Hmong Facts

This page will present to you interesting and important facts about Hmong Culture.

Who are the Hmong?

"The Hmong are a people who love freedom and would fight for it as necessary. Their original homeland was in the heart of China. However, as you trace their history, you would find that they are a people without a homeland since the early 1800s. They were driven southward after they were defeated by the Chinese during the Opium War. They settled in North Vietnam, Laos, Burma, and later in Thailand."

Why are they in America?

"The Hmong were US allies in the fight for freedom in South East Asia during the Vietnam War. They were recruited by the US CIA to fight against Communist North Vietnam to deter the Ho Chi Minh Trail from North Vietnam to South Vietnam. When Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fell to Communist control in 1975, the Hmong were targeted for extermination by the Lao Communist regime. The Hmong had no choice but to flee. Since then the Hmong have scattered all over the world: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, New Zealand, Thailand, and the United States while leaving families and relatives behind in Laos."

How many Hmong are here in America and how many are in the greater Twin Cities of "Minneapolis and St. Paul?

"The current estimate is between 250,000 and 300,000 people living in America. The number of people living in the Twin Cities area is between 65,000 and 85,000 with an additional 5,000 new immigrants are expected before the end of 2004."

What are their needs?

"As with any immigrant group, the Hmong's needs are assimilation and enculturation and at the same time maintaining their family values in the midst of transition and change. However, their needs are much greater and deeper than most others. The Hmong came from a war-torn environment with no technological advancement except war planes and weapons. Come to think about it, the Hmong as a people have jumped a 200 years civilization in 25 years. Prior to 1975, there was only one Hmong educator with a Ph. D. Now there are over 500 such educators, scholars, MDs, Lawyers, etc. In the midst of these successes, though, many are falling through the cracks. Families are disintegrating, children continue to join gangs, spouses deserted each other for strangers, domestic violence, and the like. They need guidance. They need to be assured that they are not alone. They need to know that there are people who understand their challenges and willing to listen and walk them through this transition...to lead them to a brighter future...here in America... and ultimately to their new home--Heaven."

Some Facts on Hmong Students in St. Paul

Following are some interesting facts about the Hmong students in the St. Paul School District:

"Hmong population in Minnesota increased 143% from 1990 to 2000."

"More than 80% of Minnesota Hmong lives in the Twin Cities and the majority of them live in St. Paul."

"25% of St. Paul School District students are Hmong (2005)."

"10,717, or 24.5% of St. Paul School District students speak Hmong at home (2005)."

"Hmong High School students studied an average of 21 hours per week compare to their non-Hmong peers who only studied 2.77 hours per week (Cura reporter, Spring 2003)."

Did you know ...

"There are about eighteen Hmong clans, each of which traces its lineage to a single male ancestor."
"Members of the same clan consider each other to be kwv tij, translated as "brothers" or "siblings," and they are expected to offer one another mutual support."

"Contemporary Hmong people cannot be characterized as subscribing to single belief system. Missionaries to Southeast Asia converted many Hmong people to Christianity beginning in the 19th-century and many more have become Christian since immigrating from Southeast Asia to the West."

"Many Hmong people, both in Asia and the West, perpetuate traditional spiritual practices that include animism and ancestor worship.[4] According to these beliefs, spirits inhabit animals and other natural objects, but also domestic features, such as doorways. The spirits of deceased ancestors are also thought to influence welfare and health of the living. Individuals perform rituals and supply offerings, including food and spirit money, to appease the spirits and earn their favor."

"The Hmong New Year celebration is a cultural tradition that takes place annually in select areas where large Hmong communities exist and in a modified form where smaller communities coaggulate. During the New Year's celebration, Hmong dress in traditional clothing and enjoy Hmong traditional foods, dance, music, bull fights, and other forms of entertainment. Hmong New Year celebrations preserve Hmong ethnic traditions and culture, and may also serve to educate those who have interest in Hmong tradition. Hmong New Year celebrations frequently occur in November and December (traditionally at the end of the harvest season when all work is done), serving as a thanksgiving holiday for the Hmong people."

Interesting stuff!