Traditionally, Hmong use home therapies for common aliments. If she has only daughters, then she does not gain prestige. The biggest barrier is the cost of conventional health services. Any medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctors. The reason is that she belongs to her husband and her in-laws household, so she is called only by her husbands name once she is married. Some practices have undergone changes due to restrictive factors of the new environment. Babies stayed close to their mothers and ate all their meals fresh. They have darker brown eye color to almost black. The Hmong living in highland Laos practiced slash and burn agriculture on the fertile, shallow, mountaintop soil. Hmong teach their children to be well behaved in the presence of guests. Hmong Means Free. White Hmong receive an adult name from the wifes parents. People greet each other verbally and men shake hands. People converted for various reasons to please their Christian resettlement sponsors, to qualify for private school scholarships or in response to the difficulty of performing traditional rituals. There are some university-level courses offered in the language. By playing a small mouth harp they could approximate human speech. Hmong is tonal, so that the meaning of the word changes when pronounced differently. Per average Hmong household there are 6.28 persons, versus 2.59 persons overall US households. 215-476-9640, Southern Wisconsin Lao Hmong Association, Inc. (2000). "In California, the celebration lasts a week and 100,000 people will be there," Lor said. Women prefer natural tearing and healing to clinical episiotomies. Most of the population does not have access to clean drinking water. From 1963-1975 during the Vietnam War and the CIAs secret war in Laos, the Hmong were recruited for their military skill and trained and fought on the side of the United States. Increasingly, elders are placed in nursing homes as families are not able to take care of them and meet the demands of society. Missionaries in China in the 1800s and in Laos in the 1900s first introduced Christianity to the Hmong. Measuring aspects like the distance between the eyes and skin tone, the technology is already . In the United States, youth use the telephone and email instead of the traditions of ritualized flirting and communication. The baby is given lots of affection and attention, physical and social contact with mothers, grandmothers and older siblings. Hmong American Concepts of Health, Healing and Conventional Medicine (pp. It is considered dangerous to remark out loud about the cuteness or positive qualities of a child, as spirits may hear and steal the childs soul. If the visitor does not sit on the familys furniture, family members might assume that the visitor thinks that something is wrong with their furniture, or that the visitor assumes a higher status than the family. Human souls are differentiated from spirits and are the spiritual energy inside a persons body, believed to dwell in the physical world. Family members share their experiences and seek support from one another. Many Hmong in the United States continue to practice some form of the Hmong animist tradition. Each part of the house is also believed to have its own spirit, including the stove, and the doors. Persons of the same clan or sub-clan without any known blood relationship refer to one another as relatives. Hmong 101. The ritual/magic healer learns his craft from other healers, healing power, and helping spirits. Boys in one line faced girls in another line and tossed small fabric balls back and forth. Older Hmong males, especially, may suffer loss of social status and feelings of family fragmentation and isolation, leading to loss of self esteem and despair. To be respectful, one must ask to speak with the head of the household, usually the father, when conversing with a Hmong family. A identified a case in which the likely source of lead exposure in a young child in the U.S. was a traditional amulet made in Cambodia with leaded beads that was worn by the child. (Mote, 2004), Among American Hmong, fewer mothers are breast-feeding than in previous times. Fifty-six percent of Hmong are under the age of 18 compared to twenty-five percent of the entire US population. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Hmong will commonly grow vegetables and herbs in their gardens or yards here in the US. In Laos, opium is used as a treatment drug to cure muscle aches after a hard day of farm work or severe injury to the body. New York: LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC. After a general anesthetic, it may be necessary to perform a soul calling ceremony in the operating room. The soul caller moves from the place where the soul was lost to the patients spirit door in their home, holding a live chicken and enticing the soul home with sweet chanting, incense, liquor and food. Powerful roles exist for men and women in Hmong culture, though in the US there is disruption in gender roles based on economic need and acceptance of American ways. Adult and elderly males are looked upon for wisdom and skills for handling marital conflicts and problems within the community. A man may have more than one wife; co-wives live together in the same house and treat their children equally. Dylan belongs to the Hmong, a community of war refugees and their descendants who . In addition, Hmong is mono-syllabic so one syllable represents one word or meaning. US studies have shown high rates of depression, often related to the life situation difficulties of the Hmong refugee especially difficulties of adjusting to life in the US. In the homeland, people farmed for their own crops and food. Laos covers about ninety-one thousand square miles, an area similar to that of the United Kingdom or slightly larger than Utah. