TO MY PARENTS AND THEM
AND THEY'LL STILL LIVE WITH MY PARENTS.
May Lee Lor: THIS IS EVERYDAY LIFE BACK IN LAOS.
EVERY MORNING BEFORE THE SUNRISE
THEY PACK THEIR LUNCH AND THEIR TOOLS
AND THEY WALK TO THE GARDEN.
Lia Vang: THE TRADITIONAL ROLES FOR MALES AND FEMALES
ARE ONLY ONE PART OF OUR CULTURE THAT'S BEING CHANGED
BY THE REALITIES OF LIFE IN AMERICA.
SO IS THE ART OF NEEDLEWORK
THAT CREATED THIS "PAJ NDAU," OR "FLOWERCLOTH."
FOR CENTURIES, HMONG GIRLS BEGAN AT AGE SEVEN OR EIGHT
LEARNING HOW TO BASTE, CUT AND STITCH CLOTH
INTO THESE COLORFUL DETAILED DESIGNS.
BUT HERE, THERE ARE SCHOOLS TO ATTEND
AND JOBS OUTSIDE THE HOME.
THE FLOWERCLOTHS ARE NOT ONLY DECORATIONS
FOR WALLS, AND FLOORS AND CLOTHING
THEY ALSO WERE, FOR MOST OF HMONG HISTORY
THE ONLY VISUAL WAY OUR PEOPLE HAD
TO PASS ON THEIR STORIES
FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.
SINCE THERE WAS NO WRITTEN FORM OF THE HMONG LANGUAGE
UNTIL RECENTLY, 1953
OUR TRADITIONS AND LEGENDS
COULD ONLY BE TOLD BY WORD OF MOUTH
AND THROUGH THE IMAGES OF THE PAJ NTAUB.
May Lee Lor: THIS IS WHEN, AFTER THE VIETNAM WAR
WHEN THE HMONG HELPED THE AMERICAN CIA WITH THE WAR
AND WHEN THE AMERICAN FLEE THE COUNTRY
THE HMONG PEOPLE HAVE TO PACK THEIR BELONGINGS
AND HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY
BECAUSE THE VIETNAM CAME AND KILLED THEM
AND BURN UP THEIR HOUSES.
SO THEY HAVE TO GET THEIR BELONGINGS
COME TO THE MEKONG RIVER
AND HAVE TO GET SOME BAMBOO OR RAFT
AND CROSS THE MEKONG RIVER OVER TO THAILAND.
THESE ARE PEOPLE, ARE THAI
AND THEY HELPED THE PEOPLE FROM THE RIVER
AND PUT THEM INTO A CAMP WHERE THEY WOULD STAY THERE
UNTIL THEY COME TO THE UNITED STATES.
Lia Vang: ALL THESE WOMEN GATHERED HERE
AT A NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTER IN GREEN BAY
MADE THAT TRIP JUST DESCRIBED IN THE PAJ NTAUB.
THEY UNDERSTAND
THAT BECAUSE OF THE DEMANDS OF LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES
SOME OF THEIR DAUGHTERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS
WILL NEVER LEARN THE NEEDLEWORK SKILLS.
BUT AT THE MOMENT, THEY HAVE OTHER CONCERNS.
(speaking Hmong)
Lia Vang: HMONG AND ENGLISH ARE SUCH DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
THAT IT'S VERY HARD FOR OLDER PEOPLE
FROM EITHER CULTURE
TO LEARN TO SPEAK OR WRITE THE LANGUAGE OF THE OTHER.
IN HMONG, THE MEANINGS OF WORDS
OFTEN DEPEND ON HOW THEY ARE SOUNDED.
ALSO, SOUNDS ARE SPELLED DIFFERENTLY
THAN THEY ARE IN ENGLISH.
LIKE THE WORD FOR THE STORY CLOTH
IS PRONOUNCEDPAN-DOW
BUT IT'S SPELLED LIKE THIS.
MY MOM UNDERSTANDS ENGLISH AND SHE CAN SPEAK A LITTLE BIT.
MY DAD UNDERSTANDS SOME ENGLISH, BUT CAN'T USE IT HIMSELF.
I, AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ON THE OTHER HAND
CAN WRITE AND SPEAK ENGLISH
JUST AS WELL AS ANY KIDS OUR AGE.
HMONG PEOPLE I KNOW WHO'VE OVERCOME THE LANGUAGE BARRIER
HAVE DONE VERY WELL.
DAN LEE IS A SUCCESSFUL COMPUTER SPECIALIST
AND REAL ESTATE OWNER.
KOUA YANG WORKS WITH THE IMMIGRATION PROGRAM
OF THE GREEN BAY CATHOLIC DIOCESE.
HE AND HIS WIFE, YING
OWNED AND OPERATED THIS ASIAN-FOOD GROCERY STORE.
BON XIONG SERVED AS AN ALDERPERSON
FOR THE CITY OF APPLETON.
JAI VANG IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE GREEN BAY HMONG ASSOCIATION.
YANG KONG AND HIS FATHER
OWN A CAR DEALERSHIP AND GARAGE IN GREEN BAY.
MANEE MOUA WON THE CHANCELLOR'S MEDALLION
AS THE OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN HER COLLEGE GRADUATING CLASS
AND NOW SHE'S IN LAW SCHOOL.
TOU GER XIONG IS A POPULAR LECTURER AND ENTERTAINER
IN THE MIDWEST.
VAUGHN VANG IS A COUNSELOR IN THE GREEN BAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
VUE LOR, WITH A DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK
WAS A CASE MANAGER
FOR BROWN COUNTY WISCONSIN FAMILY SERVICES.
