00:11.952 --> 00:14.919
Lia Vang:
MY HOME IN GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN

00:14.952 --> 00:16.685
IS ABOUT AS DIFFERENT

00:16.719 --> 00:19.952
FROM THE HOME
WHERE MY PARENTS GREW UP

00:19.986 --> 00:22.153
AS ANY TWO PLACES
CAN BE DIFFERENT.

00:22.186 --> 00:25.652
THEY DIDN'T GROW UP WITH CARS
OR CEMENT ROADS

00:25.685 --> 00:29.485
OR ELECTRICITY, OR TELEPHONES
OR INDOOR PLUMBING.

00:29.519 --> 00:33.186
AND IN THEIR WORLD, CHILDREN
LEARNED FROM PARENTS AND ELDERS

00:33.219 --> 00:36.419
RATHER THAN
FROM FORMAL SCHOOLS.

00:40.452 --> 00:42.419
I'M SURE THAT
MY MOTHER AND FATHER

00:42.452 --> 00:44.952
FEEL THAT PEOPLE HERE
IN THE U.S. ARE DIFFERENT, TOO

00:44.986 --> 00:46.952
JUST AS DIFFERENT
AS THE TELEPHONES

00:46.986 --> 00:48.819
AND COMPUTERS
AND TALL BUILDINGS.

00:48.852 --> 00:51.253
BUT I DON'T THINK
IT'S THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES:

00:51.286 --> 00:53.119
IT'S THEIR RULES,
THEIR VALUES

00:53.153 --> 00:54.819
THEIR LIFESTYLES.

00:59.052 --> 01:01.186
THE HMONG CULTURE
IS SO DIFFERENT

01:01.219 --> 01:04.153
FROM THE WAYS AND IDEAS
OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY

01:04.186 --> 01:07.219
THAT MOST HMONG PEOPLE
IN MY PARENTS' GENERATION

01:07.253 --> 01:09.952
HAVE HAD A VERY TOUGH TIME
MAKING NEW LIVES HERE.

01:09.986 --> 01:12.585
IN TRYING TO LIVE HMONG CULTURE
IN THIS SOCIETY

01:12.619 --> 01:14.386
THEY HAVE
OFTEN BEEN FRUSTRATED

01:14.419 --> 01:16.153
AND DISAPPOINTED.

01:18.519 --> 01:21.186
MY FATHER HAS BEEN VERY
DEPRESSED.

01:21.219 --> 01:23.386
(speaking Hmong)

01:42.652 --> 01:45.319
Lia Vang:
MOST AMERICANS
HAVE VERY LITTLE IDEA

01:45.353 --> 01:47.685
OF WHAT THE OLD WAYS
MEAN TO HMONG PEOPLE.

01:47.719 --> 01:49.519
WE'D LIKE
TO CHANGE THAT.

01:49.552 --> 01:52.153
WE'D LIKE OUR NEW NEIGHBORS
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES

01:52.186 --> 01:53.819
TO KNOW
ABOUT OUR BELIEFS

01:53.852 --> 01:57.153
OUR TRADITIONS, OUR RITUALS
AND OUR CUSTOMS.

01:57.186 --> 01:59.685
AND UNDERSTANDING US
AND OUR CULTURE

01:59.719 --> 02:02.386
BEGINS WITH THE WORD
WE USE TO DESCRIBE OURSELVES--

02:02.419 --> 02:03.819
"HMONG."

02:03.852 --> 02:06.153
IN OUR LANGUAGE,
IT REPRESENTS BEING FREE.

02:23.485 --> 02:26.452
TODAY, IN MY THIRD YEAR
OF HIGH SCHOOL

02:26.485 --> 02:28.986
I, AND MY BROTHERS
AND SISTERS

02:29.019 --> 02:31.852
ARE SOMETHING
MY GRANDPARENTS NEVER IMAGINED

02:31.886 --> 02:34.019
CITIZENS
OF THE UNITED STATES

02:34.052 --> 02:35.286
"AMERICANS !"

02:35.319 --> 02:37.353
I WONDER AT TIMES
WHERE WE'D ALL BE

02:37.386 --> 02:38.852
IF THERE HAD NEVER BEEN

02:38.886 --> 02:41.585
A "SECRET" PART
OF THE WAR IN VIETNAM.

02:41.619 --> 02:44.819
IF MY FATHER HAD CHOSEN
NOT TO BE A SOLDIER

02:44.852 --> 02:48.452
IF THE UNITED STATES
HAD DEFEATED THE COMMUNISTS

02:48.485 --> 02:50.685
AS THEY SAID THEY WOULD

02:50.719 --> 02:52.585
I DON'T THINK
I'D BE WEARING THIS.

02:56.852 --> 02:59.819
THIS IS THE HOMELAND
OF MY ANCESTORS

02:59.852 --> 03:02.819
IN THE MOUNTAINS
OF NORTHERN LAOS.

03:03.952 --> 03:07.519
AND THESE ARE MY ANCESTORS,
MY FATHER'S FAMILY

03:07.552 --> 03:11.052
GATHERED NEAR THEIR VILLAGE
FOR A CELEBRATION

03:11.086 --> 03:13.386
SOMETIME IN THE 1960s.

03:13.419 --> 03:16.353
MY FATHER, CHER YANG VANG,
IS HERE.

03:16.386 --> 03:19.119
THIS WAS LONG BEFORE
THERE WERE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT ME

03:19.153 --> 03:21.253
OR ANY OF MY 14 BROTHERS
AND SISTERS.

03:21.286 --> 03:22.886
AND LONG BEFORE

03:22.919 --> 03:26.519
ANYONE KNEW ANYTHING
OF A PLACE CALLED "AMERICA."

03:28.219 --> 03:31.585
THE PENINSULA BELOW CHINA,
WHERE LAOS IS LOCATED

03:31.619 --> 03:34.019
IS A BEAUTIFUL FERTILE LAND,
LUSH AND GREEN

03:34.052 --> 03:35.519
WITH ROLLING
MOUNTAINS

03:35.552 --> 03:37.052
AND SPARKLING RIVERS.

03:39.019 --> 03:43.219
FOR CENTURIES, OUR PEOPLE
GREW RICE AND MAIZE HERE.

03:43.253 --> 03:47.052
THEY TENDED CATTLE, HORSES,
PIGS AND CHICKENS.

03:47.086 --> 03:49.819
THE CHILDREN,
ALWAYS MANY CHILDREN

03:49.852 --> 03:51.652
HELPED WITH EVERYTHING.

03:51.685 --> 03:55.286
AND FAMILIES,
USUALLY SEVERAL GENERATIONS

03:55.319 --> 03:57.652
LIVED IN HOUSES LIKE THESE.

03:57.685 --> 03:59.919
THEY WORKED
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

03:59.952 --> 04:03.452
THEY ABIDED BY THE RULINGS
OF THE CLAN ELDERS.

04:03.485 --> 04:05.086
THEY LOOKED
TO THEIR SHAMAN

04:05.119 --> 04:07.153
FOR HEALING AND COMFORT.

04:07.186 --> 04:11.452
THEY PAID HOMAGE TO THE SPIRITS
FOR PROTECTION AND GOOD FORTUNE.

04:11.485 --> 04:15.386
THEY WERE BORN, LIVED, MARRIED,
MADE AND RAISED FAMILIES

04:15.419 --> 04:16.986
WORKED, DIED

04:17.019 --> 04:19.919
AND WERE BURIED ACCORDING
TO THEIR ANCIENT RITUALS.

04:19.952 --> 04:21.819
THEY WERE PEACEFUL
AND HAPPY

04:21.852 --> 04:24.153
AND FOUGHT ONLY
TO KEEP THEIR FREEDOM

04:24.186 --> 04:26.086
THAT WAS
SO DEAR TO THEM.

04:49.353 --> 04:53.719
Lia Vang: SO, WHY DID OUR PEOPLE
LEAVE THIS SERENE WAY OF LIFE

04:53.752 --> 04:55.652
IN SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE ?

04:57.952 --> 04:59.253
BECAUSE...

04:59.286 --> 05:02.286
DIFFERENCES
IN HUMAN BELIEFS, TRADITIONS

05:02.319 --> 05:03.919
RITUALS AND CUSTOMS

05:03.952 --> 05:05.819
CAN CAUSE
CONFLICT AND WAR.

05:05.852 --> 05:07.819
(explosions)

05:09.786 --> 05:15.219
IN THE 1950s, VIETNAM
WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO COUNTRIES:

05:15.253 --> 05:18.852
NORTH VIETNAM
AND SOUTH VIETNAM.

05:18.886 --> 05:21.186
THE TWO SIDES
STARTED FIGHTING FOR CONTROL.

05:21.219 --> 05:23.752
AMERICAN SOLDIERS
JOINED SOUTH VIETNAMESE

05:23.786 --> 05:25.253
AND THAI SOLDIERS

05:25.286 --> 05:27.652
AGAINST THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
AND THE VIET CONG.

05:27.685 --> 05:31.652
THAT WAS THE VIETNAM WAR
EVERYONE KNEW ABOUT.

05:31.685 --> 05:35.219
BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER WAR,
A LITTLE-KNOWN WAR.

05:35.253 --> 05:39.052
MY FAMILY LIVES IN WISCONSIN
BECAUSE OF THAT WAR.

05:39.086 --> 05:41.652
AS THE FIGHTING
IN VIETNAM WORSENED

05:41.685 --> 05:45.552
AMERICA'S CIA HIRED FAMOUS
HMONG MILITARY LEADER VANG PAO

05:45.585 --> 05:48.585
TO SECRETLY GO INTO
THE MOUNTAINS OF LAOS

05:48.619 --> 05:51.153
AND CONVINCE TRIBAL FARMERS
FROM THE AREA

05:51.186 --> 05:53.786
TO BECOME SOLDIERS
FOR THE UNITED STATES.

05:53.819 --> 05:56.719
THESE FARMERS
WERE THE HMONG, NOT LAO

05:56.752 --> 06:00.719
A SEPARATE PEOPLE, WITH
THEIR OWN CLANS AND VILLAGES

06:00.752 --> 06:02.786
AND ORIGINS
AND LANGUAGE.

06:02.819 --> 06:04.319
MY PARENTS' PEOPLE.

06:04.353 --> 06:06.986
ABLE-BODIED MALES
WERE RECRUITED

06:07.019 --> 06:09.685
AND TRAINED TO USE THE WEAPONS
OF MODERN WARFARE

06:09.719 --> 06:11.485
AND HELP FIGHT THE COMMUNISTS.

06:11.519 --> 06:14.219
THEIR SPECIAL AND SECRET JOB
WAS TO BLOCK THE ROAD

06:14.253 --> 06:16.519
THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
AND VIET CONG USED

06:16.552 --> 06:19.452
TO GET GOODS AND WEAPONS
TO THEIR TROOPS IN THE SOUTH

06:19.485 --> 06:21.619
THE ROAD CALLED
THE HO CHI MINH TRAIL

06:21.652 --> 06:24.019
WHICH PASSED THROUGH
THE RUGGED MOUNTAINS

06:24.052 --> 06:26.019
MY PEOPLE FARMED
AND LOVED.

06:26.052 --> 06:30.019
THE MATURE MEN OF THE VILLAGES
WERE THE FIRST TO BE RECRUITED

06:30.052 --> 06:32.052
AND THE FIRST TO DIE.

06:32.086 --> 06:36.119
THEN BOYS AS YOUNG AS
TEN YEARS-OLD WERE MADE SOLDIERS

06:36.153 --> 06:38.286
AND MANY OF THEM DIED, TOO.

06:38.319 --> 06:40.452
THEY SAVED HUNDREDS
OF U.S. PILOTS

06:40.485 --> 06:43.585
WHOSE PLANES WERE SHOT DOWN
IN THIS FORBIDDEN AREA.

06:43.619 --> 06:46.552
THEY SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES
OF OTHER AMERICANS, TOO

06:46.585 --> 06:50.986
AND SACRIFICED THOUSANDS
OF THEIR OWN IN DOING SO.

06:51.019 --> 06:52.786
IN THE END, BY 1975

06:52.819 --> 06:56.619
WHEN ALL THE SUPPORTERS
OF THE WAR HAD STOPPED FIGHTING

06:56.652 --> 06:58.153
THERE WERE 30,000

06:58.186 --> 07:00.852
DEAD HMONG SOLDIERS
AND CIVILIANS LEFT BEHIND

07:00.886 --> 07:02.986
INCLUDING MY FATHER'S
FIRST WIFE

07:03.019 --> 07:05.719
AND THREE OF MY HALF-BROTHERS
AND SISTERS.

07:05.752 --> 07:08.353
ALSO LEFT BEHIND
WERE VILLAGES, FARMS AND HOMES

07:08.386 --> 07:09.919
TO WHICH THE WAR'S SURVIVORS

07:09.952 --> 07:12.286
AND THE DESCENDANTS
OF THEIR SURVIVORS

07:12.319 --> 07:15.386
LIKE ME AND MY BROTHERS
AND SISTERS

07:15.419 --> 07:17.652
COULD NEVER RETURN.

07:17.752 --> 07:19.752
BEFORE THE WAR STARTED

07:19.786 --> 07:22.919
OVER 300,000 OF OUR PEOPLE
LIVED IN LAOS.

07:22.952 --> 07:26.086
NOW, ONLY HALF THAT NUMBER
ARE LEFT THERE.

07:26.119 --> 07:28.652
AND ACCORDING
TO LOCAL ADVOCATES

07:28.685 --> 07:32.052
THEY ARE TREATED HARSHLY
BY THE GOVERNMENT.

