From Laos to MN: The Hmong Migration Story
Embedded Files
NEH "We the People" - Migrant Waves in the Making of America
Jess Stewart, MN
Overview: Behind the Text Set
This text set features children's literature, young adult novels, documentaries, interviews, and teacher resources that highlight the Hmong refugee experience. Minnesota is home to the second largest Hmong population in the United States, just behind California. Hmong Americans in MN have set down roots in St. Paul and the surrounding suburbs.
Hmong Migration Timeline
Click above image to link to timeline on Padlet.
Literature
The Most Beautiful Thing, by Kao Kalia Yang
A girl finds beauty where she never thought to look in this story drawn from the author’s childhood experiences as a Hmong refugee.
A girl finds beauty where she never thought to look in this story drawn from the author’s childhood experiences as a Hmong refugee.
From the Tops of Trees, by Kao Kalia Yang
Young Kalia has never known life beyond the fences of the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp. The Thai camp holds many thousands of Hmong families who fled in the aftermath of the little-known Secret War in Laos that was waged during America's Vietnam War. For Kalia and her cousins, life isn't always easy, but they still find ways to play, racing with chickens and riding a beloved pet dog.
Young Kalia has never known life beyond the fences of the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp. The Thai camp holds many thousands of Hmong families who fled in the aftermath of the little-known Secret War in Laos that was waged during America's Vietnam War. For Kalia and her cousins, life isn't always easy, but they still find ways to play, racing with chickens and riding a beloved pet dog.
Hmong History for Young Scholars, by See Lor
Hmong History-for young scholars presents a brief journey back in time to learn about the Hmong people and their journey to America.
Hmong History-for young scholars presents a brief journey back in time to learn about the Hmong people and their journey to America.
Dear My Teacher: Letters of Joy, Pain, and Triumph from Today's Teenage Hmong Students, edited & compiled by Pang Yang & Mike H. Vang
Explore the world of today's Hmong teenage students through honest, sincere, and heartfelt letters to their teachers. Caught in between two worlds, their perspective is unique and necessary to understanding how education, race, and the Hmong experience intersects.
Link to Book
Explore the world of today's Hmong teenage students through honest, sincere, and heartfelt letters to their teachers. Caught in between two worlds, their perspective is unique and necessary to understanding how education, race, and the Hmong experience intersects.
Link to Book
The Song Poet, by Kao Kalia Yang
Somewhere in the Unknown World, by Kao Kalia Yang
Kao Kalia Yang―herself a Hmong refugee―has gathered stories of the stateless who today call the Twin Cities home.
The Late Homecomer, by Kao Kalia Yang
This novel is a tribute to that grandmother, a remarkable woman whose spirit held her family together through their imprisonment in Laos, their narrow escape into Thailand's Ban Vinai Refugee Camp, their immigration to St. Paul.
Link to Book
This novel is a tribute to that grandmother, a remarkable woman whose spirit held her family together through their imprisonment in Laos, their narrow escape into Thailand's Ban Vinai Refugee Camp, their immigration to St. Paul.
Link to Book
The Whispering Cloth: A Refugee's Story, by Pegi Deitz Shei
This children's book depicts life in a refugee camp. Mai spends her days listening to the Hmong women talking, telling stories, and making story cloth.
Link to Book
This children's book depicts life in a refugee camp. Mai spends her days listening to the Hmong women talking, telling stories, and making story cloth.
Link to Book
Hmong author Kao Kalia Yang shares the story of her memoir, The Latehomecoming.
Hmong author Kao Kalia Yang shares the story of her memoir, The Latehomecoming.
Kao Kalia Yang came to America after spending the first six years of her life in Hmong refugee camps in Thailand. Her family’s story is one of love, life, and a deadly war - one rarely taught in history classes. Kao Kalia Yang is a Hmong-American writer. Born in the refugee camps of Thailand to a family that had fled the aftermath of America’s Secret War in Laos, she came to America at age six.
Kao Kalia Yang came to America after spending the first six years of her life in Hmong refugee camps in Thailand. Her family’s story is one of love, life, and a deadly war - one rarely taught in history classes. Kao Kalia Yang is a Hmong-American writer. Born in the refugee camps of Thailand to a family that had fled the aftermath of America’s Secret War in Laos, she came to America at age six.
Documentaries
Documentaries are nonfictional accounts intended to educate and provide historical records.
Click above image to link to website with documentary.
An often overlooked perspective from the Vietnam War is from the Hmong. This documentary takes a look back at their stories of war, how and why they aided American troops, and their daunting stories of escape from Laos.
Oral Histories
Oral histories "work to counter the silences and biases of the archive" (Martínez & Delgado)
Interview with Xang Vang in which he discusses his work as a CIA operative during the Secret War in Laos 1961-1975 and his work in Minnesota as the Executive Director of the Lao Family Community of Minnesota. He also worked as a Hmong business entrepreneur and one of the first Hmong growers to sell produce at the St. Paul Farmers Market.
Khou Xiong is a Hmong woman, 61 years old. She was a mother and housewife in Laos. She moved to Minneapolis in 1979 and presently completes Hmong handiwork sent from Laos, whose profits from sale are returned to Laos.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Khou Xiong talks of her immigration and acclimation to the United States. She notes differences in family relations, particularly in the behavior and attitudes of her children in the United States and those still in Laos. Khou Xiong ends the interview with a piece of advice for Hmong women.
Terry Yang was born in 1956 in Luang Prabang, Laos. He and his family escaped to a refugee camp in Thailand in 1979, where they lived for one year before moving to the United States in 1980. At the time of the interview Yang was the President of the Yang Wang Meng Association of United States, a national organization dedicated to connecting the Hmong community, building Hmong leaders, and preserving Hmong culture. He was also on the board for the Walnut Grove PTA.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Escaping Laos - experiences in refugee camp - adjusting to life in America - family - Hmong cultural preservation and community-building
Interview with Sai Nou Vang in which he discusses his work as General Vang Pao's personal bodyguard and house manager. He also discusses his role as Captain in the CIA Secret War in Laos 1961-1975.