I ALSO THINK THAT ALTHOUGH I AM VERY INDEPENDENT
AND VERY AMERICANIZED IN SOME WAYS
AND A PROFESSIONAL WOMAN
I STILL CARRY ON SO MANY BELIEFS.
WHEN YOU TALK TO AN ELDER, YOU DON'T LOOK AT THEM
LIKE WHAT, YOU KNOW, FACE EACH OTHER.
WHEN YOU TALK TO SOMEONE WHO IS OLDER THAN YOU
YOU WILL BE YOU WILL BE DOWN-CASTING YOUR EYES LIKE THIS
AND LISTENING TO THEM AND ANSWERING THEM BACK
INSTEAD OF FACING, YOU KNOW,
LOOKING AT EACH OTHER IN THE EYE.
THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S A SIGN OF DISRESPECT.
WE WERE RAISED, AS LITTLE KIDS
TO GIVE RESPECT TO ELDERLY PEOPLE AND TO OBEY THEM.
SO, I CARRY THAT ON.
HOPEFULLY, I WILL BE ABLE TO PASS THOSE BELIEFS
AND VALUES TO MY CHILDREN.
IN MY CULTURE, YOU NEVER BACK TALK YOUR TEACHERS
AND NEVER BACK TALK TO YOUR PARENTS.
YOU DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.
Lia Vang: IN AMERICA TODAY
RESPECT FOR ELDERS IS SOMETHING I DO NOT SEE VERY OFTEN.
BUT IN OUR CULTURE, THERE ARE MANY TRADITIONS
THAT DIFFER A LOT FROM WESTERN WAYS.
ONE IS THE COMMON PRACTICE OF TREATING ILLNESS
WITH HERBS GATHERED FROM THE WILD
AND HERBS SPECIALLY GROWN INSIDE THE HOUSE
A PRACTICE PEOPLE HERE FIND UNUSUAL.
THE SACRIFICE OF ANIMALS
IS NOT ONLY CONSIDERED UNUSUAL HERE
IT'S AGAINST THE LAW.
BUT IN OUR CULTURE
CHICKENS, COWS AND PIGS
AND ARE OFTEN CHOSEN TO BE BUTCHERED
AS A PART OF ONE CEREMONY OR ANOTHER.
SUCH SACRIFICES ARE USED TO WARD OFF BAD SPIRITS
OR HONOR GOOD SPIRITS
OR FIND "WANDERING" SPIRITS
OR TO USE THE SPIRIT IN AN ANIMAL
TO HELP THE SPIRIT IN THE HUMAN.
(speaking Hmong)
Lia Vang: SPIRITS ARE AT THE CENTER OF HMONG CULTURE AND TRADITION.
WE BELIEVE ALL THINGS IN NATURE HAVE SPIRITS
BOTH LIVING AND NON-LIVING
LIKE HUMANS, ANIMALS, PLANTS, TREES, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS
HOUSES, DOORS.
THE "DAB NYEG" ARE HOUSEHOLD SPIRITS
WHICH INHABIT VARIOUS PARTS OF THE HMONG HOUSE
AND PROTECT THE HOUSEHOLD.
THE "DAB QUS" ARE WILD FOREST SPIRITS
WHICH INHABIT CERTAIN PARTS OF THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE
AND ROAM AROUND READY TO ATTACK OR CAPTURE HUMAN SOULS.
EACH HUMAN BEING HAS MANY SOULS, AND THESE SOULS DO NOT DIE.
SOME BELONG TO EARTH, SOME TO THE OTHERWORLD.
SOME ARE REINCARNATED INTO OTHER PARTS OF NATURE.
THE SOULS OF DEPARTED ANCESTORS RESIDE IN THE OTHERWORLD.
THEY ARE ABLE TO ASSIST THE LIVING
TO FIND GOOD FORTUNE AND AVOID HARDSHIP.
THEY DECIDE HOW LONG EACH HMONG PERSON
WILL BE ALIVE IN THE WORLD
AND WHEN THAT TIME RUNS OUT, THE PERSON DIES.
THESE SAME SPIRITS ARE ALSO THE SOULS
OF HMONG PEOPLE WAITING TO BE BORN.
AND SOMEDAY, THEY WILL RE-ENTER THE EARTHLY WORLD.
BUT ONLY THE SHAMAN CAN TRAVEL BETWEEN THE LIVING WORLD
AND THE OTHERWORLD WITHOUT BEING HARMED.
(chanting)
Lia Vang: THIS SHAMAN IS ON HIS JOURNEY
TO THE HMONG OTHERWORLD.
MANY OF THE SOUNDS HE MAKES
CAN NOT BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE AVERAGE HMONG.
SOME HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN THE ANCIENT CHINESE LANGUAGES.
WEARING A HOOD OF BLACK CLOTH TO COVER HIS EYES
HE MAKES HIS JOURNEY ON HIS SPIRITUAL HORSE
FROM A LONG BENCH IN FRONT OF THE FAMILY ALTAR
WHICH HAS BEEN SPECIALLY ARRANGED FOR THIS CEREMONY.
THERE IS A SAUCER OF HUSKED RICE
WITH AN EGG IN THE CENTER
STICKS OF INCENSE, A PORK-FAT CANDLE
A BOWL OF WATER, THREE SMALL CUPS: ONE WITH TEA
ONE WITH RICE WINE AND ONE WITH WATER.