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Washington, DC 20036 Force or bride-capture is becoming rare these days in Laos and almost unheard of in the United States. A identified a case in which the likely source of lead exposure in a young child in the U.S. was a traditional amulet made in Cambodia with leaded beads that was worn by the child. Contributor(s): Long Vue, MPH, Health Educator Discipline is usually administered after the guests have left. Retrieved December 22, 2006, from New America Media, News Report. Other causes of illness known to the Hmong include heredity, metaphysical imbalance (similar to the Chinese concept of Yin/Yang), weather, stress, and reckless behavior. The marriage event is the creation of a new family, a bond between the couple and the families, and a strengthening of past family and community connections in the people present. Women gain more power in the household as they age. The wandering soul leaves the body during dreams or to play with other souls or spirits. Hmong Leadership: The traditional model. A new study published in PLOS Genetics compares genomic factors underlying facial features in East Africans and Europeans to reveal unique and common factors, enhancing our understanding of how . Other healing techniques include massage, coining or spooning (rubbing an area vigorously with a silver coin or spoon), and cupping (applying negative suctioning pressure on the skin with a cup). Traditionally, Hmong graves can be a mound of earth on which tree branches are piled to protect disruption by animals, a mound of earth surrounded by a wooden fence, or a mound protected by boulders, the type depending on sub-clan funeral tradition. Hmong American Community of Oregon. Credit: Nicolas Ma. Nevertheless, couples without sons may seek to adopt them or may allow the husband to marry a second wife in the hope that she will bear male children. Indeed, these technological advances have been crucial in forming a new sense of transnational community among the geographically distant groups of Hmong. Many families were split apart in these resettlements. Post-traumatic stress disorder may be prevalent among Hmong in the United States. (Culhane-Pera, et.al., 2003) This talks about how a hospital in Merced, California is welcoming the role of Hmong shamans. (Saykao, 1997), Two important issues that have received constant attention and effort from the Hmong community are related to human rights of refugees in Thailand and wedding/dowry issues. From ancient days in Vietnam, this dog was used as a hunting dog by the people of Hmong. Law enforcement: Police officers may be perceived as frightening authority figures and bearers of bad news. In the US, the gap between household incomes has resulted in decreased community coherence. Surname exogamy, or outmarriage, is still strictly observed: a Li man may not marry a Li woman. In the US, women may wear warm clothes and use heating. If the healing is not successful, a shaman is consulted. For example, White Hmong women traditionally wore white skirts on special occasions while Green Hmong women wore blue/black skirts died with colorful indigo. The first Hmong refugees began arriving in the US in late 1975, mostly sponsored by religious groups and non-profit organizations. -Emily. The Hmong place of honor at the table is midway on the side. Hmong is an advanced oral language and highly expressive; it includes proverbs, poem-songs, plain language of morality tales and ancestral stories, flowery speech of elders, code speech of sweethearts, and antique language of wedding and funeral rituals. When entering a Hmong home, a seat or chair will be offered. Having a youthful-looking face a babyface, as it were is desirable. People travel from afar, even across the country, to join different New Years events. Shelters were thin. Among the Hmong American population 16 years and over, 17% work in the managerial, professional and related occupations; 21% work in sales & office occupations; 16% work in s service occupations; less than 1% in farming, forestry, & fishing; 5% in construction & maintenance; 42% in production & transportation. Cha, D. (2003). Fifty-one percent are males, forty-nine percent females. They have instead turned to the permanent-field cultivation of crops such as corn or the gardening of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, which they sell in lowland markets. It is considered to be impolite to simply decline a drink, food or gift offered to you. The New Years game typically provided an outlet for the emergence of more intense romances. Members of the same clan accept and assist each other, and clan loyalty is practiced in political and justice issues. The decision should be made by the Hmong. They learn from other shaman. Due to the various influences of acculturation, the Hmong community has become less cohesive in the United States compared to life in Laos or other homelands. Traditionally, Hmong believe the placenta is required for reincarnation and bury it at the place of birth, under the house. 