07:32.086 --> 07:36.752
LAOTIAN GOVERNMENT
AND VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENTS

07:36.786 --> 07:41.286
ARE LAUNCHING
FIVE DIVISION TROOPS TO LAOS

07:41.319 --> 07:45.086
TO KILL THE HMONG PEOPLE
IN THE JUNGLE.

07:45.119 --> 07:48.719
AND WE'D LIKE TO DO
DEMONSTRATION TODAY TO SHOW--

07:48.752 --> 07:52.219
TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT TO HELP US

07:52.253 --> 07:55.219
TO IMMEDIATELY SUPPORT
AND HELP THE HMONG COMMUNITY--

07:55.253 --> 07:57.353
THE HMONG PEOPLE
IN THE JUNGLE TODAY.

07:57.386 --> 08:00.852
Lia Vang: SOME OF THE WAR'S 
SURVIVORS, THE LUCKY ONES

08:00.886 --> 08:02.652
FLED TO NEW HOMES --

08:02.685 --> 08:04.519
FIRST IN REFUGEE CAMPS
IN THAILAND

08:04.552 --> 08:07.452
THEN IN PLACES OF SAFETY
ALL OVER THE WORLD

08:07.485 --> 08:09.585
INCLUDING
THE UNITED STATES.

08:09.619 --> 08:12.919
BETWEEN 1979 AND 1989

08:12.952 --> 08:15.919
NEARLY A MILLION
SOUTHEAST ASIAN REFUGEES--

08:15.952 --> 08:17.619
90,000 OF THEM HMONG--

08:17.652 --> 08:19.886
CAME TO MAKE THEIR HOMES
IN THIS COUNTRY

08:19.919 --> 08:22.253
FORCED FROM THEIR
NATIVE HOMES AND COUNTRY

08:22.286 --> 08:25.153
BY EVENTS THEY DIDN'T
CAUSE AND COULDN'T CONTROL.

08:25.186 --> 08:27.819
THE NEW ARRIVALS
INCLUDED MY MOTHER AND FATHER.

08:40.685 --> 08:44.019
IN 1975,
MY FAMILY ESCAPED LAOS

08:44.052 --> 08:48.786
AND CROSSED THE MEKONG RIVER
TO THAILAND.

08:48.819 --> 08:51.485
THERE WERE NO SHELTERS
ESTABLISHED YET.

08:51.519 --> 08:53.552
NO HOSPITALS, NO SCHOOLS

08:53.585 --> 08:55.919
AND THEY WERE
JUST PUTTING UP THE FENCING

08:55.952 --> 08:57.952
THE BARBED-WIRE FENCING.

08:57.986 --> 09:00.153
I WAS BORN IN LAOS.

09:00.186 --> 09:04.186
AND I CAME HERE
WITH MY MOTHER AND MY SIBLINGS

09:04.219 --> 09:07.585
WHEN I WAS 6 YEARS-OLD,
BACK IN 1980.

09:07.619 --> 09:10.019
MY DAD SAID, "AMERICA ?
WHAT IS AMERICA ?"

09:10.052 --> 09:11.886
"IT'S A LAND WAY UP IN THE SKY."

09:11.919 --> 09:14.519
BECAUSE TO GET TO AMERICA,
WE NEEDED TO GET ON A PLANE.

09:14.552 --> 09:17.519
AS A YOUNG BOY, KIND OF
COMING OUT OF THE JUNGLE

09:17.552 --> 09:19.386
LIVING IN HUTS
AND HOUSES

09:19.419 --> 09:23.253
I COULD NEVER
PICTURE THIS CIVILIZATION

09:23.286 --> 09:28.186
OF BIG BUILDINGS, FAST CARS,
RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT.

09:28.219 --> 09:33.652
THEN, AS TIME GOES ON,
I KIND OF GET ACCLIMATED TO IT.

09:33.685 --> 09:35.786
I THINK MY DAD
HAD THE HARDEST TIME

09:35.819 --> 09:39.186
BECAUSE HE HAD A CHOICE BETWEEN
WORKING OR GOING TO SCHOOL.

09:39.219 --> 09:42.253
HE HAD TO WORK, BECAUSE
HE HAD TO SUPPORT ALL OF US.

09:42.286 --> 09:45.685
SO HE DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME
TO GO TO SCHOOL LIKE MY MOM DID.

09:45.719 --> 09:48.719
MY MOM WENT TO SCHOOL,
BUT IT WAS HARD FOR HER, TOO

09:48.752 --> 09:51.585
BECAUSE SHE HAD TO SUPPORT
ALL OF US, RAISING US

09:51.619 --> 09:53.419
TEACHING US ENGLISH, TOO.

09:59.119 --> 10:03.019
HMONG PEOPLE LIKE MY PARENTS
BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY

10:03.052 --> 10:05.919
THAT LIVING
AS THEIR ANCESTORS DID

10:05.952 --> 10:08.353
WHICH INCLUDES
SPEAKING THE HMONG LANGUAGE

10:08.386 --> 10:09.986
IS THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE.

10:10.019 --> 10:12.353
IT'S TOO BAD, REALLY,
THAT THE ONLY TIME

10:12.386 --> 10:15.552
OTHER AMERICANS GET A CHANCE
TO SEE SOME OF THAT LIFE

10:15.585 --> 10:17.652
IS AT OUR ANNUAL
NEW YEAR FESTIVAL.

10:17.685 --> 10:21.585
THIS CELEBRATION HAS BEEN
A PART OF HMONG CULTURE

10:21.619 --> 10:24.685
FOR AS LONG AS
ANYONE CAN REMEMBER.

10:24.719 --> 10:26.786
IN LAOS,
IT BEGINS IN EACH VILLAGE

10:26.819 --> 10:28.952
ON THE 30th DAY
OF THE LUNAR MONTH

10:28.986 --> 10:31.886
AFTER THE YEAR'S RICE HARVEST
IS COMPLETED, IN DECEMBER.

10:31.919 --> 10:33.619
HERE, BECAUSE
OF THE WEATHER

10:33.652 --> 10:36.752
IT'S HELD IN AUGUST
OR SEPTEMBER.

10:36.786 --> 10:38.919
IN OUR HOMELAND

10:38.952 --> 10:41.619
HMONG FAMILY MEMBERS
ALL WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

10:41.652 --> 10:43.286
EVERY WEEK OF THE YEAR

10:43.319 --> 10:45.786
EXCEPT FOR THE NEW YEAR
CELEBRATION

10:45.819 --> 10:49.886
THE ONLY TIME WHEN ALL WORK MUST
CEASE FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS.

10:59.619 --> 11:01.519
SOME OF THE FESTIVAL
ACTIVITIES

11:01.552 --> 11:04.219
INCLUDE VOLLEY BALL

11:04.253 --> 11:06.952
SOCCER

11:06.986 --> 11:10.485
KATOW

11:10.519 --> 11:14.419
PERFORMING
TRADITIONAL DANCES

11:14.452 --> 11:16.919
DRINKING, EATING

11:16.952 --> 11:20.519
AND THE BALL TOSS
GAME.

11:20.552 --> 11:22.619
IN THE BALL TOSS GAME

11:22.652 --> 11:26.419
UNMARRIED MALES AND FEMALES
STAND OPPOSITE EACH OTHER

11:26.452 --> 11:29.652
AND TOSS A SOFT BLACK BALL
BACK AND FORTH.

11:29.685 --> 11:31.419
SINCE DROPPING
A GOOD THROW

11:31.452 --> 11:32.986
MEANS THE PERSON AT FAULT

11:33.019 --> 11:35.119
MUST GIVE THE THROWER
SOMETHING OF VALUE

11:35.153 --> 11:37.353
LIKE A PIECE OF SILVER
OR SOME TRINKET

11:37.386 --> 11:39.219
FROM HIS OR HER
CLOTHING

11:39.253 --> 11:41.685
THE GAME WOULD SEEM TO BE
ABOUT WINNING OBJECTS.

11:41.719 --> 11:43.219
BUT THE REAL PURPOSE

11:43.253 --> 11:45.552
IS TO ALLOW GIRLS AND BOYS
TO MEET EACH OTHER

11:45.585 --> 11:47.819
AND FIND OUT
IF THERE IS MUTUAL ATTRACTION.

11:47.852 --> 11:50.719
MOST OF MY ANCESTORS
MADE THEIR FIRST PUBLIC CONTACT

11:50.752 --> 11:54.819
THROUGH THE BALL TOSS GAME
AT A NEW YEAR CELEBRATION.

12:06.819 --> 12:09.019
I DON'T MEET GUYS
BY BALL TOSSING

12:09.052 --> 12:11.186
LIKE HOW MY PARENTS
AND THEM DO.

12:11.219 --> 12:14.319
I MEET THEM BY THEM
COMING TO ME AND TALKING TO ME

12:14.353 --> 12:16.052
OR I GO AND TALK TO THEM.

12:16.086 --> 12:18.485
I USUALLY BE FRIENDS
WITH THEM FIRST.

12:18.519 --> 12:20.253
I'M USUALLY
FRIENDS WITH THEM

12:20.286 --> 12:22.552
TO GET TO KNOW
WHO THEY REALLY ARE FIRST

12:22.585 --> 12:24.253
AND THEN START TO DATE THEM.

12:24.286 --> 12:26.186
BUT SOMETIMES--
JUST SOMETIMES

12:26.219 --> 12:29.419
IF I JUST HAPPEN TO SPOT
THE RIGHT GUY, I'LL GO FOR IT.

12:31.419 --> 12:33.186
IN TRADITIONAL HMONG CULTURE

12:33.219 --> 12:35.619
BOYS AND GIRLS
DON'T SPEAK IN PUBLIC

12:35.652 --> 12:38.119
OTHER THAN AT
THE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL.

12:38.153 --> 12:41.452
THEY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER
WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS SLEEPING.

12:41.485 --> 12:44.086
AFTER SEEING A GIRL
HE MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN

12:44.119 --> 12:45.719
A BOY
GOES TO HER HOUSE

12:45.752 --> 12:47.485
AFTER SHE HAS GONE TO BED.

12:47.519 --> 12:50.319
HE TALKS AND PLAYS MUSIC
AND SINGS TO HER

12:50.353 --> 12:53.186
TRYING TO COAX HER
TO JOIN HIM OUTSIDE.

12:56.052 --> 12:58.952
IF SHE DOES SO, THE COUPLE
IS FREE TO BE TOGETHER

12:58.986 --> 13:01.619
SO LONG AS SHE IS HOME
BEFORE EARLY MORNING.

13:01.652 --> 13:04.919
BOYS AND GIRLS MAY GO THROUGH
SEVERAL OF THESE COURTSHIPS

13:04.952 --> 13:07.685
BEFORE FINDING THE PERSON
EACH WANTS TO MARRY.

13:07.719 --> 13:09.353
WHEN THAT HAPPENS

13:09.386 --> 13:12.585
AND IT DOES ONLY IF NEITHER
FAMILY HAS AN OBJECTION

13:12.619 --> 13:15.652
THE BOY BRINGS A BLACK
UMBRELLA TO HER FATHER'S HOUSE

13:15.685 --> 13:18.386
THEN SEEKS HER PARENTS'
PERMISSION TO MARRY HER

13:18.419 --> 13:20.153
THROUGH A THIRD PARTY.

13:20.186 --> 13:22.819
THAT PARTY
THEN GOES TO THE GIRL'S FAMILY

13:22.852 --> 13:24.652
AND MEMBERS OF THEIR CLAN

13:24.685 --> 13:27.319
AND WORKS OUT THE DETAILS
OF THE MARRIAGE

13:27.353 --> 13:30.685
INCLUDING THE GIFTS THAT
ARE TO BE GIVEN BY THE HUSBAND

13:30.719 --> 13:32.519
TO THE GIRL'S FAMILY.

13:32.552 --> 13:36.852
AND THEN, THERE'S THE
TRADITIONAL HMONG WEDDING...

13:36.886 --> 13:39.452
LIKE MY OLDER SISTER
ZOUAPA'S !

13:41.619 --> 13:43.286
THIS IS AT OUR HOUSE.

13:43.319 --> 13:45.485
IT'S THE SECOND DAY
OF CELEBRATING

13:45.519 --> 13:48.852
THAT STARTED THE DAY BEFORE
AT THE GROOM'S FAMILY HOME.

13:48.886 --> 13:53.086
TOMORROW, EVERYONE WILL GO BACK
THERE FOR A THIRD AND FINAL DAY.

13:53.119 --> 13:55.386
SOME OF THE MINOR PARTS
OF THE CUSTOM

13:55.419 --> 13:57.253
HAVE CHANGED HERE IN THE U.S.

13:57.286 --> 13:59.519
BUT OVERALL,
THIS IS THE SAME RITUAL

13:59.552 --> 14:02.186
THAT JOINED ALL OUR ANCESTORS
IN MARRIAGE

14:02.219 --> 14:04.319
LIKE THE GROOM, NENG

14:04.353 --> 14:07.585
AND HIS "PHIB LAJ"
OR "BEST MAN" DOING PE.

14:07.619 --> 14:10.519
THIS RITUAL HONORS
ALL MALE RELATIVES

14:10.552 --> 14:12.886
AND MEMBERS
OF THE HOUSEHOLD.

14:17.319 --> 14:19.819
BOTH THE BRIDE AND THE GROOM
HAVE "MEJ KOOB"

14:19.852 --> 14:22.153
A MARRIAGE BROKER
OR MARRIAGE NEGOTIATOR

14:22.186 --> 14:23.719
TO REPRESENT THEM.

