A Hmong student read historical information. "The Hmong people originated from southern China, (but) due to conflicts with the Chinese thousands of years ago, many of the Hmong people began to resettle in the mountainous hilltops of Southeast Asia." Another student added, "It is important for you to understand that the Hmong are not Chinese, nor are they Laotian or Thai."
The "historian" then talked about how the Hmong were recruited by the CIA in the 1960s to ally with them in the "Secret War" against North Vietnam. "They were good and fearless fighters, who fought alongside the American troops," she said. "Many of our family and friends were killed during and after the war ... After the Vietnam War, as the Americans withdrew their troops, the Hmong were left behind to fend for themselves against the Communists. Due to persecution, the Hmong began the exodus to refugee camps in Thailand." It was around 1976, she said, when many Hmong refugees began relocating to different parts of the world, including the beautiful city of Madison, Wis.
Then the fun part dominated the Forum stage. There was a fashion show highlighting different Hmong costumes from various regions in Laotian highlands. Musical performances in dance, song, Qejj and Xim Xaus, kept the audience stomping and clapping. The ball-tossing game, or Pov pob, is a game of courtship, according to Cherry Xiong. "It's an activity where young people get together with friends and potential future mates. They line up with other couples and toss this ball. Eventually one of them begins to sing a traditional Hmong song called Kwv txhiaj."
Most of the students were American-born, but they all showed a deep connection to their history and culture. Their parents' painful past is as fresh as their young faces, but the hope for a bright future is also apparent in the youth's smiles and their aura of confidence. |