19.3.2 Facial-Feature Detection. Shaking hands is a new behavior for Hmong women and they may be embarrassed shaking hands with a male or holding hands too tightly during a handshake. This dog has very particular physical features and personality. In the United States, clans and extended families have often drawn their dispersed members to larger enclave communities of Hmong. On July 9, 2005, the clan council, called United Hmong International Inc , capped the dowry price to $5000, plus $800 for other wedding costs such as food. (Hmong Cultural Center, 2000) The traditional wedding itself can last days, with chant readings and feasting. (Hmong Cultural Center, 2000), Traumatic experiences of war and its aftermath leave an impact on health. Traditionally, women are hard working and hospitable, primarily caring for the household and raising children, not going to school or holding a job outside the home. Jefferson, North Carolina, and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Retrieved December 22, 2006. Ancestral spirits include any deceased member of the family. Refrain from quickly saying No. When the guest leaves, they are encouraged to come back and visit (mus hos tuaj). Rice is a staple in Hmong cuisine. According to the 200 Census, statistics pertaining to the socio-economics of Hmong Americans include a poverty rate of 38% for all ages, per capita income of $6,613, median family income of $32,224, average household size of 7 or more persons. Although a variety of scripts are now in use for the language, messianic movements persist. For example, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Wat Resettlement Working Group convened by Congresswoman Betty McCollums Office located in Minnesota, is one of the councils that helped seek political asylum for Hmong refugees. A wife keeps her own clans name, but neither her clan name nor first name is used after she is married. The countrys major means of transportation is the Mekong River. (Vue, L. & Lor, K., 2006). The Hmong people of southeast Asia live in remote mountain communities. For example, status comes with roles like mayor of the village, district chief, shaman, herbalist or clan leader. Youth/Generational conflicts: Children raised in the US have more understanding of the English language, American history and values portrayed by the media. A traditional animist practices shamanism. The sense of being neighbors was also practiced on the farm. You just have to know them. Two H'mong girls. In the U.S., the contributions elders can make to their families based on their relevant life experiences have changed from what they were in Laos. If a person is of a particular clan, he is automatically welcomed into the house of another clan member, even if they do not personally know each other. NEAR REAL-TIME ROBUST FACE AND FACIAL-FEATURE DETECTION WITH INFORMATION-BASED MAXIMUM DISCRIMINATION. In the homeland, there was no fence to separate one persons farm from anothers farm and still, there was no theft issue. The changes in diet, especially consumption of food high in sugar and fat, and lack of knowledge about screening services are possible reasons for the increasing prevalence of diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney and hepatitis A. When there is a challenge in a nuclear family setting, it is best resolved within that unit. The number of clans is commonly said to be 18, though 12 may be considered the main clans. (Hmong Cultural Center, 2000). Three days after a child is born, an important elder man or woman in the community conducts a ceremony to call the childs soul into their body, to welcome the child to the family and to thank the fairy godmother (Niam Nkauj Kab Yeeb) that is believed to have sent the child to earth. Refugee arrivals peaked at 27,000 in 1980. Retrieved September 19, 2006, from Hmong Cultural and Resource Center of Minnesota. Marriage between members of the same clan no matter how distant the relationship is strictly forbidden. (Mote, 2004). Historically, neighborhoods were marked by a sense of caring and trust regardless of the clan name (last name). The corpse is buried, usually in a place selectedlike the sites of villages areaccording to the Chinese system of geomancy (feng shui). Retrieved September 19, 2006, Hmong National Development, Inc. & Hmong Cultural Resource Center (2003). Natural hazards include floods and droughts and current environmental issues include unexploded ordnance (landmines), deforestation and soil erosion. Men have a higher status than women publicly, while women hold their power more privately. Historically as part of the household etiquette and respect, the father in-law may not go into the son and daughter-in-laws bedroom; and, the daughter in-law does not enter her mother-in-law and father in-laws bedroom. Corrections? A Fresno Journal article by Patricia Leigh Brown, , describes how members of the Hmong American Writers Circle are addressing a new kind of coming of age in America, as the first generation to grow up with a written language rather than the traditional spoken word. New villages could be a considerable distance away from a groups previous locale. Traditionally, Hmong women who are close to each other share hugs as that of American greetings. Can find topics such as Hmong Clans, Traditional Hmong Religion, Etiquette for Interacting with the Hmong, Information for Visitors to a Hmong Home http://www.hmongcc.org/ Domestic violence is the only problem in which family members and clan leaders still try to resolve it first before resorting to the US legal system. Children generally grow up with their needs responded to quickly and help in the work of a family at a young age. With proper guidance from Hmong musical performers during the funeral rituals, Hmong believe that the souls of the deceased will come back to their ancestors for reincarnation, and that the new bodies of their relatives will come back as new members of Hmong families. Though often treated badly by fellow countrymen, the Hmong excelled in government service positions and as liaisons with the representatives of the French government. A ceremony takes place 3 days after the childs birth, and is an occasion for naming the child and a time for the family to show love for the child and for relatives and community members