14:23.752 --> 14:26.019
HERE, THE BRIDE'S MEJ KOOB,
ON THE LEFT

14:26.052 --> 14:28.585
INSTRUCTS THE MALE MEMBERS
FROM BOTH FAMILIES

14:28.619 --> 14:30.386
ABOUT PROPER ETIQUETTE

14:30.419 --> 14:33.652
DURING THIS VERY HAPPY, BUT
IMPORTANT AND SERIOUS RITUAL.

14:35.353 --> 14:38.353
LATER, THE GROOM'S MEJ KOOB
CHANTS MARRIAGE SONGS

14:38.386 --> 14:41.019
BACK AND FORTH
WITH THE BRIDE'S MEJ KOOB.

14:41.052 --> 14:43.419
THESE CHANTS CAN GO ON
FOR AN HOUR, OR MORE

14:43.452 --> 14:45.552
AND MUST BE PERFORMED
VERY PRECISELY

14:45.585 --> 14:48.386
ON EACH OF THE THREE DAYS
OF THE CEREMONY.

14:48.419 --> 14:52.286
(singing)

14:57.752 --> 15:00.752
A LIST OF WHAT GIFTS
THE GUESTS

15:00.786 --> 15:03.286
AND FAMILY HAVE BROUGHT
FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM

15:03.319 --> 15:05.452
IS CAREFULLY KEPT
AND THEN READ ALOUD

15:05.485 --> 15:07.219
NEAR THE END OF EACH DAY--

15:07.253 --> 15:09.819
THINGS THEY WILL NEED
TO START THEIR LIVES TOGETHER:

15:09.852 --> 15:13.286
LIKE SILVERWARE, DISHES,
CLOTHES, FURNITURE

15:13.319 --> 15:15.452
MONEY, AND OF COURSE, FOOD !

15:15.485 --> 15:21.886
THAT'S A HALF-LEG OF THE PIG
WITH THE TAIL

15:21.919 --> 15:28.286
THAT GOES TO THE DAUGHTER
AND SON-IN-LAW.

15:28.319 --> 15:32.819
ALSO, THEY HAVE...

15:35.786 --> 15:40.219
TWO CHICKEN,
WITH ONE BAG OF RICE

15:40.253 --> 15:43.153
SO, THEY GO--
THEY TAKE IT WITH THEM.

15:43.186 --> 15:46.986
Lia Vang: THE BRIDE'S FAMILY PROVIDES
THE FOOD AND OTHER REFRESHMENTS

15:47.019 --> 15:48.619
FOR WHICH THE GROOM'S FAMILY

15:48.652 --> 15:50.886
SHOWS THEIR THANKS
AND APPRECIATION.

15:50.919 --> 15:55.086
AT THE SAME TIME, THE BRIDE'S
FAMILY EXPRESSES THEIR GRATITUDE

15:55.119 --> 15:56.952
FOR THE GROOM'S FAMILY'S GIFTS

15:56.986 --> 16:00.286
WHICH HELPED MAKE THE FOOD
AND REFRESHMENTS POSSIBLE.

16:00.319 --> 16:02.919
WITHIN WHAT SEEMS TO BE
JUST SOCIALIZING

16:02.952 --> 16:06.319
A VERY IMPORTANT PART
OF THE RITUAL IS TAKING PLACE.

16:06.353 --> 16:09.552
PERSONS CHOSEN BY THE GROOM'S
PARENTS TO REPRESENT THEM

16:09.585 --> 16:11.786
ARE GUARANTEEING
THE BRIDE'S FAMILY

16:11.819 --> 16:14.286
THAT THEY WILL
TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY

16:14.319 --> 16:16.719
IF SHE SHOULD
EVER BE MISTREATED

16:16.752 --> 16:20.552
IF SHE SHOULD EVER BE MADE
TO SUFFER ILLNESS OR SADNESS

16:20.585 --> 16:22.952
TO CRY, TO BE COLD OR HUNGRY,
OR BE IN PAIN

16:22.986 --> 16:25.786
IF SHE SHOULD EVER
BE ALLOWED TO COMMIT ADULTERY.

16:25.819 --> 16:27.519
IN THE HMONG CULTURE

16:27.552 --> 16:29.519
A WIFE'S
UNFAITHFULNESS

16:29.552 --> 16:32.552
IS THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE HUSBAND.

16:35.153 --> 16:37.786
JUST AS IMPORTANT
AS THE ASSURANCES

16:37.819 --> 16:40.786
FROM THE GROOM'S FAMILY
TO THE BRIDE'S

16:40.819 --> 16:43.186
ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS
TO THE BRIDE

16:43.219 --> 16:45.019
FROM MEMBERS OF HER FAMILY.

16:45.052 --> 16:47.752
UNCLES, OLDER MALE BROTHERS
AND COUSINS

16:47.786 --> 16:49.752
TAKE TURNS TELLING HER

16:49.786 --> 16:51.585
THAT THIS IS
A VERY SERIOUS MATTER.

16:51.619 --> 16:53.619
SHE IS NOW AN ADULT,
NOT SINGLE ANYMORE

16:53.652 --> 16:55.519
AND MUST
SEPARATE HERSELF FOREVER

16:55.552 --> 16:58.086
FROM HER MOTHER
AND GO TO HER HUSBAND'S FAMILY

16:58.119 --> 17:00.119
WHOM SHE WILL
ALWAYS HONOR, RESPECT

17:00.153 --> 17:01.752
AND HELP MAKE PROSPEROUS.

17:01.786 --> 17:04.452
SHE IS TOLD HOW TO BE
A GOOD WIFE, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW

17:04.485 --> 17:06.286
AND RESPECTABLE INDIVIDUAL

17:06.319 --> 17:08.786
IN HER NEW FAMILY
AND COMMUNITY.

17:08.819 --> 17:10.919
SHE'S TOLD THAT HER OLD FAMILY

17:10.952 --> 17:14.153
WILL LOSE RESPECT FOR HER
AND BECAUSE OF HER

17:14.186 --> 17:16.153
IF SHE FAILS.

17:17.052 --> 17:19.319
TODAY, SOME OF OUR PEOPLE

17:19.353 --> 17:22.619
ARE MARRIED
THROUGH CHRISTIAN CEREMONIES

17:22.652 --> 17:25.419
LIKE THIS ONE
FOR NOU AND YENG.

17:36.652 --> 17:40.752
(speaking Hmong)

17:45.153 --> 17:53.386
(singing)

17:59.652 --> 18:04.819
(ceremony continues in Hmong)

18:16.452 --> 18:19.186
Lia Vang:
WHEN THE SONGS AND PRAYERS

18:19.219 --> 18:22.219
AND CEREMONIES
AT A CHRISTIAN WEDDING

18:22.253 --> 18:24.819
AND THE FEASTING AND DRINKING
AND EXCHANGING OF HONORS

18:24.852 --> 18:27.119
IS FINISHED AT THE TRADITIONAL
HMONG WEDDING

18:27.153 --> 18:30.153
ALL HMONG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING

18:30.186 --> 18:32.019
ABOUT WHAT
HAS JUST HAPPENED:

18:32.052 --> 18:33.552
THIS HAS BEEN MUCH MORE

18:33.585 --> 18:35.986
THAN THE JOINING
OF A MAN AND A WOMAN.

18:36.019 --> 18:39.019
IT HAS BEEN THE CREATION
OF FAMILY TIES

18:39.052 --> 18:40.986
THAT WILL BE EVERLASTING.

18:42.153 --> 18:47.019
I FEEL THAT,
IN THE HMONG CULTURE, MEN--

18:47.052 --> 18:50.219
BOYS, I SHOULD SAY--

18:50.253 --> 18:55.319
THEY GET ALL THE APPRECIATION,
YOU KNOW, SPECIAL TREATMENT.

18:55.353 --> 18:57.786
THOSE GIRLS--

18:57.819 --> 19:02.086
I KNOW MY PARENTS AND THEM
CARE ABOUT US A LOT.

19:02.119 --> 19:04.952
BUT WE DON'T
GET RECOGNIZED A LOT.

19:04.986 --> 19:09.019
BECAUSE WE'RE MAINLY THERE TO,
YOU KNOW, COOK, CLEAN

19:09.052 --> 19:11.452
HELP THEM OUT, YOU KNOW.

19:11.485 --> 19:15.452
BUT ONE REASON WHY THAT IS,
IS BECAUSE WHEN WE GET MARRIED

19:15.485 --> 19:19.319
WE'LL GO OFF AND LIVE WITH
OUR HUSBANDS AND THEIR FAMILY

19:19.353 --> 19:22.552
AND WE WON'T BE PART
OF OUR FAMILY ANYMORE.

19:22.585 --> 19:24.153
BUT MY BROTHERS AND THEM

19:24.186 --> 19:26.386
THEY'LL ALWAYS BE THERE
FOR MY PARENTS.

19:26.419 --> 19:28.186
BECAUSE WHEN THEY GET MARRIED

19:28.219 --> 19:30.852
THEY'LL BRING THEIR WIFE
HOME TO MY PARENTS AND THEM

19:30.886 --> 19:33.286
AND THEY'LL STILL LIVE
WITH MY PARENTS.

19:36.353 --> 19:38.652
May Lee Lor: THIS IS EVERYDAY 
LIFE BACK IN LAOS.

19:38.685 --> 19:41.852
EVERY MORNING
BEFORE THE SUNRISE

19:41.886 --> 19:45.452
THEY PACK THEIR LUNCH
AND THEIR TOOLS

19:45.485 --> 19:48.153
AND THEY WALK TO THE GARDEN.

19:48.186 --> 19:51.286
Lia Vang: THE TRADITIONAL ROLES
FOR MALES AND FEMALES

19:51.319 --> 19:54.186
ARE ONLY ONE PART OF OUR CULTURE
THAT'S BEING CHANGED

19:54.219 --> 19:56.419
BY THE REALITIES
OF LIFE IN AMERICA.

19:56.452 --> 19:58.286
SO IS THE ART OF NEEDLEWORK

19:58.319 --> 20:01.519
THAT CREATED THIS "PAJ NDAU,"
OR "FLOWERCLOTH."

20:01.552 --> 20:05.186
FOR CENTURIES, HMONG GIRLS
BEGAN AT AGE SEVEN OR EIGHT

20:05.219 --> 20:08.186
LEARNING HOW TO BASTE, CUT
AND STITCH CLOTH

20:08.219 --> 20:11.052
INTO THESE COLORFUL
DETAILED DESIGNS.

20:11.086 --> 20:13.719
BUT HERE,
THERE ARE SCHOOLS TO ATTEND

20:13.752 --> 20:15.585
AND JOBS
OUTSIDE THE HOME.

20:16.386 --> 20:18.952
THE FLOWERCLOTHS
ARE NOT ONLY DECORATIONS

20:18.986 --> 20:21.186
FOR WALLS, AND FLOORS
AND CLOTHING

20:21.219 --> 20:23.786
THEY ALSO WERE,
FOR MOST OF HMONG HISTORY

20:23.819 --> 20:26.286
THE ONLY VISUAL WAY
OUR PEOPLE HAD

20:26.319 --> 20:28.186
TO PASS ON
THEIR STORIES

20:28.219 --> 20:30.319
FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

20:30.353 --> 20:33.752
SINCE THERE WAS NO WRITTEN FORM
OF THE HMONG LANGUAGE

20:33.786 --> 20:35.786
UNTIL RECENTLY, 1953

20:35.819 --> 20:37.752
OUR TRADITIONS
AND LEGENDS

20:37.786 --> 20:40.253
COULD ONLY BE TOLD
BY WORD OF MOUTH

20:40.286 --> 20:43.153
AND THROUGH THE IMAGES
OF THE PAJ NTAUB.

20:43.186 --> 20:46.419
May Lee Lor: THIS IS WHEN,
AFTER THE VIETNAM WAR

20:46.452 --> 20:49.619
WHEN THE HMONG HELPED
THE AMERICAN CIA WITH THE WAR

20:49.652 --> 20:52.286
AND WHEN THE AMERICAN
FLEE THE COUNTRY

20:52.319 --> 20:55.852
THE HMONG PEOPLE
HAVE TO PACK THEIR BELONGINGS

20:55.886 --> 20:58.186
AND HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY

20:58.219 --> 21:01.719
BECAUSE THE VIETNAM CAME
AND KILLED THEM

21:01.752 --> 21:03.819
AND BURN UP THEIR HOUSES.

21:03.852 --> 21:07.153
SO THEY HAVE TO
GET THEIR BELONGINGS

21:07.186 --> 21:09.519
COME TO THE MEKONG RIVER

21:09.552 --> 21:13.419
AND HAVE TO GET
SOME BAMBOO OR RAFT

21:13.452 --> 21:18.019
AND CROSS THE MEKONG RIVER
OVER TO THAILAND.

21:18.052 --> 21:20.786
THESE ARE PEOPLE,
ARE THAI

21:20.819 --> 21:24.286
AND THEY HELPED
THE PEOPLE FROM THE RIVER

21:24.319 --> 21:28.519
AND PUT THEM INTO A CAMP
WHERE THEY WOULD STAY THERE

21:28.552 --> 21:31.852
UNTIL THEY COME
TO THE UNITED STATES.

21:31.886 --> 21:34.186
Lia Vang:
ALL THESE WOMEN GATHERED HERE

21:34.219 --> 21:36.886
AT A NEIGHBORHOOD
RESOURCE CENTER IN GREEN BAY

21:36.919 --> 21:39.786
MADE THAT TRIP JUST DESCRIBED
IN THE PAJ NTAUB.