Interview with Tou Saiko Lee in which he discusses his work as a hip hop and spoken word artist as well as his work as a community organizer and activist.
Cher Vang immigrated to the United States from Laos in April, 1976. Currently, Cher Vang is the St. Paul Children's Hospital Hmong parent representative/interpreter.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Cher Vang talks about the immigration of his family to the United States. He describes what he thought life would be like in the U.S. before he arrived. Cher Vang also discusses the importance of his job at St. Paul Children's Hospital and what duties his job entails.
Lee Vu is an eighteen year old woman who immigrated to the United States with her family in 1989. She is a student at Edison High School.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Lee Vu talks of her family, her studies and her hopes for the future. She lists ways her life is different in America than in Thailand.
Yang Cha Ying immigrated to the United States on October 7, 1980. Prior to his immigration he was an assistant to the mayor of Por Far, Laos. Yang Cha Ying also served as a soldier from 1950-1953. Currently, he is retired, though he acts as an advisor for the police when making domestic calls.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Yang Cha Ying describes his life in Laos, particularly the time he spent fighting in the wars, in detail. He talks about his adjustment to life in the United States and his role as an advisor for the police in domestic situations, explaining cultural differences. Yang Cha Ying hopes that the youth of his culture will learn to respect the elderly.
Curriculum and Teacher Resources
I find it remarkable that there was a war happening at the same time as the Vietnam War that has had such a profound impact on Minnesota and so few people know about it. Learning about the Secret War in Laos—next door to Vietnam—and hearing from the Hmong soldiers and families about the raw truth of the lived experience has deepened my understanding of the sacrifices people make and the complexities involved in war.
Lisa Blackstone
Director, Minnesota Remembers Vietnam: America’s Secret War
Hmong American Life Stories (1).pdfClick above image to link to article
Hmong Trailblazers In Minnesota
Pang Yang
Pang Yang
Pang Yang is a dedicated multilingual veteran teacher and the mother of seven children. Her 20+ years of K-12 classroom experience includes the teaching of English Language Learners and Hmong Heritage Language Learners. Her expertise is in Student-Centered Learning, amplifying student voices in language classrooms and creating civic engagement opportunities to allow students, families, and community experts to thrive as they use language in authentic settings. Pang is a powerhouse who takes on the roles of a counselor, cultural navigator, parent educator, grant writer, event coordinator, and an advocate for students of color. She is an active member of the Coalition of Asian American Leaders and serves on several school/community committees, and the co-convenor of the National Coalition of Hmong Teachers. In addition, Pang is also a founder of Project Tshav Ntuj, a movement to destigmatize mental health in the Hmong community and promote wellness, in addition to starting up a new non-profit, MN Zej Zog, which empowers the Hmong community by nurturing the Hmong language, healing through the arts and wellness, and becoming more powerful through education across the generations. She holds a B.A. from Concordia University and a Masters of Arts in English as a Second Language from Hamline University. She was named the MN Council on the Teaching of Language and Culture 2019 Teacher of the Year.
Choua Lee was the first elected Hmong American official. She won a seat on the St. Paul School board in 1991.
In 2018 Hmong leaders for the MN Asian Pacific Caucus to address community needs.
In 2018 Hmong leaders for the MN Asian Pacific Caucus to address community needs.
Mee Moua was the first Hmong American to serve at the state level. She was elected to the MN State Senate in 2002
Click image below to link to article
Current Landscape
Click above image to link to census data
Click above image to link to source information
Hmong Farmers in Minnesota
Hmong Farmers in Minnesota
"Today, Hmong American Farmers are leading the Twin Cities local food economy, making up more than 50% of the farmers in metropolitan farmers markets. Hmong farmers are at the center of Minnesota-based local foods economy, that according to AgStar Financial Services generates over $250 million in annual sales. Without Hmong farmers, this explosion of awareness and interest in local foods and small-scale farming in Minnesota would not be possible." Source: https://www.hmongfarmers.com/story/
Hmong Charter Schools in Minnesota
Hmong Charter Schools in Minnesota
There are numerous Hmong charter schools in the Twin Cities area. Many Hmong families have left the regular public school system in favor of charter schools, as families believe they have done a better job of meeting the linguistic and cultural needs of Hmong scholars.
Phalen Lake Elementary
Phalen Lake Elementary
Peb ntseeg tias yim paub ntau hom lus, yim zoo xwb thiab yog ib txoj kev yuav pab kom ua tau ib tug neeg txawj ntse, txawj xav, thiab txawj coj rau yav pem suab. Phalen Lake offers a unique opportunity for students to discover the gift of bilingualism through our Hmong Dual Language program. We believe knowing more than one language brings countless benefits to our students and greatly enhances their intellectual growth, their cross-cultural skills, and broadens their world views to make world class citizens. Source: https://www.spps.org/phalen
Noble Academy
Noble Academy
The mission of Noble Academy is to provide quality, relevant and multicultural education for all students. The unique framework is relevancy, which is a critical component for the learning process if and when the students can build on their prior knowledge. Learning makes more sense and is more connected when students can relate to the content and/or topics being taught. This school will serve students ages 5-14 in the metro areas. Noble Academy will focus on these four cornerstones surrounding the educational philosophy of the school:
A rigorous educational program focusing on core content areas and standards mandated by the state of
Minnesota in reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies
Hmong Heritage (native) language and culture
Responsive classroom/social curriculum
Up to date technology
Source: https://www.nobleacademy.us/
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