to offer blessings and words of wisdom to the child. In general, people are compelled to support members of the same clan more than their in-laws or other non-related clan. There is a strong desire by Hmong parents to have sons who will offer sacrifices to the ancestral spirits, maintain the family line, and be sanctuary for parents when parents are not able to live by themselves. However, contrary to popular conceptions, Mongolians don't look that different from East Asians, nor are they much more robust. Former CIA Director Colby credited Hmong with saving thousands of U.S. soldiers by blocking the North Vietnamese from extending the Ho Chi Minh Trail into Laos. al., 2003). Households are classified by the race or detailed Asian group of the head. The combinations identify 3 eye colors, 4 hair colors, and 5 skin color categories, which the researchers. People may have a problem when a practitioner is perceived as forcing a decision or treatment, or fails to respect a patients wishes. For important ceremonies, the head of the table in not on midway on the side but is at the end corner of the side that is closest to where the altar is placed. To avoid misinterpretations, a male should keep a distance between himself and a female when in conversation or in any type of encounter. In most cases, Hmong will willingly use medicine that brings observable results. Retreived September 19, 2006, from WWW Hmong Homepage http://www.hmongnet.org/publications/hmf-intro.html. The Hmong language, from the Hmong-Mien or Miao-Yao family of languages, is spoken by a portion of the ethnic Miao living in southern China, northern Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Many children born in the US are given a Hmong name with an American nickname, or an American name and a Hmong nickname. They have lighter brown eye color to hazel eyes. Some elderly Hmong might consult with relatives or the clan leader or a community member with knowledge of the legal system before permitting the police to enter their home. Link no longer available, 2010. The Hmong people relocated throughout their history, maintaining a strong sense of cultural identity and independence. Hmong rituals usually revolve around the practices that their ancestors passed onto them. In general, Hmong Catholics are more likely than Hmong Protestants to accommodate some forms of traditional animist practices within their new faith framework. (Hmong Cultural Center, 2000), Having children is important in Hmong culture. A decrease in extended families living together has led to loss of social support for elderly parents. Author of. In Laos, many adolescent Hmong courtships were begun at the time of the annual New Years celebrations. "And everyone wears a new outfit every day.". Hmong animist tradition believes in multiple supreme beings, called Gods, responsible for high-level creation and functions of nature. Thousands of Hmong tried to escape from Laos across the Mekong River into Thailand. Boys moved from village to village for the purpose of meeting girls and participating in festivals where they had relatives. The Hmong dog is a new dog breed that is rapidly gaining popularity; it is originally from Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam. Omissions? For instance, if a mans birth first name is Vang, the adult first name would be Nao Vang, with the Nao name added to the birth name. St. Paul, Minnesota The sequence of events at a wedding is carried through by a series of songs marking each moment of the brides transition, sung by two go-betweens appointed respectively by the brides and the bridegrooms side. Fellow clan members regard each other as brother and sister. Several levels of community are identifiable in the Hmong social structure worldwide: clan, sub-clan, ceremonial households, extended families, and nuclear families. 919 North Court St. In the United States, less-assimilated Hmong may have a limited English vocabulary; it is helpful to use simple terminology whether by telephone, in person, or through an interpreter. Chinese text suggests the Hmong originated in 2300 B.C. Family members are bound by bloodline and share the responsibility and name for the family. Hmong people tend to be humble and may not want to express their emotions in front of others. Link no longer available, 2010. In Thailand, where many Hmong joined the Communist Party during the 1960s, they earned a reputation as enemies of the state for that reason. When the patient is Hmong, knowledge of the medical services must be assessed first before introducing the medical exams. The husband traditionally gets custody of the children in cases of splits or divorce (this is still the norm in the US), though traditionally divorce is not common. Many youth, especially girls, would be married by the time they were 15. In the Hmong culture, one must respect and try to consider what the parents are saying no matter how old he/she is. Families eat together around the table, using utensils both in Laos and in the US. Traditionally, a large number of relatives that could be readily called upon provided an element of security to farmers who had to move periodically. Even women who are shamans and herbalists and whose talents and skills are acknowledged by the community dont have the same status as the men. It is rare that Hmong families in the U.S. live where they first settled; like most immigrant groups with few resources, the Hmong began to cluster together with relatives and other families once in the U.S. Minnesota appears to have attracted the strongest percentages of Hmong from various regions throughout the country between 1995-2000. There is a belief that drinking cold water or failing to eat properly can lead to having