21:39.819 --> 21:41.452
THEY UNDERSTAND

21:41.485 --> 21:44.219
THAT BECAUSE OF THE DEMANDS
OF LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES

21:44.253 --> 21:46.419
SOME OF THEIR DAUGHTERS
AND GRANDDAUGHTERS

21:46.452 --> 21:48.386
WILL NEVER LEARN
THE NEEDLEWORK SKILLS.

21:48.419 --> 21:52.286
BUT AT THE MOMENT,
THEY HAVE OTHER CONCERNS.

21:52.319 --> 21:54.019
(speaking Hmong)

23:17.419 --> 23:20.519
Lia Vang: HMONG AND ENGLISH
ARE SUCH DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

23:20.552 --> 23:22.685
THAT IT'S VERY HARD
FOR OLDER PEOPLE

23:22.719 --> 23:24.353
FROM EITHER CULTURE

23:24.386 --> 23:26.685
TO LEARN TO SPEAK OR WRITE
THE LANGUAGE OF THE OTHER.

23:26.719 --> 23:28.319
IN HMONG,
THE MEANINGS OF WORDS

23:28.353 --> 23:30.286
OFTEN DEPEND
ON HOW THEY ARE SOUNDED.

23:30.319 --> 23:32.752
ALSO, SOUNDS
ARE SPELLED DIFFERENTLY

23:32.786 --> 23:34.619
THAN THEY ARE IN ENGLISH.

23:34.652 --> 23:36.919
LIKE THE WORD
FOR THE STORY CLOTH

23:36.952 --> 23:38.752
IS PRONOUNCEDPAN-DOW

23:38.786 --> 23:41.186
BUT IT'S SPELLED
LIKE THIS.

23:41.219 --> 23:45.752
MY MOM UNDERSTANDS ENGLISH
AND SHE CAN SPEAK A LITTLE BIT.

23:45.786 --> 23:50.086
MY DAD UNDERSTANDS SOME ENGLISH,
BUT CAN'T USE IT HIMSELF.

23:50.119 --> 23:52.819
I, AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
ON THE OTHER HAND

23:52.852 --> 23:54.319
CAN WRITE AND SPEAK ENGLISH

23:54.353 --> 23:56.419
JUST AS WELL
AS ANY KIDS OUR AGE.

23:56.452 --> 23:59.452
HMONG PEOPLE I KNOW WHO'VE
OVERCOME THE LANGUAGE BARRIER

23:59.485 --> 24:01.752
HAVE DONE VERY WELL.

24:01.786 --> 24:04.786
DAN LEE IS A SUCCESSFUL
COMPUTER SPECIALIST

24:04.819 --> 24:06.419
AND REAL ESTATE OWNER.

24:06.452 --> 24:09.685
KOUA YANG WORKS WITH
THE IMMIGRATION PROGRAM

24:09.719 --> 24:12.419
OF THE GREEN BAY
CATHOLIC DIOCESE.

24:12.452 --> 24:14.052
HE AND HIS WIFE, YING

24:14.086 --> 24:16.919
OWNED AND OPERATED
THIS ASIAN-FOOD GROCERY STORE.

24:16.952 --> 24:19.519
BON XIONG
SERVED AS AN ALDERPERSON

24:19.552 --> 24:21.353
FOR THE CITY OF APPLETON.

24:21.386 --> 24:23.652
JAI VANG
IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

24:23.685 --> 24:26.253
OF THE GREEN BAY
HMONG ASSOCIATION.

24:26.286 --> 24:27.852
YANG KONG AND HIS FATHER

24:27.886 --> 24:30.919
OWN A CAR DEALERSHIP AND GARAGE
IN GREEN BAY.

24:30.952 --> 24:33.585
MANEE MOUA
WON THE CHANCELLOR'S MEDALLION

24:33.619 --> 24:37.119
AS THE OUTSTANDING STUDENT
IN HER COLLEGE GRADUATING CLASS

24:37.153 --> 24:38.919
AND NOW SHE'S IN LAW SCHOOL.

24:38.952 --> 24:41.986
TOU GER XIONG IS A POPULAR
LECTURER AND ENTERTAINER

24:42.019 --> 24:43.652
IN THE MIDWEST.

24:43.685 --> 24:47.119
VAUGHN VANG IS A COUNSELOR
IN THE GREEN BAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

24:47.153 --> 24:49.286
VUE LOR,
WITH A DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK

24:49.319 --> 24:50.786
WAS A CASE MANAGER

24:50.819 --> 24:53.319
FOR BROWN COUNTY
WISCONSIN FAMILY SERVICES.

24:53.353 --> 24:57.886
I ALSO THINK THAT ALTHOUGH
I AM VERY INDEPENDENT

24:57.919 --> 25:01.319
AND VERY AMERICANIZED
IN SOME WAYS

25:01.353 --> 25:04.052
AND A PROFESSIONAL WOMAN

25:04.086 --> 25:07.552
I STILL
CARRY ON SO MANY BELIEFS.

25:07.585 --> 25:10.286
WHEN YOU TALK TO AN ELDER,
YOU DON'T LOOK AT THEM

25:10.319 --> 25:12.485
LIKE WHAT, YOU KNOW,
FACE EACH OTHER.

25:12.519 --> 25:15.119
WHEN YOU TALK TO SOMEONE
WHO IS OLDER THAN YOU

25:15.153 --> 25:17.986
YOU WILL BE YOU WILL BE
DOWN-CASTING YOUR EYES LIKE THIS

25:18.019 --> 25:20.386
AND LISTENING TO THEM
AND ANSWERING THEM BACK

25:20.419 --> 25:22.019
INSTEAD OF FACING,
YOU KNOW,

25:22.052 --> 25:23.886
LOOKING AT EACH OTHER
IN THE EYE.

25:23.919 --> 25:26.485
THAT'S BECAUSE
THAT'S A SIGN OF DISRESPECT.

25:26.519 --> 25:28.419
WE WERE RAISED, AS LITTLE KIDS

25:28.452 --> 25:31.752
TO GIVE RESPECT TO ELDERLY
PEOPLE AND TO OBEY THEM.

25:31.786 --> 25:33.585
SO, I CARRY THAT ON.

25:33.619 --> 25:36.685
HOPEFULLY, I WILL BE ABLE
TO PASS THOSE BELIEFS

25:36.719 --> 25:38.919
AND VALUES
TO MY CHILDREN.

25:38.952 --> 25:41.485
IN MY CULTURE, YOU NEVER
BACK TALK YOUR TEACHERS

25:41.519 --> 25:43.452
AND NEVER BACK TALK
TO YOUR PARENTS.

25:43.485 --> 25:45.052
YOU DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

25:50.286 --> 25:52.286
Lia Vang:
IN AMERICA TODAY

25:52.319 --> 25:55.353
RESPECT FOR ELDERS IS SOMETHING
I DO NOT SEE VERY OFTEN.

25:55.386 --> 25:57.919
BUT IN OUR CULTURE,
THERE ARE MANY TRADITIONS

25:57.952 --> 26:00.219
THAT DIFFER A LOT
FROM WESTERN WAYS.

26:00.253 --> 26:04.286
ONE IS THE COMMON PRACTICE
OF TREATING ILLNESS

26:04.319 --> 26:06.253
WITH HERBS
GATHERED FROM THE WILD

26:06.286 --> 26:08.619
AND HERBS SPECIALLY GROWN
INSIDE THE HOUSE

26:08.652 --> 26:10.819
A PRACTICE PEOPLE HERE
FIND UNUSUAL.

26:12.819 --> 26:14.186
THE SACRIFICE OF ANIMALS

26:14.219 --> 26:15.986
IS NOT ONLY CONSIDERED
UNUSUAL HERE

26:16.019 --> 26:17.685
IT'S AGAINST
THE LAW.

26:17.719 --> 26:19.086
BUT IN OUR CULTURE

26:19.119 --> 26:20.952
CHICKENS, COWS AND PIGS

26:20.986 --> 26:23.485
AND ARE OFTEN CHOSEN
TO BE BUTCHERED

26:23.519 --> 26:26.186
AS A PART OF ONE CEREMONY
OR ANOTHER.

26:26.219 --> 26:29.153
SUCH SACRIFICES ARE USED
TO WARD OFF BAD SPIRITS

26:29.186 --> 26:30.919
OR HONOR GOOD SPIRITS

26:30.952 --> 26:32.752
OR FIND "WANDERING" SPIRITS

26:32.786 --> 26:34.919
OR TO USE THE SPIRIT
IN AN ANIMAL

26:34.952 --> 26:37.052
TO HELP THE SPIRIT
IN THE HUMAN.

26:37.086 --> 26:39.119
(speaking Hmong)

26:39.153 --> 26:43.086
Lia Vang: SPIRITS ARE AT THE CENTER
OF HMONG CULTURE AND TRADITION.

26:43.119 --> 26:45.886
WE BELIEVE ALL THINGS IN NATURE
HAVE SPIRITS

26:45.919 --> 26:47.719
BOTH LIVING AND NON-LIVING

26:47.752 --> 26:51.153
LIKE HUMANS, ANIMALS, PLANTS,
TREES, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS

26:51.186 --> 26:52.919
HOUSES, DOORS.

26:52.952 --> 26:55.219
THE "DAB NYEG"
ARE HOUSEHOLD SPIRITS

26:55.253 --> 26:58.153
WHICH INHABIT VARIOUS PARTS
OF THE HMONG HOUSE

26:58.186 --> 27:00.119
AND PROTECT THE HOUSEHOLD.

27:00.153 --> 27:02.619
THE "DAB QUS"
ARE WILD FOREST SPIRITS

27:02.652 --> 27:06.086
WHICH INHABIT CERTAIN PARTS
OF THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE

27:06.119 --> 27:09.819
AND ROAM AROUND READY TO ATTACK
OR CAPTURE HUMAN SOULS.

27:09.852 --> 27:13.919
EACH HUMAN BEING HAS MANY SOULS,
AND THESE SOULS DO NOT DIE.

27:13.952 --> 27:17.153
SOME BELONG TO EARTH,
SOME TO THE OTHERWORLD.

27:17.186 --> 27:20.752
SOME ARE REINCARNATED
INTO OTHER PARTS OF NATURE.

27:20.786 --> 27:24.253
THE SOULS OF DEPARTED ANCESTORS
RESIDE IN THE OTHERWORLD.

27:24.286 --> 27:26.519
THEY ARE ABLE
TO ASSIST THE LIVING

27:26.552 --> 27:29.253
TO FIND GOOD FORTUNE
AND AVOID HARDSHIP.

27:29.286 --> 27:31.685
THEY DECIDE HOW LONG
EACH HMONG PERSON

27:31.719 --> 27:33.319
WILL BE ALIVE IN THE WORLD

27:33.353 --> 27:36.286
AND WHEN THAT TIME RUNS OUT,
THE PERSON DIES.

27:36.319 --> 27:38.485
THESE SAME SPIRITS
ARE ALSO THE SOULS

27:38.519 --> 27:40.585
OF HMONG PEOPLE
WAITING TO BE BORN.

27:40.619 --> 27:43.519
AND SOMEDAY, THEY WILL
RE-ENTER THE EARTHLY WORLD.

27:43.552 --> 27:47.253
BUT ONLY THE SHAMAN CAN TRAVEL
BETWEEN THE LIVING WORLD

27:47.286 --> 27:50.253
AND THE OTHERWORLD
WITHOUT BEING HARMED.

27:52.353 --> 27:54.585
(chanting)

27:54.619 --> 27:56.919
Lia Vang:
THIS SHAMAN IS ON HIS JOURNEY

27:56.952 --> 27:58.386
TO THE HMONG OTHERWORLD.

27:58.419 --> 28:00.086
MANY OF THE SOUNDS
HE MAKES

28:00.119 --> 28:02.219
CAN NOT BE UNDERSTOOD
BY THE AVERAGE HMONG.

28:02.253 --> 28:05.019
SOME HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN
THE ANCIENT CHINESE LANGUAGES.

28:05.052 --> 28:07.485
WEARING A HOOD OF BLACK CLOTH
TO COVER HIS EYES

28:07.519 --> 28:10.186
HE MAKES HIS JOURNEY
ON HIS SPIRITUAL HORSE

28:10.219 --> 28:12.552
FROM A LONG BENCH
IN FRONT OF THE FAMILY ALTAR

28:12.585 --> 28:15.286
WHICH HAS BEEN SPECIALLY
ARRANGED FOR THIS CEREMONY.

28:15.319 --> 28:17.652
THERE IS A SAUCER
OF HUSKED RICE

28:17.685 --> 28:19.852
WITH AN EGG IN THE CENTER

28:19.886 --> 28:23.153
STICKS OF INCENSE,
A PORK-FAT CANDLE

28:23.186 --> 28:26.452
A BOWL OF WATER,
THREE SMALL CUPS: ONE WITH TEA

28:26.485 --> 28:29.219
ONE WITH RICE WINE
AND ONE WITH WATER.

28:29.253 --> 28:31.585
ALL THESE ITEMS
ARE NECESSARY

28:31.619 --> 28:33.485
TO BOTH
PLEASE THE SPIRITS

28:33.519 --> 28:36.319
AND TO HELP THE SHAMAN
FIND HIS WAY TO THE OTHERWORLD.

28:36.353 --> 28:38.452
TO HELP SUMMON
HIS CONTACTS THERE

28:38.485 --> 28:40.652
THE SHAMAN WEARS
FINGER BELLS.

28:40.685 --> 28:43.052
BEHIND HIM,
HIS ASSISTANT BEATS A GONG.

28:43.086 --> 28:45.186
AS HIS RIDE
ON HIS SPIRITUAL HORSE

28:45.219 --> 28:46.952
GROWS MORE INTENSE

28:46.986 --> 28:50.386
SO DO HIS COMMUNICATIONS WITH
THE FORCES IN THE OTHERWORLD.

