Khmu

History of the Khummu minority in Oudomxay Province

The history of the Khummu ethnic group is similar to the others and the speaking language is identified in the group of Mone – Khmae. This ethnic group was originally from the ancient Red Indian. They first moved to inhabit in Indo China Zone (Laos – The land of million elephants) at the end of the 4^th century. After many years, there were other tribes moved into the land of million elephants more and more. Some of those Khummu people moved to live in Oudomxay Province and their leader was “Mr. Taka Sila. He ruled Meuang Xay during that time and Khummu people had more power than other tribes. Khummu is said to be the first brother of others. Later, the king Phaya Xay entered and fought for the land. He finally won at the end nd he took his people to live in Chom Ong – Chom Ka zone. The total number of village in 1) Meuang Xay district during that time was 85, population: 38,000 people – Female: 18,924. 2) Meuang La district: 36 villages, population: 10,064 - Female: 5,027. 3) Meuang Namor distict: 43 villages, population: 20,630 –Female: 10,352. 4) Meuang Nga distict: 44 villages, population: 16,880 – Female: 10,220. 5) Meuag Pakbeng: 53 villages, population: 24,474 – Female:12,759. 6) Meuang Hoon distict: 12 villages, population: 46,531 – Female: 24,753. 7) Meuang Beng district: 40 villages, population: 20,474 –Female: 10,075. The number of population of the Khummu ethnic group is always more than other groups in Oudomxay Province. The whole number of the Khummu people in Oudomxay is 177,053 – Female: 92,110. Covered 61,547 % of the whole population in the province according to the statistic in 2011.

Name: There are many different Khummu clans in Oudomxay such as, Khummu Rok, Khummu Khrong, Khummu Lue, Khummu Ou, Khummu Khuaen, Khummu Mae, Khummu Am and others. The verbal communication of each clan can be understood, but there are some dissimilar words. For instance, “I don’t know” – they say “Cut Nerng , Per Nerng, Am Nerng” and still many more. The meaning of the word Khummu is Human and Human “Khummu” is referred or meant to be the real name of this unique Khummu ethnic group.

Language: They have their own speaking language, but no writing pattern in the past. In 1980, there was a Khummu novelist who had studied and researched on how Khummu writing language pattern can be created or written. As a final point, the writing pattern of the Khummu language was taken some writing patterns from the Lao and Latin language. As mentioned above here the Khummu language is identified in the group of Mone –Khmae. The accent of each clan is quite different from each other, but able to understand anyhow.

Belief, tradition, culture and social of the Khummu ethic group: They have been respecting their own ancestor for a long time ago. There is an altar in every house. There are some key spirits that they will always call when having problems are spirits (Ghost) of the house, spirits (Ghost) of the parents and spirits (Ghost) of the grandparents. These spirits mentioned are believed to be their sacred ancestors of all time, followed by the spirits (Ghost) of the village, spirits (Ghost) of the sky, spirits (Ghost) of the forest and spirits (ghost) of the river. The ghost that most Mhummu people are afraid of the most is vampire (In Lao language we call “Pi Pop” and in Khummu is “Raoy Keun”. The majority of the Khummu people are animists and they are now turning into different religious practice.

The surname of each family has to follow the clan “surname” of the father for eternity. When a girl is married, she has to move to her husband’s house. In case she is the only daughter of the family her husband has to move to her house, but it’s based on the agreement of both sides. There are several animals and plants which referred to their own race and each Khummu family “race” has to respect and worship for their own one – like tiger, owston’s palm civet, Son Rok bird, Tang lor bird and Phak Kood “curly” vegetable. They will not kill the animal that belongs to their race or clan at all.

House system: Normally, there are 2 rooms – one is the bedroom of the parents which includes a small stove inside designed for rice cooking only. The second one is the separated one next to the parents’ bedroom “dining room” and this is for quests or visitors. There is also a kitchen outside for cooking. Visitors are not allowed to enter the bedroom without permission and not allowed to sleep by sided sleeping position against the door (It means only a dead person will be put or placed like that). Not allowed to bring any animals into the house as well as green leaves (You can only do that when there is a special ceremony is held).

The Khummu “Boon Tep Neum – Boon Kler” New Year celebration is held every year on February in order to release the old year “bad things” away. After celebration, old houses will be rebuilt and reconstruct or is the best time to build a new house. During this time is the most enjoyable occasion for all Khummu people. Alcohol and animals like chicken, pig, cattle and buffalo will be prepared and killed for celebrating the New Year.

Literature: There is rich literature within Khummu ethnic group. They have their own traditional dancing and singing called “Term and Jerm” as well as bamboo instruments like flute, drum, mouth organ, gourd pipe, leaf blowing, and so on. The most famous Khummu traditional dancing is from an old song called “Term Ai” and every one always enjoy the bamboo water tube dancing and it’s called “ Yoon Ting”.

Birth: Khummu women always give birth at home and some experienced women are in charge of that for assistance. After giving a new born child for only a week, they will start going back to work and will not stay longer like other tribes.

Death: The funeral does not take long like other ethnic groups, it sometimes spend only one or two days for a funeral. The corps will be covered by a mat easily and the corps is buried in the forest nearby the village. But the family has to stay at home for 10 days and also organize a Baci ceremony for all family members at the same time to drive the bad things and problems away.

Khummu people have been living with nature for more than thousand years and they are fit enough for the climate change. Their lives are attached with the nature at all times. For instance, when they hear the thunder from the sky above they believe that this is to remind them to do good things stead of bad things. Singing from animals like birds and insects means the next planting – farming season is coming soon and to remind them to get ready for it.

Economy: The main activities for generating cash income and for family consumption are upland “sticky” rice cultivation, corn - maize plantation, natural resources and vegetable planting. Moreover, livestock is also an activity that helps them a lot for making money every year. The animals that they like to rise are chicken, duck, goose, dog, pig, cow, cattle, buffalo, and goat and so on. They harvest and collect some natural resources like bamboo shoot, cardamom, galangal, wild vegetable and others that can be sold each year in order to sell to local traders or markets. Most Khummu men like to produce handicraft products like basketry and blacksmith – knife production.

Khuumu is the oldest ethnic group in Oudomxay Province and the population is more than others. The traditional clothe is disappeared time by time nowadays. According to what we have found and noticed in present time that some beliefs and traditional culture have changed due to the social development. Let’s say something about illness, before they treated themselves naturally with traditional medicine and herb and never go to the hospital. But now they turn to the hospital more and more instead of using traditional medicine like before. Some turn to different religions. But those who live in remote area is still the same.