wrinkles or skin rashes, or walking bent over in old age. The groom enlists the help of his male clan relatives to raise the dowry. See: Consider Lead and Other Heavy Metal Toxicities in the Evaluation of Nonspecific Symptoms.). Professor, Department of Anthropology, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. This process continues, if required, until the conflict is satisfactory solved. This is still practiced by some clan members. The Hmong believe that the spiritual world coexists with the physical world and is inhabited by a wide variety of spirits, many of which can influence the course of human life. But when the Chinese began limiting their. She specializes in healing with herbs and may be a generalist or may be dedicated to healing certain conditions. To make elopements and catch-hand marriages legitimate, the bride price would be negotiated and paid afterward. In addition, due to lack of medical knowledge, the gender of the infant is said to be due to the faith (luck) of the women. Animals are killed so their souls can be asked to guard the patient. In both ceremonies, animals are sacrificed in thanks for the child and his/her souls. Hmong is an advanced oral language and highly expressive; it includes proverbs, poem-songs, plain language of morality tales and ancestral stories, flowery speech of elders, code speech of sweethearts, and antique language of wedding and funeral rituals. Veradale, WA 99037, 1112 Sixteenth St. Some are professional teachers, social workers or interpreters. Most Hmong believe that the ancestors with the strongest potential impact come from the fathers side of the family. Culhane-Pera, K.A., Vawter, D. E., Xiong, P., Babbitt, B., & Solberg, M. M (Eds.). Remembering ancestors, their accomplishments and their sufferings, and preserving traditional ways are highly important. 15225 E. 17 Ct Menopause is not discussed in the community. The sign may look like a cross, made of sticks with some green leaves, or may consist of a simple cluster of green leaves. phone: (209) 724-0102; fax: (209) 724-0153. Food and Drug Administration. (Vue, L. & Lor, K., 2006). A widow may marry her dead husbands younger brother and continue to have children. Every person has a number of souls who may wander away from the body or be trapped by evil spirits, causing illness, and it is the shamans job to diagnose this and to retrieve the soul (see shamanism; soul loss). The Hmong also cultivated hemp, which they used to make clothing. (Culhane-Pera, et. Traditionally, young pregnant women are encouraged not to inform others about the pregnancy due to a fear of evil spirits that would endanger the pregnancy leading to spontaneous abortion. When talking to less assimilated Hmong persons it may be necessary to repeat questions and allow extra time for responses. Medicinal plants are grown in home gardens or imported from Thailand, and are administered in teas and ointments. Furthermore, during the first 30 days, a new mom is not permitted to visit other homes. The majority of Hmong living in the United States today are those who came directly from Laos or via Thai refugee camps. Traditionally, girls had a lower status than boys. The newborn may therefore be greeted by expressions such as you are ugly in order to fool the spirits and protect the baby. But what seemed like a teenage gang killing last February struck some as being symbolic of something much more malignant. (Hmong Cultural Center, 2000), Traditionally, Hmong women and men work until they no longer can carry out their daily tasks feeding the farm animals, farming, and tending family duties. In particular surgery may conflict with beliefs that a person needs all his/her body parts for reincarnation, that surgery weakens the body or leaves the body open to evil spirits entering. Hmong culture emphasizes relationships between relatives and clan members, with respect for elders and strong families. The leader at the family level can be a powerful and influential person in the community. The most common translation of Hmong clan names to facilitate American pronunciation is the following (with the common English spelling first, and the Hmong spelling in parenthesis): : Chang (Tsab); Chue (Tswb); Cheng (Tsheej); Fang (Faj); Her (Hawj); Hang (Taag White Hmong/Haam Green Hmong); Khang (Khab): Kong (Koo): Kue (Kwm); Lee (Lis); Lor (Lauj): Moua (Muas/Zag); Pha (Phab): Thao (Thoj): Vang (Vaj White Hmong /Vaaj Green Hmong): Vue (Vwj); Xiong (Xyooj): and Yang (Yaj). Hmong women in the US are more active and in positions of power outside the home than they traditionally have been. (Culhane-Pera, et.al., 2003). If later on, the child is ill or has misfortune, a shaman may determine that the wrong name was given and give another one. Persons of Hmong origin traditionally believe in life after death. By the late 20th century there was greater proximity between the cultural groupsmore intermarriage occurred and mixed settlements had become commonplaceyet the sense of difference between the divisions still remained strong. Abusive use of opium leads to family poverty and causes a bad family name. Medical examinations of the breast or private parts are sensitive issues in the Hmong community (as well as other ethnicities not used to Western medical practices). Traditionally, the Hmong practiced the shifting cultivation of unirrigated upland crops; buckwheat, barley, and millet were grown at the highest altitudes, and rice and corn (maize) at lower elevations. Within a lineage, there is an elder man, usually the oldest living descendant, who is the head leader, assuming major responsibilities over his lineage, resolving problems and conducting group ceremonies. The Hmong Community: From Laos to the Puget Sound.