28:50.419 --> 28:54.819
(chanting continues
with other vocalizations)

29:16.952 --> 29:20.286
A SHAMAN IS NOT A PERSON
WHO CHOOSES TO BE ONE

29:20.319 --> 29:23.219
BUT A PERSON
WHO IS CHOSEN FOR THE ROLE

29:23.253 --> 29:26.019
BY SPIRITS
OF THE HMONG OTHERWORLD.

29:26.052 --> 29:28.819
THESE SPIRITS REVEAL THEMSELVES
THROUGH SPECIAL DREAMS

29:28.852 --> 29:30.786
TO THE MALES AND FEMALES
THEY CHOOSE

29:30.819 --> 29:32.952
TO BE VEHICLES
FOR THEIR HEALING POWERS.

29:32.986 --> 29:35.952
THE SHAMANS SERVE AS BOTH
MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS

29:35.986 --> 29:38.186
FOR THOSE
WHO REQUEST THEIR SERVICES.

29:38.219 --> 29:40.519
AND ONE OF THEIR
MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES

29:40.552 --> 29:43.086
IS TO HEAL SICK PEOPLE
AND PREVENT ILLNESS.

29:43.119 --> 29:46.719
IN THIS CASE, THE SHAMAN IS
TRYING TO FIND AN UNHAPPY SPIRIT

29:46.752 --> 29:48.819
THAT IS ABIDING
IN THIS FAMILY'S HOME

29:48.852 --> 29:51.752
MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR
THE HUSBAND TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.

30:01.153 --> 30:03.186
THE SHAMAN'S JOURNEY
INTO THE OTHERWORLD

30:03.219 --> 30:04.919
CAN GO ON FOR TWO HOURS,
OR MORE

30:04.952 --> 30:06.852
AS HE OR SHE CALLS ON
"SPIRIT ALLIES"

30:06.886 --> 30:08.752
TO HELP NEGOTIATE
WITH OTHER SPIRITS

30:08.786 --> 30:10.286
OFTEN EVIL SPIRITS

30:10.319 --> 30:12.552
THROUGH BARTERING,
THREATENING OR EVEN CHEATING

30:12.585 --> 30:15.752
IN ORDER TO RETURN THE FAMILY
AND THE HOUSE TO FULL HEALTH.

30:15.786 --> 30:17.552
AFTER HIS JOURNEY

30:17.585 --> 30:20.353
THE SHAMAN THROWS
THE DIVINATION HORNS

30:20.386 --> 30:22.852
IN FRONT OF THE ALTAR
SEVERAL TIMES.

30:22.886 --> 30:25.019
HOW THE HORNS LAND
TELLS HIM

30:25.052 --> 30:27.419
WHETHER OR NOT
HIS JOURNEY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

30:29.519 --> 30:32.585
IN THIS CASE,
HE BURNS "SPIRIT MONEY"

30:32.619 --> 30:35.819
AS A GESTURE OF THANKS
TO THE SPIRITS.

30:35.852 --> 30:40.452
(speaking Hmong)

30:43.386 --> 30:45.585
Lia Vang:
WHEN A HMONG PERSON DIES

30:45.619 --> 30:48.353
THE FAMILY CHOOSES
A "HOST" FOR THE FUNERAL.

30:48.386 --> 30:51.685
HE OR SHE, ALONG WITH A
CHRISTIAN MINISTER IN THIS CASE

30:51.719 --> 30:55.119
COORDINATES ALL THE ACTIVITIES
OF THE THREE-DAY CEREMONY.

30:55.153 --> 30:58.619
IT BEGINS ON A FRIDAY MORNING
WITH PRAYERS AND A HYMN.

30:58.652 --> 31:02.619
(singing)

31:23.485 --> 31:26.286
Lia Vang: THE DECEASED
IS DRESSED IN NEW CLOTHING

31:26.319 --> 31:28.186
MADE ESPECIALLY
FOR THE FUNERAL.

31:28.219 --> 31:30.452
THIS CLOTHING MUST BE MADE
OF PURE CLOTH

31:30.485 --> 31:33.086
WHICH WILL DISINTEGRATE
ALONG WITH THE BODY.

31:33.119 --> 31:36.819
ANY METAL OR STONE OR OTHER
SUBSTANCE WHICH CANNOT DECOMPOSE

31:36.852 --> 31:38.652
WILL BRING BAD FORTUNE

31:38.685 --> 31:41.052
TO FUTURE GENERATIONS
OF THE FAMILY.

31:41.086 --> 31:43.086
IN FACT,
IT HAS BEEN KNOWN

31:43.119 --> 31:46.086
THAT HMONG PEOPLE WITH
ILL FEELINGS TOWARD THE DECEASED

31:46.119 --> 31:48.886
HAVE TRIED
TO PLACE ROCKS, METAL

31:48.919 --> 31:50.952
OR OTHER HARD MATERIALS
INTO THE COFFIN

31:50.986 --> 31:53.485
OR CLOTHES OF THE DECEASED
TO BRING THE FAMILY HARM.

31:53.519 --> 31:55.419
TO GUARD AGAINST THIS,
THE DAUGHTERS

31:55.452 --> 31:57.485
AND DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW
OF THE DECEASED

31:57.519 --> 32:00.119
MUST CONSTANTLY EXAMINE
THE CLOTHING AND OTHER ITEMS

32:00.153 --> 32:02.052
THAT WILL BE PLACED
IN THE COFFIN.

32:02.086 --> 32:04.652
IF IMPROPER MATERIALS
ARE FOUND IN ANYTHING

32:04.685 --> 32:08.286
THE PERSON WHO PLACED THEM THERE
MUST PAY A FINE TO THE FAMILY.

32:08.319 --> 32:11.419
AT EVERY FUNERAL,
YOU WILL FIND MANY PICTURES

32:11.452 --> 32:13.386
AND OTHER OBJECTS ON DISPLAY.

32:13.419 --> 32:17.119
THESE REPRESENT HIS LIFE
AND HIS WORTH AS A PERSON.

32:18.386 --> 32:21.652
THE BOWING AND HAND GESTURES
BY THE MALE MOURNERS

32:21.685 --> 32:24.386
ARE EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS
AND BLESSINGS

32:24.419 --> 32:27.186
TO ALL THOSE WHO CAME
TO MOURN THE DECEASED

32:27.219 --> 32:30.819
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HELPED PAY
FOR THE FUNERAL EXPENSES

32:30.852 --> 32:32.919
OR TOOK SOME PART
IN THE CEREMONY

32:32.952 --> 32:36.019
AND OF COURSE, TO THE WELL BEING
OF ALL THE CHILDREN LIVING NOW

32:36.052 --> 32:39.319
AS A RESULT OF THE HARD WORK
AND GOOD LIFE OF THE DECEASED.

32:41.052 --> 32:42.919
HMONG FUNERALS
CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE

32:42.952 --> 32:44.452
BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE ATTEND.

32:44.485 --> 32:46.485
AND THE FAMILY
MUST PAY TRIBUTE

32:46.519 --> 32:48.719
TO THOSE WHO PAY
THEIR FINAL RESPECTS.

32:48.752 --> 32:51.253
ALL THE GUESTS
MUST BE FED AND HOUSED

32:51.286 --> 32:53.353
BY THE DEAD PERSON'S
FAMILY.

32:53.386 --> 32:56.319
CEREMONIES GO 24-HOURS-A-DAY,
FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS.

32:56.353 --> 32:58.452
THE MORE IMPORTANT
A PERSON IS

32:58.485 --> 33:01.253
SAY A CLAN LEADER
OR OTHER COMMUNITY FIGUREHEAD

33:01.286 --> 33:03.386
THE MORE PEOPLE
ATTEND THE FUNERAL.

33:03.419 --> 33:04.952
IT IS NOT UNCOMMON

33:04.986 --> 33:07.719
FOR A HMONG FUNERAL
HONORING A PERSON OF STATURE

33:07.752 --> 33:09.319
TO COST $30,000.

33:09.353 --> 33:12.186
XONG MANG IS DRESSED IN A HAT
FOR HIS FUNERAL

33:12.219 --> 33:14.552
BECAUSE ACCORDING
TO HMONG TRADITION

33:14.585 --> 33:17.319
MALES AND FEMALES
CHANGE ROLES AFTER DEATH.

33:17.353 --> 33:19.585
IN THEIR NEXT LIVES,
MEN ARE WOMEN

33:19.619 --> 33:21.286
AND WOMEN ARE MEN.

33:21.319 --> 33:24.886
XONG IS DRESSED FOR HIS
REINCARNATION AS A HMONG WOMAN.

33:27.052 --> 33:29.153
I KNOW MY PARENTS
ARE REALLY WORRIED

33:29.186 --> 33:31.186
ABOUT US LOSING
OUR HMONG CULTURE,

33:31.219 --> 33:33.585
BUT FOR ME, I INTEND
TO KEEP MY CULTURE

33:33.619 --> 33:36.519
BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING TO ME.

33:36.552 --> 33:39.219
IT MAKES ME WHO I AM,
BECAUSE I AM HMONG.

33:39.253 --> 33:41.086
I AM PROUD TO BE HMONG.

33:41.119 --> 33:43.819
AND I INTEND TO KEEP IT
FOREVER AND EVER.

33:43.852 --> 33:46.986
I WANT TO PASS IT ON
TO MY KIDS AND TO THEIR KIDS

33:47.019 --> 33:49.819
KEEP IT ON GENERATION
AFTER GENERATION.

33:49.852 --> 33:51.852
I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM
MY CULTURE SO LONG

33:51.886 --> 33:54.619
THAT NOW I LOOK BACK ON IT
AND I REGRET A LOT OF IT.

33:54.652 --> 33:56.986
I MEAN THAT'S WHY
I'M TRYING SO HARD TO GET BACK

33:57.019 --> 33:58.886
WHAT I'VE MISSED OUT
ALL THESE YEARS.

33:58.919 --> 34:00.886
I WANT TO PASS IT ON
TO MY CHILDREN

34:00.919 --> 34:02.419
SO THAT
THEY DON'T MISS OUT

34:02.452 --> 34:04.452
ON ALL THE EXPERIENCES
I'VE MISSED OUT.

34:04.485 --> 34:06.086
I MEAN, I'VE SEEN
HOW BEAUTIFUL

34:06.119 --> 34:08.219
AND HOW WONDERFUL
MY CULTURE REALLY IS.

34:08.253 --> 34:09.886
AND IT REALLY
MAKES ME HAPPY

34:09.919 --> 34:12.052
TO KNOW THAT HEY,
YOU KNOW, I AM HMONG !

34:12.086 --> 34:16.452
I WANT TO MAINTAIN AS MUCH OF
THE HMONG CULTURE AND TRADITION.

34:16.485 --> 34:18.819
AND I WANT
TO PASS IT ON TO MY KIDS

34:18.852 --> 34:21.552
BECAUSE I BELIEVE
THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT

34:21.585 --> 34:23.886
TO REMEMBER
AND TO KNOW WHO WE ARE

34:23.919 --> 34:27.419
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN WE
BECOME ALIEN TO OURSELVES.

34:27.452 --> 34:33.219
Lia Vang: BUT LEARNING WHO WE ARE
IS NOT AS EASY AS IT MIGHT SEEM.

34:33.253 --> 34:35.819
IF YOU REALLY
WANT TO LEARN THE HMONG CULTURE

34:35.852 --> 34:37.452
IT'S LIKE A COURSE.

34:37.485 --> 34:39.919
IT'S LIKE A MAJOR
IN SCHOOL.

34:39.952 --> 34:43.052
YOU REALLY HAVE TO
SET THAT TIME ASIDE

34:43.086 --> 34:45.186
JUST FOR THE HMONG CULTURE.

34:45.219 --> 34:48.719
Lia Vang: AND THAT'S JUST
HOW PANG YANG TEACHES IT

34:48.752 --> 34:50.485
LIKE A COURSE OF STUDY.

34:50.519 --> 34:51.952
I AM HMONG.

34:51.986 --> 34:54.819
AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO,
I CAN'T CHANGE THAT.

34:54.852 --> 34:57.052
SO, THAT'S BEEN MY GOAL

34:57.086 --> 35:00.052
TO TEACH THE KIDS
THAT "YOU'RE HMONG."

35:00.086 --> 35:02.253
YOU CAN STILL BE AMERICANIZED

35:02.286 --> 35:04.552
AND BE A HMONG PERSON
AT THE SAME TIME.

35:04.585 --> 35:06.986
AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS
IN THE HMONG CULTURE

35:07.019 --> 35:09.319
THAT YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE,
OR YOU MIGHT LIKE.

35:09.353 --> 35:11.386
TAKE THE GOOD PART
OF THE HMONG CULTURE

35:11.419 --> 35:13.652
AND TAKE A GOOD PART
OF THE AMERICAN CULTURE

35:13.685 --> 35:15.253
AND COMBINE IT

35:15.286 --> 35:17.886
AND YOU KNOW,
USE IT IN YOUR LIFE.

35:17.919 --> 35:19.986
I THINK THAT, NOWADAYS

35:20.019 --> 35:23.485
A LOT OF THE TEENS
ARE FORGETTING THE CULTURE.

35:23.519 --> 35:25.786
AND TO KIND OF LET THEM
KNOW ABOUT THE CULTURE

35:25.819 --> 35:28.119
AND TO HAVE THEM MORE AWARE
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED

35:28.153 --> 35:30.086
WHAT OUR PARENTS WENT THROUGH

35:30.119 --> 35:34.353
I SET UP A PROGRAM WHERE WE
WOULD DO, LIKE, HMONG CLOTHING.