ALL THESE ITEMS ARE NECESSARY
TO BOTH PLEASE THE SPIRITS
AND TO HELP THE SHAMAN FIND HIS WAY TO THE OTHERWORLD.
TO HELP SUMMON HIS CONTACTS THERE
THE SHAMAN WEARS FINGER BELLS.
BEHIND HIM, HIS ASSISTANT BEATS A GONG.
AS HIS RIDE ON HIS SPIRITUAL HORSE
GROWS MORE INTENSE
SO DO HIS COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE FORCES IN THE OTHERWORLD.
(chanting continues with other vocalizations)
A SHAMAN IS NOT A PERSON WHO CHOOSES TO BE ONE
BUT A PERSON WHO IS CHOSEN FOR THE ROLE
BY SPIRITS OF THE HMONG OTHERWORLD.
THESE SPIRITS REVEAL THEMSELVES THROUGH SPECIAL DREAMS
TO THE MALES AND FEMALES THEY CHOOSE
TO BE VEHICLES FOR THEIR HEALING POWERS.
THE SHAMANS SERVE AS BOTH MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS
FOR THOSE WHO REQUEST THEIR SERVICES.
AND ONE OF THEIR MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES
IS TO HEAL SICK PEOPLE AND PREVENT ILLNESS.
IN THIS CASE, THE SHAMAN IS TRYING TO FIND AN UNHAPPY SPIRIT
THAT IS ABIDING IN THIS FAMILY'S HOME
MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE HUSBAND TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.
THE SHAMAN'S JOURNEY INTO THE OTHERWORLD
CAN GO ON FOR TWO HOURS, OR MORE
AS HE OR SHE CALLS ON "SPIRIT ALLIES"
TO HELP NEGOTIATE WITH OTHER SPIRITS
OFTEN EVIL SPIRITS
THROUGH BARTERING, THREATENING OR EVEN CHEATING
IN ORDER TO RETURN THE FAMILY AND THE HOUSE TO FULL HEALTH.
AFTER HIS JOURNEY
THE SHAMAN THROWS THE DIVINATION HORNS
IN FRONT OF THE ALTAR SEVERAL TIMES.
HOW THE HORNS LAND TELLS HIM
WHETHER OR NOT HIS JOURNEY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
IN THIS CASE, HE BURNS "SPIRIT MONEY"
AS A GESTURE OF THANKS TO THE SPIRITS.
(speaking Hmong)
Lia Vang: WHEN A HMONG PERSON DIES
THE FAMILY CHOOSES A "HOST" FOR THE FUNERAL.
HE OR SHE, ALONG WITH A CHRISTIAN MINISTER IN THIS CASE
COORDINATES ALL THE ACTIVITIES OF THE THREE-DAY CEREMONY.
IT BEGINS ON A FRIDAY MORNING WITH PRAYERS AND A HYMN.
(singing)
Lia Vang: THE DECEASED IS DRESSED IN NEW CLOTHING
MADE ESPECIALLY FOR THE FUNERAL.
THIS CLOTHING MUST BE MADE OF PURE CLOTH
WHICH WILL DISINTEGRATE ALONG WITH THE BODY.
ANY METAL OR STONE OR OTHER SUBSTANCE WHICH CANNOT DECOMPOSE
WILL BRING BAD FORTUNE
TO FUTURE GENERATIONS OF THE FAMILY.
IN FACT, IT HAS BEEN KNOWN
THAT HMONG PEOPLE WITH ILL FEELINGS TOWARD THE DECEASED
HAVE TRIED TO PLACE ROCKS, METAL
OR OTHER HARD MATERIALS INTO THE COFFIN
OR CLOTHES OF THE DECEASED TO BRING THE FAMILY HARM.
TO GUARD AGAINST THIS, THE DAUGHTERS
AND DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW OF THE DECEASED
MUST CONSTANTLY EXAMINE THE CLOTHING AND OTHER ITEMS
THAT WILL BE PLACED IN THE COFFIN.
IF IMPROPER MATERIALS ARE FOUND IN ANYTHING
THE PERSON WHO PLACED THEM THERE MUST PAY A FINE TO THE FAMILY.
AT EVERY FUNERAL, YOU WILL FIND MANY PICTURES
AND OTHER OBJECTS ON DISPLAY.
THESE REPRESENT HIS LIFE AND HIS WORTH AS A PERSON.
THE BOWING AND HAND GESTURES BY THE MALE MOURNERS
ARE EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS AND BLESSINGS
TO ALL THOSE WHO CAME TO MOURN THE DECEASED
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HELPED PAY FOR THE FUNERAL EXPENSES
OR TOOK SOME PART IN THE CEREMONY
AND OF COURSE, TO THE WELL BEING OF ALL THE CHILDREN LIVING NOW
AS A RESULT OF THE HARD WORK AND GOOD LIFE OF THE DECEASED.
HMONG FUNERALS CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE
BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE ATTEND.
AND THE FAMILY MUST PAY TRIBUTE
TO THOSE WHO PAY THEIR FINAL RESPECTS.
ALL THE GUESTS MUST BE FED AND HOUSED
BY THE DEAD PERSON'S FAMILY.
CEREMONIES GO 24-HOURS-A-DAY, FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS.
THE MORE IMPORTANT A PERSON IS
SAY A CLAN LEADER OR OTHER COMMUNITY FIGUREHEAD
THE MORE PEOPLE ATTEND THE FUNERAL.
IT IS NOT UNCOMMON
FOR A HMONG FUNERAL HONORING A PERSON OF STATURE
TO COST $30,000.
XONG MANG IS DRESSED IN A HAT FOR HIS FUNERAL
BECAUSE ACCORDING TO HMONG TRADITION
MALES AND FEMALES CHANGE ROLES AFTER DEATH.
IN THEIR NEXT LIVES, MEN ARE WOMEN
AND WOMEN ARE MEN.
XONG IS DRESSED FOR HIS REINCARNATION AS A HMONG WOMAN.
I KNOW MY PARENTS ARE REALLY WORRIED
ABOUT US LOSING OUR HMONG CULTURE,
BUT FOR ME, I INTEND TO KEEP MY CULTURE
BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME.
IT MAKES ME WHO I AM, BECAUSE I AM HMONG.
I AM PROUD TO BE HMONG.
AND I INTEND TO KEEP IT FOREVER AND EVER.
I WANT TO PASS IT ON TO MY KIDS AND TO THEIR KIDS
KEEP IT ON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION.
I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM MY CULTURE SO LONG
THAT NOW I LOOK BACK ON IT AND I REGRET A LOT OF IT.
I MEAN THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING SO HARD TO GET BACK
WHAT I'VE MISSED OUT ALL THESE YEARS.
I WANT TO PASS IT ON TO MY CHILDREN
SO THAT THEY DON'T MISS OUT
ON ALL THE EXPERIENCES I'VE MISSED OUT.
I MEAN, I'VE SEEN HOW BEAUTIFUL
AND HOW WONDERFUL MY CULTURE REALLY IS.
AND IT REALLY MAKES ME HAPPY
TO KNOW THAT HEY, YOU KNOW, I AM HMONG !
I WANT TO MAINTAIN AS MUCH OF THE HMONG CULTURE AND TRADITION.
AND I WANT TO PASS IT ON TO MY KIDS
BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
TO REMEMBER AND TO KNOW WHO WE ARE
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN WE BECOME ALIEN TO OURSELVES.
Lia Vang: BUT LEARNING WHO WE ARE IS NOT AS EASY AS IT MIGHT SEEM.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LEARN THE HMONG CULTURE
IT'S LIKE A COURSE.
IT'S LIKE A MAJOR IN SCHOOL.
YOU REALLY HAVE TO SET THAT TIME ASIDE
JUST FOR THE HMONG CULTURE.
Lia Vang: AND THAT'S JUST HOW PANG YANG TEACHES IT
LIKE A COURSE OF STUDY.
I AM HMONG.
AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO, I CAN'T CHANGE THAT.
SO, THAT'S BEEN MY GOAL
TO TEACH THE KIDS THAT "YOU'RE HMONG."
YOU CAN STILL BE AMERICANIZED
AND BE A HMONG PERSON AT THE SAME TIME.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN THE HMONG CULTURE
THAT YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE, OR YOU MIGHT LIKE.
TAKE THE GOOD PART OF THE HMONG CULTURE
AND TAKE A GOOD PART OF THE AMERICAN CULTURE
AND COMBINE IT
AND YOU KNOW, USE IT IN YOUR LIFE.
I THINK THAT, NOWADAYS
A LOT OF THE TEENS ARE FORGETTING THE CULTURE.
AND TO KIND OF LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE CULTURE
AND TO HAVE THEM MORE AWARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
WHAT OUR PARENTS WENT THROUGH
I SET UP A PROGRAM WHERE WE WOULD DO, LIKE, HMONG CLOTHING.
WE HAD KIND OF LIKE A SPELLING CONTEST
WHERE THEY TRY TO WRITE THE HMONG.
AND WE TRY TO PRESERVE THE CULTURE WITH FOLKLORE.
AND SO, WE DID THE FOLKLORE
AND HAD THE KIDS WRITE IT IN HMONG AND ENGLISH.
AND THEY DID THEIR OWN ILLUSTRATION OF A BOOK.
AND THEN, WE HAD THEM MAKE HMONG HOUSES
JUST SO THEY KNOW WHAT THE HMONG HOUSES LOOKED LIKE
AND THE TRADITIONAL HOUSES.
WE TRY TO SHOW THE KIDS THAT HMONG HAVE THEIR OWN SPORTS.
SO, WE DID THE TOPS GAME.
YOU CAN MAKE IT OUT OF WOOD, OUT OF A HARDWOOD.
OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY.
AND IT'S JUST A PIECE OF STRING AND A STICK
SO THAT WAS SOMETHING SIMPLE THAT THEY CAN DO.
WE HAD THE STILTS THAT YOU WALK ON.
THAT IS MORE FOR FARMERS, OR DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT JUST TO SHOW THE KIDS
THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
AND THEN, WE DID THE ROCKS.
AND BACK THEN, IT WAS IN THE COUNTRY
AND IT WAS FARMING.
SO, PEOPLE WERE REALLY POOR
AND THEIR MEANS OF ENTERTAINMENT WAS SIMPLE STUFF, LIKE ROCKS.
I MEAN, YOU CAN JUST PICK ROCKS ANYWHERE, AND PLAY ROCKS.
WE'RE TRYING TO TEACH THESE KIDS
THAT YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE BASIC
AND STILL HAVE FUN.
AND KIND OF TO REMEMBER THESE GAMES
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE PARENTS ARE GONE, YOU CAN REMEMBER
AND PASS THESE GAMES DOWN, GENERATION DOWN TO GENERATION.
I LOVE THE HMONG CULTURE.
BUT THE HMONG CULTURE POSES A HUGE PROBLEM FOR ME
AND FOR THE REST OF MY GENERATION.
I MEAN, OUR PARENTS
YOU KNOW, THEY WANT US TO LEARN THEIR CULTURE
AND NOT TO FORGET IT.