35:34.386 --> 35:36.652
WE HAD KIND OF LIKE
A SPELLING CONTEST

35:36.685 --> 35:38.752
WHERE THEY TRY
TO WRITE THE HMONG.

35:38.786 --> 35:41.619
AND WE TRY TO PRESERVE
THE CULTURE WITH FOLKLORE.

35:41.652 --> 35:43.319
AND SO, WE DID THE FOLKLORE

35:43.353 --> 35:46.052
AND HAD THE KIDS WRITE IT
IN HMONG AND ENGLISH.

35:46.086 --> 35:48.319
AND THEY DID THEIR OWN
ILLUSTRATION OF A BOOK.

35:48.353 --> 35:51.952
AND THEN, WE HAD THEM
MAKE HMONG HOUSES

35:51.986 --> 35:54.685
JUST SO THEY KNOW WHAT
THE HMONG HOUSES LOOKED LIKE

35:54.719 --> 35:56.552
AND THE TRADITIONAL HOUSES.

35:56.585 --> 36:02.286
WE TRY TO SHOW THE KIDS THAT
HMONG HAVE THEIR OWN SPORTS.

36:02.319 --> 36:03.919
SO, WE DID THE TOPS GAME.

36:03.952 --> 36:06.253
YOU CAN MAKE IT OUT OF WOOD,
OUT OF A HARDWOOD.

36:06.286 --> 36:07.819
OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY.

36:07.852 --> 36:10.052
AND IT'S JUST A PIECE OF STRING
AND A STICK

36:10.086 --> 36:12.719
SO THAT WAS SOMETHING SIMPLE
THAT THEY CAN DO.

36:12.752 --> 36:15.786
WE HAD THE STILTS
THAT YOU WALK ON.

36:15.819 --> 36:20.452
THAT IS MORE FOR FARMERS,
OR DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

36:20.485 --> 36:22.886
BUT JUST TO SHOW THE KIDS

36:22.919 --> 36:25.986
THAT WE HAVE
SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

36:26.019 --> 36:27.619
AND THEN, WE DID THE ROCKS.

36:27.652 --> 36:29.919
AND BACK THEN,
IT WAS IN THE COUNTRY

36:29.952 --> 36:31.619
AND IT WAS FARMING.

36:31.652 --> 36:33.552
SO, PEOPLE WERE REALLY POOR

36:33.585 --> 36:37.052
AND THEIR MEANS OF ENTERTAINMENT
WAS SIMPLE STUFF, LIKE ROCKS.

36:37.086 --> 36:40.585
I MEAN, YOU CAN JUST PICK ROCKS
ANYWHERE, AND PLAY ROCKS.

36:40.619 --> 36:42.119
WE'RE TRYING TO TEACH THESE KIDS

36:42.153 --> 36:43.852
THAT YOU CAN GO BACK
TO THE BASIC

36:43.886 --> 36:45.253
AND STILL HAVE FUN.

36:45.286 --> 36:47.253
AND KIND OF
TO REMEMBER THESE GAMES

36:47.286 --> 36:49.886
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE PARENTS
ARE GONE, YOU CAN REMEMBER

36:49.919 --> 36:52.919
AND PASS THESE GAMES DOWN,
GENERATION DOWN TO GENERATION.

36:56.419 --> 36:58.086
I LOVE THE HMONG CULTURE.

36:58.119 --> 37:00.919
BUT THE HMONG CULTURE
POSES A HUGE PROBLEM FOR ME

37:00.952 --> 37:03.086
AND FOR THE REST
OF MY GENERATION.

37:03.119 --> 37:04.852
I MEAN, OUR PARENTS

37:04.886 --> 37:07.652
YOU KNOW, THEY WANT US
TO LEARN THEIR CULTURE

37:07.685 --> 37:09.419
AND NOT TO FORGET IT.

37:09.452 --> 37:11.386
BUT WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY

37:11.419 --> 37:14.685
FILLED WITH DIFFERENT WAYS
AND DIFFERENT CUSTOMS.

37:14.719 --> 37:17.952
I MEAN, FOR US TO TRANSITION
FROM ONE TO ANOTHER

37:17.986 --> 37:19.919
IT'S SO DIFFICULT.

37:19.952 --> 37:23.519
BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE AT HOME,
IT'S HMONG ALL THE WAY.

37:23.552 --> 37:25.919
BUT WHEN WE GO OUT
AND WE GO TO SCHOOL

37:25.952 --> 37:28.585
I MEAN, WE HAVE TO
TOTALLY SWITCH MIND SETS

37:28.619 --> 37:30.485
AND GO TO THE DIFFERENT CULTURE.

37:30.519 --> 37:34.052
I MEAN, WE HAVE TO BE AMERICAN,
YOU KNOW, IN ALL THEIR WAYS.

37:34.086 --> 37:36.419
I MEAN, THIS IS
A HUGE PROBLEM FOR ME

37:36.452 --> 37:38.886
AND A HUGE PROBLEM
FOR MY SIBLINGS.

37:38.919 --> 37:43.086
I THINK THAT THE YOUTH
IN THIS GENERATION

37:43.119 --> 37:47.719
PROBABLY WILL BE THE ONE
THAT HAVE THE HARDEST

37:47.752 --> 37:51.685
IN REGARDS TO TRYING
TO BECOME SOMEONE

37:51.719 --> 37:54.552
TO HAVE AN IDENTITY

37:54.585 --> 37:58.419
TO FEEL LIKE
THEY BELONG SOMEWHERE

37:58.452 --> 38:02.086
AND STILL HAVE
THE SUPPORT FROM HOME.

38:02.119 --> 38:06.286
THEY DO NOT HAVE
AMERICAN CULTURE.

38:06.319 --> 38:08.852
THEY DON'T HAVE HMONG CULTURE.

38:08.886 --> 38:11.786
THEY ARE PEOPLE
IN THE MIDDLE.

38:11.819 --> 38:15.986
AND MANY STUDENTS
SAY THEY ARE NOTHING.

38:16.019 --> 38:21.652
THEY NOT BELONG ANYWHERE,
SO THAT'S WHY THEY MISBEHAVE.

38:21.685 --> 38:23.585
Lia Vang:
OUR PARENTS EXPECT US

38:23.619 --> 38:26.353
TO PLAY THE SAME ROLES
AS CHILDREN THAT THEY DID

38:26.386 --> 38:28.019
AND TO BE OBEDIENT YOUNGSTERS

38:28.052 --> 38:30.253
LIKE THEY WERE
IN THE OLD COUNTRY.

38:30.286 --> 38:32.552
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW HARD IT IS

38:32.585 --> 38:34.719
TO BE A TEEN-AGER
IN AMERICA TODAY

38:34.752 --> 38:37.219
WITH ALL THE PRESSURE
TO GET GOOD GRADES

38:37.253 --> 38:40.519
TO DEAL WITH PEER PRESSURE,
DATING, DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

38:40.552 --> 38:42.786
SEX, SMOKING, AND THE FOCUS
ON MONEY AND LOOKS.

38:42.819 --> 38:44.786
IT'S TOUGH EVEN WHEN
THIS IS THE CULTURE

38:44.819 --> 38:46.552
YOUR PARENTS GREW UP IN.

38:46.585 --> 38:49.186
BUT OUR PARENTS NEVER HAD
TO DEAL WITH ANY OF THAT STUFF.

38:49.219 --> 38:50.952
IT'S REALLY,
REALLY DIFFICULT

38:50.986 --> 38:53.119
TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST

38:53.153 --> 38:54.786
IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

38:54.819 --> 38:57.719
AND AT HOME, WE'RE EXPECTED
TO OBEY ALL THE RULES

38:57.752 --> 39:00.585
AND LIVE IN THE OLD WAYS,
SPEAKING ONLY HMONG.

39:00.619 --> 39:03.819
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
WE HAVE TO BE LIKE ADULTS, TOO

39:03.852 --> 39:06.086
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO
TRANSLATE FOR THEM

39:06.119 --> 39:09.219
AND EXPLAIN TO THEM
HOW THINGS WORK IN THIS COUNTRY.

39:09.253 --> 39:10.752
SO, SOME KIDS GO TO SCHOOL

39:10.786 --> 39:12.752
AND HEAR SOMEBODY
CALL THEM "GOOK"

39:12.786 --> 39:15.552
OR SOMEBODY MAKES FUN OF HOW
THEY LOOK OR THEIR CLOTHES.

39:15.585 --> 39:17.086
THEN THEY COME HOME

39:17.119 --> 39:19.619
AND THEIR ELDERS
DON'T LIKE THEM TO SPEAK ENGLISH

39:19.652 --> 39:22.786
AND SCOLD THEM FOR WANTING
TO DO THINGS AMERICAN KIDS DO.

39:22.819 --> 39:24.419
AND THAT'S HOW HMONG KIDS

39:24.452 --> 39:26.819
GET INVOLVED IN GANGS
AND DOING ILLEGAL THINGS.

39:26.852 --> 39:29.286
THEY'RE LOOKING
FOR SOMEPLACE TO BELONG.

39:29.319 --> 39:32.552
Adam Yang: THE GANG THAT I'M 
IN,  WE DON'T CAUSE TROUBLE.

39:32.585 --> 39:37.386
WE JUST WANT TO BE A GROUP
THAT HANGS OUT WITH EACH OTHER

39:37.419 --> 39:40.986
HELP OUT EACH OTHER,
CARE FOR EACH OTHER

39:41.019 --> 39:43.752
LIKE A SECOND FAMILY TO US.

39:43.786 --> 39:46.652
AND NO DISRESPECTING
EACH OTHER.

39:46.685 --> 39:48.852
RESPECT EVERYBODY.

39:48.886 --> 39:52.119
RESPECT IS SOMETHING
MANY HMONG PEOPLE IN THIS AREA

39:52.153 --> 39:54.052
HAVE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING.

39:54.086 --> 39:56.519
(reading letter)
"DEAR MR. VAUGHN VANG

39:56.552 --> 39:59.452
"IT WOULD BE THE BEST
FOR AMERICANS

39:59.485 --> 40:02.319
"IF YOU PEOPLE
WOULD JUST GO HOME !

40:02.353 --> 40:05.086
YOU PEOPLE
WILL NEVER FIT IT."

40:05.119 --> 40:08.886
THIS LADY, SHE WAS SITTING
BY THE PORCH OF HER HOUSE

40:08.919 --> 40:12.719
AND SHE SAID TO US, LIKE,
"GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY."

40:12.752 --> 40:16.819
I WALK DOWN THE STREET,
A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL ME "GOOK"

40:16.852 --> 40:18.919
AND ALL THESE OTHER NAMES.

40:18.952 --> 40:22.919
YOU COULD NEVER GET ANY SORT
OF RESPONSE FROM THE LANDLORD

40:22.952 --> 40:25.819
UNTIL YOU ALMOST
HAVE TO THREATEN THEM.

40:25.852 --> 40:27.819
YOU KNOW,
MAYBE I'M HMONG.

40:27.852 --> 40:30.886
AND I'M, YOU KNOW,
THAT I EAT CATS AND DOGS.

40:30.919 --> 40:34.519
OR THAT I'M, YOU KNOW, DUMB,
ILLITERATE, OR WHATEVER.

40:34.552 --> 40:36.452
PEOPLE CALL YOU "GOOK,"
OR WHATEVER.

40:36.485 --> 40:37.719
THAT WAS THE BIG THING.

40:37.752 --> 40:39.119
OR A "CHINK."

40:39.153 --> 40:41.819
THEY FIND, LIKE, DOG POOPS
ON THE BACK YARD.

40:41.852 --> 40:44.952
THEY FIND, ONE TIME,
SOMEBODY TOOK A WHOLE BAG

40:44.986 --> 40:47.552
AND BURN IT
IN FRONT OF THEIR DOOR.

40:47.585 --> 40:50.119
PEOPLE TRIED TO BURN OUR HOUSE
SEVERAL TIMES.

40:50.153 --> 40:52.919
MY MOM COULDN'T EVEN WALK
FROM THE BUS STOP TO HOME

40:52.952 --> 40:55.552
WITHOUT SOMEONE MAKING SOME
REMARK, RACIAL SLUR

40:55.585 --> 40:58.585
OR POINTING FINGERS
OR SAYING SOMETHING MEAN TO HER.

40:58.619 --> 41:02.253
Lia Vang: THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED
ON OUR STREET LAST SUMMER

41:02.286 --> 41:03.886
RIGHT BY OUR HOUSE.

41:03.919 --> 41:05.519
THE DISRESPECT !

41:05.552 --> 41:08.585
AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE
EVERYBODY'S PASSING THE BUCK.

41:08.619 --> 41:11.119
Man: FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS,
THOSE KIDS WILL COME

41:11.153 --> 41:12.819
RIGHT OVER TO THE PORCH

41:12.852 --> 41:15.253
AND HARASS THE HMONG CHILDREN
THERE, SPIT ON THEM

41:15.286 --> 41:16.919
THREATEN THEM WITH BATS.

41:16.952 --> 41:19.819
THEY HAS
LIKE THESE BATS

41:19.852 --> 41:23.919
AND THEY THROW ROCKS
AND THEY HIT--

41:23.952 --> 41:27.685
SOMETIMES,
THEY KIND OF HURT US.

41:27.719 --> 41:30.386
THEY JUST GO OVER THERE
AT RANDOM

41:30.419 --> 41:33.619
AND TERRORIZE
THOSE POOR CHILDREN.

41:33.652 --> 41:35.585
THE LITTLE KIDS
DIDN'T DO NOTHING--

41:35.619 --> 41:37.552
THEY DIDN'T
SPEAK ENGLISH TOO WELL.