BUT WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY
FILLED WITH DIFFERENT WAYS AND DIFFERENT CUSTOMS.
I MEAN, FOR US TO TRANSITION FROM ONE TO ANOTHER
IT'S SO DIFFICULT.
BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE AT HOME, IT'S HMONG ALL THE WAY.
BUT WHEN WE GO OUT AND WE GO TO SCHOOL
I MEAN, WE HAVE TO TOTALLY SWITCH MIND SETS
AND GO TO THE DIFFERENT CULTURE.
I MEAN, WE HAVE TO BE AMERICAN, YOU KNOW, IN ALL THEIR WAYS.
I MEAN, THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR ME
AND A HUGE PROBLEM FOR MY SIBLINGS.
I THINK THAT THE YOUTH IN THIS GENERATION
PROBABLY WILL BE THE ONE THAT HAVE THE HARDEST
IN REGARDS TO TRYING TO BECOME SOMEONE
TO HAVE AN IDENTITY
TO FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG SOMEWHERE
AND STILL HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM HOME.
THEY DO NOT HAVE AMERICAN CULTURE.
THEY DON'T HAVE HMONG CULTURE.
THEY ARE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE.
AND MANY STUDENTS SAY THEY ARE NOTHING.
THEY NOT BELONG ANYWHERE, SO THAT'S WHY THEY MISBEHAVE.
Lia Vang: OUR PARENTS EXPECT US
TO PLAY THE SAME ROLES AS CHILDREN THAT THEY DID
AND TO BE OBEDIENT YOUNGSTERS
LIKE THEY WERE IN THE OLD COUNTRY.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS
TO BE A TEEN-AGER IN AMERICA TODAY
WITH ALL THE PRESSURE TO GET GOOD GRADES
TO DEAL WITH PEER PRESSURE, DATING, DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
SEX, SMOKING, AND THE FOCUS ON MONEY AND LOOKS.
IT'S TOUGH EVEN WHEN THIS IS THE CULTURE
YOUR PARENTS GREW UP IN.
BUT OUR PARENTS NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH ANY OF THAT STUFF.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT
TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST
IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
AND AT HOME, WE'RE EXPECTED TO OBEY ALL THE RULES
AND LIVE IN THE OLD WAYS, SPEAKING ONLY HMONG.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO BE LIKE ADULTS, TOO
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TRANSLATE FOR THEM
AND EXPLAIN TO THEM HOW THINGS WORK IN THIS COUNTRY.
SO, SOME KIDS GO TO SCHOOL
AND HEAR SOMEBODY CALL THEM "GOOK"
OR SOMEBODY MAKES FUN OF HOW THEY LOOK OR THEIR CLOTHES.
THEN THEY COME HOME
AND THEIR ELDERS DON'T LIKE THEM TO SPEAK ENGLISH
AND SCOLD THEM FOR WANTING TO DO THINGS AMERICAN KIDS DO.
AND THAT'S HOW HMONG KIDS
GET INVOLVED IN GANGS AND DOING ILLEGAL THINGS.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEPLACE TO BELONG.
Adam Yang: THE GANG THAT I'M IN, WE DON'T CAUSE TROUBLE.
WE JUST WANT TO BE A GROUP THAT HANGS OUT WITH EACH OTHER
HELP OUT EACH OTHER, CARE FOR EACH OTHER
LIKE A SECOND FAMILY TO US.
AND NO DISRESPECTING EACH OTHER.
RESPECT EVERYBODY.
RESPECT IS SOMETHING MANY HMONG PEOPLE IN THIS AREA
HAVE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING.
(reading letter) "DEAR MR. VAUGHN VANG
"IT WOULD BE THE BEST FOR AMERICANS
"IF YOU PEOPLE WOULD JUST GO HOME !
YOU PEOPLE WILL NEVER FIT IT."
THIS LADY, SHE WAS SITTING BY THE PORCH OF HER HOUSE
AND SHE SAID TO US, LIKE, "GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY."
I WALK DOWN THE STREET, A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL ME "GOOK"
AND ALL THESE OTHER NAMES.
YOU COULD NEVER GET ANY SORT OF RESPONSE FROM THE LANDLORD
UNTIL YOU ALMOST HAVE TO THREATEN THEM.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE I'M HMONG.
AND I'M, YOU KNOW, THAT I EAT CATS AND DOGS.
OR THAT I'M, YOU KNOW, DUMB, ILLITERATE, OR WHATEVER.
PEOPLE CALL YOU "GOOK," OR WHATEVER.
THAT WAS THE BIG THING.
OR A "CHINK."
THEY FIND, LIKE, DOG POOPS ON THE BACK YARD.
THEY FIND, ONE TIME, SOMEBODY TOOK A WHOLE BAG
AND BURN IT IN FRONT OF THEIR DOOR.
PEOPLE TRIED TO BURN OUR HOUSE SEVERAL TIMES.
MY MOM COULDN'T EVEN WALK FROM THE BUS STOP TO HOME
WITHOUT SOMEONE MAKING SOME REMARK, RACIAL SLUR
OR POINTING FINGERS OR SAYING SOMETHING MEAN TO HER.
Lia Vang: THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON OUR STREET LAST SUMMER
RIGHT BY OUR HOUSE.
THE DISRESPECT !
AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY'S PASSING THE BUCK.
Man: FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS, THOSE KIDS WILL COME
RIGHT OVER TO THE PORCH
AND HARASS THE HMONG CHILDREN THERE, SPIT ON THEM
THREATEN THEM WITH BATS.