41:37.585 --> 41:39.519
THEY WOULD THROW ROCKS,
SPIT AT THEM.

41:39.552 --> 41:41.519
I'M JUST FED UP WITH IT.

41:41.552 --> 41:43.052
AND THEIR
PARENTS... ?

41:43.086 --> 41:44.752
THEY COULD CARE LESS.

41:44.786 --> 41:47.153
THEY LET THEM RUN THE STREETS
AND DO WHAT THEY WANT.

41:47.186 --> 41:48.386
I'M SICK OF IT.

41:48.419 --> 41:49.986
I'M NOT GONNA
WATCH IT ANYMORE.

41:50.019 --> 41:52.119
WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING
AT FIRST.

41:52.153 --> 41:54.019
WE THOUGHT THAT,
YOU KNOW

41:54.052 --> 41:57.786
THEIR MOTHER WOULD TELL THEM
AND SAY, "HEY, DON'T DO THIS."

41:57.819 --> 41:59.752
I'VE SEEN THEM
GO UP TO THE CHILDREN

41:59.786 --> 42:02.219
WHILE THEY'RE SITTING
ON THE PORCH, SPIT ON THEM

42:02.253 --> 42:04.552
RIGHT WHEN THEIR
PARENTS ARE ON THE PORCH.

42:35.952 --> 42:38.119
Lia Vang:
THE PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

42:38.153 --> 42:40.752
INCLUDING THOSE YOU JUST SAW
WHO CALLED THE POLICE

42:40.786 --> 42:42.286
GOT TOGETHER

42:42.319 --> 42:45.719
AND CONVINCED THE FAMILY
THAT WAS CAUSING ALL THE TROUBLE

42:45.752 --> 42:47.485
TO MOVE ELSEWHERE.

42:47.519 --> 42:50.619
LIKE THAT FAMILY,
MANY OF OUR NEW NEIGHBORS HERE

42:50.652 --> 42:52.585
HAVE MADE US FEEL UNWELCOME.

42:52.619 --> 42:55.019
AT THE SAME TIME,
MANY OTHER NEIGHBORS

42:55.052 --> 42:56.786
THOSE WHO KNOW US

42:56.819 --> 42:59.652
RESPECT US FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE,
FOR WHO WE ARE

42:59.685 --> 43:01.819
AND WHAT WE BRING
TO THIS SOCIETY

43:01.852 --> 43:03.919
HAVE MADE US
FEEL VERY WELCOMED.

43:03.952 --> 43:07.552
THE PURPOSE OF OUR CEREMONY
IS TO HONOR THE SERVICE

43:07.585 --> 43:10.752
AND SACRIFICES
OF ALL LAO, HMONG

43:10.786 --> 43:14.452
AND OTHER
LAOTIAN SOLDIERS

43:14.485 --> 43:16.319
AND YOUR FAMILIES.

43:23.752 --> 43:27.852
(drumming and chanting)

43:34.852 --> 43:37.952
Lia Vang: PROBABLY WHAT MOST 
AMERICANS UNDERSTAND LEAST

43:37.986 --> 43:39.353
ABOUT HMONG PEOPLE

43:39.386 --> 43:41.253
IS WHY WE HAVE
SUCH BIG FAMILIES

43:41.286 --> 43:43.286
ESPECIALLY
WHEN PARENTS LIKE MINE

43:43.319 --> 43:46.452
HAVE SUCH A TOUGH TIME MAKING
THE KIND OF MONEY IT TAKES

43:46.485 --> 43:47.919
TO LIVE IN THIS SOCIETY.

43:47.952 --> 43:49.819
MY FATHER
AND HIS FIRST WIFE

43:49.852 --> 43:51.619
WHO WAS KILLED
DURING THE WAR

43:51.652 --> 43:53.019
HAD EIGHT CHILDREN.

43:53.052 --> 43:55.386
MY FATHER AND MOTHER
HAVE 15 CHILDREN.

43:55.419 --> 43:57.952
AMERICANS ASK US,
"WHY ?"

43:57.986 --> 44:02.086
IN OUR CULTURE, THE FAMILY
IS THE MEANING OF LIFE.

44:07.452 --> 44:09.353
GROWING UP,
I WAS ALWAYS TOLD, TOO

44:09.386 --> 44:10.952
THAT YOUR FAMILY
COMES FIRST.

44:10.986 --> 44:12.386
WHEN YOU MAKE A DECISION

44:12.419 --> 44:14.452
YOU DON'T THINK,
HOW DO I FELL ABOUT IT ?

44:14.485 --> 44:16.685
YOU THINK, HOW DO MY PARENTS
FEEL ABOUT IT ?

44:16.719 --> 44:18.585
HOW ARE MY BROTHERS
GOING TO REACT ?

44:18.619 --> 44:20.719
HOW ARE MY OLDER SISTERS
GOING TO REACT ?

44:20.752 --> 44:22.752
WHAT IS THE IMPACT
ON MY FAMILY ?

44:22.786 --> 44:25.552
WHAT KIND OF A "REPUTATION"
WILL IT BRING TO MY FAMILY ?

44:25.585 --> 44:27.619
Lia Vang:
IN THE MOUNTAINS OF LAOS

44:27.652 --> 44:29.652
THE FAMILY--
THE HOUSEHOLD--

44:29.685 --> 44:32.786
BECAUSE IT OFTEN INCLUDES MANY
GENERATIONS AND AUNTS AND UNCLES

44:32.819 --> 44:34.353
IS THE CENTER OF LIFE.

44:34.386 --> 44:36.685
TO HELP WITH THE CROPS
AND THE DAILY CHORES

44:36.719 --> 44:38.186
MEN AND WOMEN
NEEDCHILDREN

44:38.219 --> 44:40.253
THE MORE THE BETTER.

44:40.286 --> 44:42.286
CHILDREN ARE
THEIR ONLY SUPPORT

44:42.319 --> 44:45.452
WHEN THEY GROW TOO OLD TO WORK
AND TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

44:45.485 --> 44:49.452
HMONG FAMILIES HERE
LIVE IN A FAR DIFFERENT WORLD.

44:49.485 --> 44:54.552
Koua Yang: AS YOU CAN SEE, MY 
WIFE AND I HAVE THREE CHILDREN.

44:54.585 --> 44:56.952
AND WE LEARNED
THE HARD WAY.

44:56.986 --> 45:00.319
WE PUT OUT 12 HOURS A DAY,
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

45:00.353 --> 45:02.919
AND WE KNOW
HOW DIFFICULT IT IS

45:02.952 --> 45:05.719
TO RAISE CHILDREN
HERE IN AMERICA.

45:05.752 --> 45:09.852
THREE CHILDREN ARE THE MAXIMUM
WE ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW.

45:09.886 --> 45:13.986
AS WE LIVE HERE IN AMERICA
WE LEARN THAT IT IS NOT EASY

45:14.019 --> 45:16.786
TO RAISE A FAMILY,
A LARGE FAMILY.

45:16.819 --> 45:19.786
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU
THAT HMONG PEOPLE

45:19.819 --> 45:23.952
WILL NOT HAVE AS MANY CHILDREN
AS THEY USED TO HAVE.

45:23.986 --> 45:28.153
Lia Vang: BUT THEY WILL CONTINUE
TO CHERISH FAMILY ABOVE ALL ELSE

45:28.186 --> 45:31.119
AND DEMONSTRATE THEIR
AFFECTION AND DEDICATION

45:31.153 --> 45:33.819
THROUGH THE WAY
THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES

45:33.852 --> 45:36.619
AND THROUGH CEREMONIES
LIKE THIS ONE.

45:41.253 --> 45:44.419
SHANG LEE THOR,
WIFE OF NHIA CHUE, IS A SHAMAN.

45:44.452 --> 45:47.986
SHE HAS JUST STARTED A HMONG
"SOUL CALLING" CEREMONY.

45:48.019 --> 45:51.986
IN OUR CULTURE, SOULS ARE NOT
ALWAYS WITH THE LIVING BEING.

45:52.019 --> 45:54.419
SOMETIMES, THEY HAVE
LEFT THE PERSON'S BODY

45:54.452 --> 45:55.919
OR BEEN LED ASTRAY

45:55.952 --> 45:58.019
ESPECIALLY
AFTER DIFFICULT TIMES.

45:58.052 --> 46:01.319
WE HAVE SOUL CALLING RITES
TO CONTACT THESE SPIRITS

46:01.353 --> 46:04.886
FOR MANY OCCASIONS, INCLUDING
BIRTH, ILLNESS AND INJURY.

46:04.919 --> 46:06.986
BUT THIS ONE
IS FOR SOMETHING

46:07.019 --> 46:09.452
VERY MUCH LIKE
AN AMERICAN FAMILY REUNION.

46:09.485 --> 46:11.552
(chanting)

46:24.153 --> 46:26.786
IN CELEBRATION OF THE PRESENCE
OF TWO FAMILY MEMBERS

46:26.819 --> 46:28.619
WHO HAVE COME FROM FAR AWAY

46:28.652 --> 46:31.386
THE SHAMAN HAS BEEN ASKED
TO CONDUCT THE ANCIENT RITUAL.

46:31.419 --> 46:34.552
IT WILL BRING ALL THE SOULS
OF ALL THE LIVING FAMILY MEMBERS

46:34.585 --> 46:36.119
INTO THE HOUSE

46:36.153 --> 46:37.919
SO THAT
THEY CAN GIVE THANKS

46:37.952 --> 46:40.485
AND ASK FOR GOOD FORTUNE
DURING THE COMING YEAR.

46:40.519 --> 46:42.353
SPECIAL OFFERINGS
ARE PREPARED

46:42.386 --> 46:44.552
TO PLEASE
AND ATTRACT THE SPIRITS.

46:44.585 --> 46:46.585
THERE IS AN EGG
FOR EACH FAMILY MEMBER

46:46.619 --> 46:48.852
IN WHICH INCENSE
IS KEPT BURNING.

46:48.886 --> 46:50.719
TWO CHICKENS ARE SACRIFICED

46:50.752 --> 46:54.019
SO THAT THEIR SPIRITS
CAN BE USED AS MESSENGERS

46:54.052 --> 46:57.253
FOR THE SOULS TO COMMUNICATE
WITH THE FAMILY.

46:57.286 --> 47:00.186
THE MALES CAREFULLY CUT MEAT
FROM A WHOLE COW

47:00.219 --> 47:02.353
INTO SMALL,
TENDER PORTIONS

47:02.386 --> 47:04.286
WHILE THE WOMEN
PREPARE RICE

47:04.319 --> 47:06.086
AND VEGETABLES FOR THE FEAST

47:06.119 --> 47:08.386
WHEN ALL THE SPIRITS
ARE PRESENT.

47:11.153 --> 47:13.386
AFTER CALLING
FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME

47:13.419 --> 47:15.852
THEN BURNING SPIRIT MONEY

47:15.886 --> 47:20.585
THAT WILL SYMBOLICALLY BUY
THE SOUL'S PRESENCE

47:20.619 --> 47:24.619
THEN CALLING SOME MORE

47:24.652 --> 47:27.519
THE SHAMAN
THROWS THE "TXIAB NEEB"

47:27.552 --> 47:29.619
AND THE DIVINATION HORNS.

47:29.652 --> 47:32.119
THE WAY THEY LAND
TELLS HER

47:32.153 --> 47:35.752
THAT, FINALLY,
ALL THE SOULS ARE PRESENT.

47:35.786 --> 47:38.319
A SPECIALLY INVITED ELDER

47:38.353 --> 47:41.719
CLEANSES THE HANDS
OF FAMILY MEMBERS

47:41.752 --> 47:45.119
TO RID THEM
OF ANY PAST MISFORTUNE.

47:45.153 --> 47:48.452
GUESTS TIE STRINGS AROUND
THE WRISTS OF FAMILY MEMBERS

47:48.485 --> 47:50.353
TO WISH THEM GOOD LUCK.

47:50.386 --> 47:54.119
THE ELDER CUTS OFF
THE LOOSE ENDS OF THE STRINGS

47:54.153 --> 47:56.786
TO SYMBOLICALLY CUT AWAY
THE BAD LUCK

47:56.819 --> 47:59.286
AND MAKE ROOM
FOR THE GOOD LUCK.

47:59.319 --> 48:02.086
THE ELDERS "READ" THE FEET
OF THE BOILED CHICKENS

48:02.119 --> 48:05.052
TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT
THE SPIRITS ARE PLEASED.

48:05.086 --> 48:07.752
THEY TELL EVERYONE,
"NOTHING IS IN THE WAY."

48:07.786 --> 48:12.086
THE SIGNS INDICATE GOOD FORTUNE
AND HEALTH FOR THE FUTURE.

48:15.552 --> 48:19.186
ALCOHOL, CONSIDERED A BLESSING
FROM THE ELDERS

48:19.219 --> 48:21.585
IS PASSED AMONG THE MEN

48:21.619 --> 48:24.419
AND THEY EXCHANGE GESTURES
OF FRIENDSHIP, HONOR

48:24.452 --> 48:26.153
AND GOOD WILL.

48:27.619 --> 48:30.585
ANOTHER CEREMONY, LIKE THIS
SOUL CALLING CEREMONY

48:30.619 --> 48:33.719
CAN BE PERFORMED TO SUMMON
THE SOULS OF HMONG CHILDREN

48:33.752 --> 48:36.519
INTO THEIR BODIES
SHORTLY AFTER THEY ARE BORN.