THEY HAS LIKE THESE BATS
AND THEY THROW ROCKS AND THEY HIT--
SOMETIMES, THEY KIND OF HURT US.
THEY JUST GO OVER THERE AT RANDOM
AND TERRORIZE THOSE POOR CHILDREN.
THE LITTLE KIDS DIDN'T DO NOTHING--
THEY DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH TOO WELL.
THEY WOULD THROW ROCKS, SPIT AT THEM.
I'M JUST FED UP WITH IT.
AND THEIR PARENTS... ?
THEY COULD CARE LESS.
THEY LET THEM RUN THE STREETS AND DO WHAT THEY WANT.
I'M SICK OF IT.
I'M NOT GONNA WATCH IT ANYMORE.
WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AT FIRST.
WE THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW
THEIR MOTHER WOULD TELL THEM AND SAY, "HEY, DON'T DO THIS."
I'VE SEEN THEM GO UP TO THE CHILDREN
WHILE THEY'RE SITTING ON THE PORCH, SPIT ON THEM
RIGHT WHEN THEIR PARENTS ARE ON THE PORCH.
Lia Vang: THE PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
INCLUDING THOSE YOU JUST SAW WHO CALLED THE POLICE
GOT TOGETHER
AND CONVINCED THE FAMILY THAT WAS CAUSING ALL THE TROUBLE
TO MOVE ELSEWHERE.
LIKE THAT FAMILY, MANY OF OUR NEW NEIGHBORS HERE
HAVE MADE US FEEL UNWELCOME.
AT THE SAME TIME, MANY OTHER NEIGHBORS
THOSE WHO KNOW US
RESPECT US FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE, FOR WHO WE ARE
AND WHAT WE BRING TO THIS SOCIETY
HAVE MADE US FEEL VERY WELCOMED.
THE PURPOSE OF OUR CEREMONY IS TO HONOR THE SERVICE
AND SACRIFICES OF ALL LAO, HMONG
AND OTHER LAOTIAN SOLDIERS
AND YOUR FAMILIES.
(drumming and chanting)
Lia Vang: PROBABLY WHAT MOST AMERICANS UNDERSTAND LEAST
ABOUT HMONG PEOPLE
IS WHY WE HAVE SUCH BIG FAMILIES
ESPECIALLY WHEN PARENTS LIKE MINE
HAVE SUCH A TOUGH TIME MAKING THE KIND OF MONEY IT TAKES
TO LIVE IN THIS SOCIETY.
MY FATHER AND HIS FIRST WIFE
WHO WAS KILLED DURING THE WAR
HAD EIGHT CHILDREN.
MY FATHER AND MOTHER HAVE 15 CHILDREN.
AMERICANS ASK US, "WHY ?"
IN OUR CULTURE, THE FAMILY IS THE MEANING OF LIFE.
GROWING UP, I WAS ALWAYS TOLD, TOO
THAT YOUR FAMILY COMES FIRST.
WHEN YOU MAKE A DECISION
YOU DON'T THINK, HOW DO I FELL ABOUT IT ?
YOU THINK, HOW DO MY PARENTS FEEL ABOUT IT ?
HOW ARE MY BROTHERS GOING TO REACT ?
HOW ARE MY OLDER SISTERS GOING TO REACT ?
WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON MY FAMILY ?
WHAT KIND OF A "REPUTATION" WILL IT BRING TO MY FAMILY ?
Lia Vang: IN THE MOUNTAINS OF LAOS
THE FAMILY-- THE HOUSEHOLD--
BECAUSE IT OFTEN INCLUDES MANY GENERATIONS AND AUNTS AND UNCLES
IS THE CENTER OF LIFE.
TO HELP WITH THE CROPS AND THE DAILY CHORES
MEN AND WOMEN NEEDCHILDREN
THE MORE THE BETTER.
CHILDREN ARE THEIR ONLY SUPPORT
WHEN THEY GROW TOO OLD TO WORK AND TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.
HMONG FAMILIES HERE LIVE IN A FAR DIFFERENT WORLD.
Koua Yang: AS YOU CAN SEE, MY WIFE AND I HAVE THREE CHILDREN.
AND WE LEARNED THE HARD WAY.
WE PUT OUT 12 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
AND WE KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS
TO RAISE CHILDREN HERE IN AMERICA.
THREE CHILDREN ARE THE MAXIMUM WE ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW.
AS WE LIVE HERE IN AMERICA WE LEARN THAT IT IS NOT EASY
TO RAISE A FAMILY, A LARGE FAMILY.
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT HMONG PEOPLE
WILL NOT HAVE AS MANY CHILDREN AS THEY USED TO HAVE.
Lia Vang: BUT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO CHERISH FAMILY ABOVE ALL ELSE
AND DEMONSTRATE THEIR AFFECTION AND DEDICATION
THROUGH THE WAY THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES
AND THROUGH CEREMONIES LIKE THIS ONE.
SHANG LEE THOR, WIFE OF NHIA CHUE, IS A SHAMAN.
SHE HAS JUST STARTED A HMONG "SOUL CALLING" CEREMONY.
IN OUR CULTURE, SOULS ARE NOT ALWAYS WITH THE LIVING BEING.
SOMETIMES, THEY HAVE LEFT THE PERSON'S BODY
OR BEEN LED ASTRAY
ESPECIALLY AFTER DIFFICULT TIMES.
WE HAVE SOUL CALLING RITES TO CONTACT THESE SPIRITS
FOR MANY OCCASIONS, INCLUDING BIRTH, ILLNESS AND INJURY.
BUT THIS ONE IS FOR SOMETHING
VERY MUCH LIKE AN AMERICAN FAMILY REUNION.
(chanting)
IN CELEBRATION OF THE PRESENCE OF TWO FAMILY MEMBERS
WHO HAVE COME FROM FAR AWAY
THE SHAMAN HAS BEEN ASKED TO CONDUCT THE ANCIENT RITUAL.
IT WILL BRING ALL THE SOULS OF ALL THE LIVING FAMILY MEMBERS
INTO THE HOUSE
SO THAT THEY CAN GIVE THANKS
AND ASK FOR GOOD FORTUNE DURING THE COMING YEAR.
SPECIAL OFFERINGS ARE PREPARED
TO PLEASE AND ATTRACT THE SPIRITS.
THERE IS AN EGG FOR EACH FAMILY MEMBER
IN WHICH INCENSE IS KEPT BURNING.
TWO CHICKENS ARE SACRIFICED
SO THAT THEIR SPIRITS CAN BE USED AS MESSENGERS
FOR THE SOULS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE FAMILY.
THE MALES CAREFULLY CUT MEAT FROM A WHOLE COW
INTO SMALL, TENDER PORTIONS
WHILE THE WOMEN PREPARE RICE
AND VEGETABLES FOR THE FEAST
WHEN ALL THE SPIRITS ARE PRESENT.
AFTER CALLING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME
THEN BURNING SPIRIT MONEY
THAT WILL SYMBOLICALLY BUY THE SOUL'S PRESENCE
THEN CALLING SOME MORE
THE SHAMAN THROWS THE "TXIAB NEEB"
AND THE DIVINATION HORNS.
THE WAY THEY LAND TELLS HER
THAT, FINALLY, ALL THE SOULS ARE PRESENT.
A SPECIALLY INVITED ELDER
CLEANSES THE HANDS OF FAMILY MEMBERS
TO RID THEM OF ANY PAST MISFORTUNE.
GUESTS TIE STRINGS AROUND THE WRISTS OF FAMILY MEMBERS
TO WISH THEM GOOD LUCK.
THE ELDER CUTS OFF THE LOOSE ENDS OF THE STRINGS
TO SYMBOLICALLY CUT AWAY THE BAD LUCK
AND MAKE ROOM FOR THE GOOD LUCK.
THE ELDERS "READ" THE FEET OF THE BOILED CHICKENS
TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE SPIRITS ARE PLEASED.
THEY TELL EVERYONE, "NOTHING IS IN THE WAY."
THE SIGNS INDICATE GOOD FORTUNE AND HEALTH FOR THE FUTURE.
ALCOHOL, CONSIDERED A BLESSING FROM THE ELDERS
IS PASSED AMONG THE MEN
AND THEY EXCHANGE GESTURES OF FRIENDSHIP, HONOR
AND GOOD WILL.
ANOTHER CEREMONY, LIKE THIS SOUL CALLING CEREMONY
CAN BE PERFORMED TO SUMMON THE SOULS OF HMONG CHILDREN
INTO THEIR BODIES SHORTLY AFTER THEY ARE BORN.
MUCH LIKE A WESTERN CHRISTENING
IT GIVES HMONG CHILDREN THEIR NAMES.
FOR BOYS, THERE ARE ONLY FIRST NAMES
LATER IN LIFE, THEY ARE GIVEN ANOTHER NAME FROM THEIR IN-LAWS
TO REFLECT THEIR FAMILY'S STATUS.
WHAT'S NEVER CHANGED, THOUGH, IS THE LAST NAME.
THAT HAS DOUBLE MEANING IN OUR CULTURE.
IT'S THE LAST NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE NAME OF THE CLAN.
IN THE HMONG CULTURE
ALL SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY
REVOLVES AROUND YOUR CLAN.
IN THE U.S. TODAY, THERE ARE 19 CLANS.
YOU CAN'T MARRY WITHIN THE CLAN.
IF YOU'RE A XIONG-- AND I'M A XIONG--
ANY XIONG, ANYWHERE ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH
I CONSIDER THEM MY BROTHER OR SISTER.
WHEN I GO OUT OF TOWN, IF I MEET SOMEONE
IF THEY'RE A XIONG, "I'M A XIONG, TOO !"
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE STRANGERS, WE'RE BROTHER AND SISTERS.
SO, YOU ARE ASSOCIATED BY YOUR CLAN.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT GIVES US A SENSE OF COHESIVE IDENTITY AS A CLAN
BUT ALSO AS A COMMUNITY.
Lia Vang: CLANS THAT HAVE SETTLED IN NORTHEAST WISCONSIN INCLUDE:
AND US, VANG.
THIS IS MY DAD, CHER
MY MOM, MAI
MY LITTLE BROTHER, TOU
MY OLDEST BROTHER, SENG.
THIS IS KONG.
CHIN.
MY LITTLE SISTER, GAO YIA.
THIS IS MY BABY BROTHER, DAVID.
THAT'S CHUE FU.
THAT LITTLE GIRL THERE IS KRISTY.
THAT'S KEVIN.
AND THAT'S GAO BLIA LIA.
AND FOUR OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
CAN NOT BE WITH US TODAY:
MY OLDER BROTHER NHEE, WHO IS AT PLAY PRACTICE
MY OLDER SISTER ZOUAPA, WHO IS MARRIED AND GONE.
I HAVE TWO BROTHERS WHO ARE DECEASED, JAMES AND ZONG.