48:36.552 --> 48:38.552
MUCH LIKE
A WESTERN CHRISTENING

48:38.585 --> 48:40.852
IT GIVES HMONG CHILDREN
THEIR NAMES.

48:40.886 --> 48:43.852
FOR BOYS,
THERE ARE ONLY FIRST NAMES

48:43.886 --> 48:46.919
LATER IN LIFE, THEY ARE GIVEN
ANOTHER NAME FROM THEIR IN-LAWS

48:46.952 --> 48:48.786
TO REFLECT
THEIR FAMILY'S STATUS.

48:48.819 --> 48:50.719
WHAT'S NEVER CHANGED, THOUGH,
IS THE LAST NAME.

48:50.752 --> 48:52.852
THAT HAS DOUBLE MEANING
IN OUR CULTURE.

48:52.886 --> 48:55.819
IT'S THE LAST NAME OF THE FATHER
AND THE NAME OF THE CLAN.

48:55.852 --> 48:57.519
IN THE HMONG CULTURE

48:57.552 --> 49:01.253
ALL SOCIAL, POLITICAL,
ECONOMIC AND RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

49:01.286 --> 49:03.619
REVOLVES AROUND YOUR CLAN.

49:03.652 --> 49:07.386
IN THE U.S. TODAY,
THERE ARE 19 CLANS.

49:07.419 --> 49:09.619
YOU CAN'T MARRY
WITHIN THE CLAN.

49:09.652 --> 49:12.119
IF YOU'RE A XIONG--
AND I'M A XIONG--

49:12.153 --> 49:15.052
ANY XIONG, ANYWHERE
ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH

49:15.086 --> 49:17.752
I CONSIDER THEM
MY BROTHER OR SISTER.

49:17.786 --> 49:20.419
WHEN I GO OUT OF TOWN,
IF I MEET SOMEONE

49:20.452 --> 49:23.353
IF THEY'RE A XIONG,
"I'M A XIONG, TOO !"

49:23.386 --> 49:26.386
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE STRANGERS,
WE'RE BROTHER AND SISTERS.

49:26.419 --> 49:28.485
SO, YOU ARE ASSOCIATED
BY YOUR CLAN.

49:28.519 --> 49:30.319
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT

49:30.353 --> 49:33.153
BECAUSE IT GIVES US A SENSE
OF COHESIVE IDENTITY AS A CLAN

49:33.186 --> 49:35.086
BUT ALSO AS A COMMUNITY.

49:35.119 --> 49:38.752
Lia Vang: CLANS THAT HAVE SETTLED
IN NORTHEAST WISCONSIN INCLUDE:

49:47.386 --> 49:48.886
AND US, VANG.

49:48.919 --> 49:51.386
THIS IS MY DAD,
CHER

49:51.419 --> 49:52.852
MY MOM, MAI

49:52.886 --> 49:54.819
MY LITTLE BROTHER,
TOU

49:54.852 --> 49:56.952
MY OLDEST BROTHER,
SENG.

49:56.986 --> 49:58.619
THIS IS KONG.

49:58.652 --> 49:59.552
CHIN.

49:59.585 --> 50:01.852
MY LITTLE SISTER,
GAO YIA.

50:01.886 --> 50:03.552
THIS IS MY BABY BROTHER,
DAVID.

50:03.585 --> 50:05.519
THAT'S CHUE FU.

50:05.552 --> 50:07.886
THAT LITTLE GIRL THERE
IS KRISTY.

50:07.919 --> 50:09.019
THAT'S KEVIN.

50:09.052 --> 50:10.452
AND THAT'S GAO BLIA LIA.

50:10.485 --> 50:12.852
AND FOUR OF MY BROTHERS
AND SISTERS

50:12.886 --> 50:14.886
CAN NOT BE WITH US TODAY:

50:14.919 --> 50:17.986
MY OLDER BROTHER NHEE,
WHO IS AT PLAY PRACTICE

50:18.019 --> 50:21.186
MY OLDER SISTER ZOUAPA,
WHO IS MARRIED AND GONE.

50:21.219 --> 50:25.186
I HAVE TWO BROTHERS WHO
ARE DECEASED, JAMES AND ZONG.

50:39.286 --> 50:40.952
Police say two motorists

50:40.986 --> 50:43.786
were the first to know
something was terribly wrong.

50:43.819 --> 50:45.519
They heard a thump

50:45.552 --> 50:48.585
and found a body
lying next to their vehicle.

50:48.619 --> 50:50.852
He did have
extensive head injuries

50:50.886 --> 50:52.519
when our officers arrived.

50:52.552 --> 50:55.153
We do not know
whether it was a suicide

50:55.186 --> 50:57.119
or whether it was a homicide.

50:57.353 --> 51:00.685
IT WAS HARD FOR US
TO COPE WITH THE FACT

51:00.719 --> 51:03.919
THAT MY BROTHER ZONG
HAD PASSED AWAY.

51:03.952 --> 51:06.719
THINGS WERE GOING THROUGH
MY MIND, GOING CRAZY

51:06.752 --> 51:09.386
I COULD SEE MY FAMILY
WAS BEING TORN APART.

51:09.419 --> 51:11.619
AND NO ONE KNEW ANYTHING,
YOU KNOW.

51:11.652 --> 51:13.452
NO ONE KNEW WHAT HAPPENED.

51:13.652 --> 51:16.585
Zong Vang's father
wept for his ls.

51:16.619 --> 51:18.419
Friends and family gathered

51:18.452 --> 51:21.353
to plant a tree
in memory of Vang.

51:21.386 --> 51:24.652
The ceremony blended
cultural traditions.

51:24.685 --> 51:26.519
And as the tree planting
concluded

51:26.552 --> 51:27.819
neighbors still wondered

51:27.852 --> 51:29.519
what really happened to Vang.

51:29.819 --> 51:32.719
DAYS WENT BY, MONTHS
AND EVEN A YEAR

51:32.752 --> 51:36.552
UNTIL WE FINALLY FOUND OUT
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

51:36.786 --> 51:39.652
Police say Ninham
and Crapeau chased Vang

51:39.685 --> 51:43.652
up the St. Vincent parking ramp
last September 24, beat him

51:43.685 --> 51:46.086
and then dropped him
off the ramp to his death.

51:46.119 --> 51:47.786
Zong Vang's parents told me

51:47.819 --> 51:50.419
they want justice
for the killers of their son.

51:50.452 --> 51:52.386
My mom wants
justice for this.

51:52.419 --> 51:55.485
She's just not gonna let
those people go out free.

51:55.719 --> 51:58.519
It's the judgment of this court
and the sentence of w

51:58.552 --> 52:01.386
that you be sentenced
to life imprisonment

52:01.419 --> 52:03.752
in the Wisconsin
State Prison system.

52:03.786 --> 52:05.619
And with that,
Judge Richard Dietz

52:05.652 --> 52:07.786
partially put to rest
an agonizing case

52:07.819 --> 52:09.919
for a family
who lost a son.

52:09.952 --> 52:13.086
It took a jury just three hours
to find Omer Ninham guilty

52:13.119 --> 52:15.319
of first degree
intentional homicide.

52:15.353 --> 52:17.752
Ninham and Crapeau,
who was already convicted

52:17.786 --> 52:20.386
chased Vang up a parking ramp
and tossed him off.

52:20.419 --> 52:22.685
Since the beginning,
Hmong leaders

52:22.719 --> 52:24.552
have called this trial
a key test.

52:24.585 --> 52:26.485
They say many
in the Hmong community

52:26.519 --> 52:28.752
continue to be weary
of law enforcement

52:28.786 --> 52:30.219
and the courts.

52:30.253 --> 52:32.386
This sends a positive message
to the community

52:32.419 --> 52:34.585
that justice can be done
in this country.

52:34.852 --> 52:38.719
I NEVER GOT TO TELL
MY BROTHER THIS, BUT--

52:38.752 --> 52:42.119
I JUST WANT TO TELL HIM
I LOVE HIM.

52:42.153 --> 52:46.119
AND I'M SORRY
I NEVER GOT TO TELL HIM THAT

52:46.153 --> 52:48.386
BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY.

52:48.419 --> 52:53.719
Lia Vang: FOR MY PARENTS, ZONG'S DEATH
WAS YET ANOTHER TRAGIC LOSS

52:53.752 --> 52:55.952
IN A LONG SERIES OF LOSSES.

52:55.986 --> 52:58.619
IT STARTED WITH THE DECISION
TO BECOME SOLDIERS

52:58.652 --> 53:01.086
AND FIGHT FOR WHAT
THEY BELIEVED WAS RIGHT.

53:01.119 --> 53:03.752
AS IT TURNED OUT, THOUGH,
THE WAR THEY JOINED

53:03.786 --> 53:06.719
HAD LITTLE TO DO WITH THEM
OR THEIR BEST INTERESTS

53:06.752 --> 53:08.752
ONE THEY HAD
NO PART IN STARTING

53:08.786 --> 53:10.552
AND NO REAL STAKE IN WINNING.

53:10.585 --> 53:13.219
IT'S ONLY RESULT
WAS LOSS OF LOVED ONES

53:13.253 --> 53:14.919
LOSS OF HOME

53:14.952 --> 53:17.886
AND LOSS OF MUCH
THAT MADE LIFE MEANINGFUL.

53:17.919 --> 53:20.719
IT FORCED THEM FROM THE SIMPLE,
PEACEFUL MOUNTAIN LIFE

53:20.752 --> 53:23.852
INTO BARBED WIRE CAMPS

53:23.886 --> 53:25.952
THEN ON TO LIVES
IN A STRANGE WORLD

53:25.986 --> 53:27.485
CALLED "AMERICA."

53:27.519 --> 53:30.219
THE RESULT OF THAT EXPERIENCE
FOR MY PARENTS

53:30.253 --> 53:31.585
AND THEIR GENERATION

53:31.619 --> 53:33.386
HAS BEEN SADNESS
AND DISAPPOINTMENT.

53:33.419 --> 53:35.786
SUCCESSFUL, POWERFUL LEADERS
IN THE HOMELAND

53:35.819 --> 53:38.253
ARE LUCKY TO FIND
EVEN THE LOWEST PAYING JOBS

53:38.286 --> 53:39.886
IN THIS COUNTRY.

53:39.919 --> 53:42.019
WOMEN WHO MEASURED
THEIR SUCCESS IN LAOS

53:42.052 --> 53:44.052
PARTLY BY HOW MANY
CHILDREN THEY BORE

53:44.086 --> 53:46.019
ARE DESPERATE JUST TO FEED

53:46.052 --> 53:48.253
AND CLOTHE
THOSE SAME CHILDREN HERE.

53:48.286 --> 53:51.386
AMERICAN LAWS
AND CUSTOMS DISCOURAGE

53:51.419 --> 53:53.552
IF NOT FORBID
THE RITUALS OF THE SHAMAN

53:53.585 --> 53:55.153
THE ANIMAL SACRIFICES

53:55.186 --> 53:58.919
HERBAL MEDICINES,
AND EVEN DISCIPLINE OF CHILDREN.

53:58.952 --> 54:01.652
MANY PARENTS
LOOK FROM THEIR CULTURE

54:01.685 --> 54:05.086
AT SONS AND DAUGHTERS
GROWING UP IN THIS CULTURE

54:05.119 --> 54:06.886
AND SEE ONLY STRANGERS.

54:06.919 --> 54:08.919
BUT THE STRUGGLES
AND PAIN OF MY PARENTS

54:08.952 --> 54:10.319
HAVE NOT BEEN A WASTE.

54:10.353 --> 54:12.119
THEY HAVE SHOWN ME
AND MY GENERATION

54:12.153 --> 54:14.419
WHAT WE MUST DO
TO PROSPER IN THIS SOCIETY.

54:14.452 --> 54:16.952
AND WE WILL PROSPER,
JUST AS WE DID

54:16.986 --> 54:19.019
FOR CENTURIES
IN THE MOUNTAINS OF LAOS

54:19.052 --> 54:21.719
AFTER ESCAPING
THE SLAVERY OF CHINA.

54:21.752 --> 54:24.852
MY GENERATION SPEAKS AND
UNDERSTANDS THE LANGUAGE HERE.

54:24.886 --> 54:27.219
WE KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE
AND HOW THEY ARE MADE.

54:27.253 --> 54:30.186
WE HAVE CHANGED FROM
NON-LITERATE MOUNTAIN FARMERS

54:30.219 --> 54:32.852
INTO FULLY CAPABLE CITIZENS
OF THE WESTERN WORLD

54:32.886 --> 54:35.485
IN THE COURSE
OF A SINGLE GENERATION.

54:35.519 --> 54:36.986
WE HAD TO.

54:37.019 --> 54:39.952
ANYTHING LESS
LEAVES US DEPENDENT ON OTHERS.

54:39.986 --> 54:42.786
AND IN OUR CULTURE,
WE CHERISH OUR FREEDOM

54:42.819 --> 54:45.153
JUST AS MUCH
AS WE CHERISH OUR FAMILY.

54:45.186 --> 54:47.719
THAT'S WHY
WE CALL OURSELVES "HMONG."

54:47.752 --> 54:49.986
TO US, IT REPRESENTS BEING FREE.

54:52.186 --> 54:56.052
ZONG WAS A GREAT SON,
GREAT BROTHER AND GREAT FRIEND.

54:56.086 --> 54:58.353
HE WILL BE MISSED DEARLY

54:58.386 --> 55:00.919
AND REMEMBERED
AS A LOVED PERSON

55:00.952 --> 55:03.186
NOT AS A DREAM FORGOTTEN.

55:03.219 --> 55:07.219
(woman singing)

55:10.219 --> 55:15.219
Captioning services provided by 
Wisconsin Public Television  www.wpt.org