Police say two motorists
were the first to know something was terribly wrong.
They heard a thump
and found a body lying next to their vehicle.
He did have extensive head injuries
when our officers arrived.
We do not know whether it was a suicide
or whether it was a homicide.
IT WAS HARD FOR US TO COPE WITH THE FACT
THAT MY BROTHER ZONG HAD PASSED AWAY.
THINGS WERE GOING THROUGH MY MIND, GOING CRAZY
I COULD SEE MY FAMILY WAS BEING TORN APART.
AND NO ONE KNEW ANYTHING, YOU KNOW.
NO ONE KNEW WHAT HAPPENED.
Zong Vang's father wept for his ls.
Friends and family gathered
to plant a tree in memory of Vang.
The ceremony blended cultural traditions.
And as the tree planting concluded
neighbors still wondered
what really happened to Vang.
DAYS WENT BY, MONTHS AND EVEN A YEAR
UNTIL WE FINALLY FOUND OUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.
Police say Ninham and Crapeau chased Vang
up the St. Vincent parking ramp last September 24, beat him
and then dropped him off the ramp to his death.
Zong Vang's parents told me
they want justice for the killers of their son.
My mom wants justice for this.
She's just not gonna let those people go out free.
It's the judgment of this court and the sentence of w
that you be sentenced to life imprisonment
in the Wisconsin State Prison system.
And with that, Judge Richard Dietz
partially put to rest an agonizing case
for a family who lost a son.
It took a jury just three hours to find Omer Ninham guilty
of first degree intentional homicide.
Ninham and Crapeau, who was already convicted
chased Vang up a parking ramp and tossed him off.
Since the beginning, Hmong leaders
have called this trial a key test.
They say many in the Hmong community
continue to be weary of law enforcement
and the courts.
This sends a positive message to the community
that justice can be done in this country.
I NEVER GOT TO TELL MY BROTHER THIS, BUT--
I JUST WANT TO TELL HIM I LOVE HIM.
AND I'M SORRY I NEVER GOT TO TELL HIM THAT
BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY.
Lia Vang: FOR MY PARENTS, ZONG'S DEATH WAS YET ANOTHER TRAGIC LOSS
IN A LONG SERIES OF LOSSES.
IT STARTED WITH THE DECISION TO BECOME SOLDIERS
AND FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVED WAS RIGHT.
AS IT TURNED OUT, THOUGH, THE WAR THEY JOINED
HAD LITTLE TO DO WITH THEM OR THEIR BEST INTERESTS
ONE THEY HAD NO PART IN STARTING
AND NO REAL STAKE IN WINNING.
IT'S ONLY RESULT WAS LOSS OF LOVED ONES
LOSS OF HOME
AND LOSS OF MUCH THAT MADE LIFE MEANINGFUL.
IT FORCED THEM FROM THE SIMPLE, PEACEFUL MOUNTAIN LIFE
INTO BARBED WIRE CAMPS
THEN ON TO LIVES IN A STRANGE WORLD
CALLED "AMERICA."
THE RESULT OF THAT EXPERIENCE FOR MY PARENTS
AND THEIR GENERATION
HAS BEEN SADNESS AND DISAPPOINTMENT.
SUCCESSFUL, POWERFUL LEADERS IN THE HOMELAND
ARE LUCKY TO FIND EVEN THE LOWEST PAYING JOBS
IN THIS COUNTRY.
WOMEN WHO MEASURED THEIR SUCCESS IN LAOS
PARTLY BY HOW MANY CHILDREN THEY BORE
ARE DESPERATE JUST TO FEED
AND CLOTHE THOSE SAME CHILDREN HERE.
AMERICAN LAWS AND CUSTOMS DISCOURAGE
IF NOT FORBID THE RITUALS OF THE SHAMAN
THE ANIMAL SACRIFICES
HERBAL MEDICINES, AND EVEN DISCIPLINE OF CHILDREN.
MANY PARENTS LOOK FROM THEIR CULTURE
AT SONS AND DAUGHTERS GROWING UP IN THIS CULTURE
AND SEE ONLY STRANGERS.
BUT THE STRUGGLES AND PAIN OF MY PARENTS
HAVE NOT BEEN A WASTE.
THEY HAVE SHOWN ME AND MY GENERATION
WHAT WE MUST DO TO PROSPER IN THIS SOCIETY.
AND WE WILL PROSPER, JUST AS WE DID
FOR CENTURIES IN THE MOUNTAINS OF LAOS
AFTER ESCAPING THE SLAVERY OF CHINA.
MY GENERATION SPEAKS AND UNDERSTANDS THE LANGUAGE HERE.
WE KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE AND HOW THEY ARE MADE.
WE HAVE CHANGED FROM NON-LITERATE MOUNTAIN FARMERS
INTO FULLY CAPABLE CITIZENS OF THE WESTERN WORLD
IN THE COURSE OF A SINGLE GENERATION.
WE HAD TO.
ANYTHING LESS LEAVES US DEPENDENT ON OTHERS.
AND IN OUR CULTURE, WE CHERISH OUR FREEDOM
JUST AS MUCH AS WE CHERISH OUR FAMILY.
THAT'S WHY WE CALL OURSELVES "HMONG."
TO US, IT REPRESENTS BEING FREE.
ZONG WAS A GREAT SON, GREAT BROTHER AND GREAT FRIEND.
HE WILL BE MISSED DEARLY
AND REMEMBERED AS A LOVED PERSON
NOT AS A DREAM FORGOTTEN.
(woman singing)
Captioning services provided by Wisconsin Public Television www.wpt.org