Focusing on the Hmong Community

While there are lots of cultures at Johnson, I will focus on just the Hmong people here. Here are some points that might be helpful in your classroom.

• The first Hmong families came to Minnesota in 1975. If you meet someone over 35, they were probably born in Laos. The last Hmong refugee camps closed around 1999. If you meet someone under 11, they were probably born in the United States. Consider the dramatic implications of this!
• There are 18 Hmong clan names, or last names. At Johnson, we have lots of Vangs, and Yangs, but some of these names aren't represented at all at JHS. Not all students who share the same name are related. Fun fact: it's taboo in Hmong culture to date someone with the same clan name.
• Chang 
• Cheng
• Chue 
• Fang 
• Hang 
• Her (Herr, Heu) 
• Khang 
• Kong  
• Kue 
• Lee (Ly, Le)
• Lor (Lo, Lao) 
• Moua (Mua)
• Phang or Pha
• Thao  
• Vang 
• Vue 
• Xiong 
• Yang 

• Hmong families sometimes follow Shamanism. I can't give a thorough description, but I'll try to mention things you'll see in class. Each person has a spirit which should be happy and closely united with the physical body to maintain health, both mentally and physically. Sometimes students will wear a cord, often red, around their wrist. Often this has been tied to their wrist during a ceremony to strengthen the connection with their spirit. Traditionally, the spirit is believed to rest over someone's head, so avoid patting a Hmong child on their head until you know more about the family's beliefs. 
• There is a large Christian Hmong population, with Christian songs in Hmong, Hmong students attending Christian colleges, and students reading Christan books. This does not mean these students are less traditional. Hmong families often trace their Christianity to Laos. Some Hmong families were sponsored by Christian churches when they emigrated to the US.
• Because the extended family depends on each other, and families often live together, students usually have specific tasks in the household. Girls often cook and clean with their mothers, and daughters-in-law who live with their new family are expected to show they are not lazy. Boys traditionally help their fathers more.
• Because the Hmong people fled their homes, they left much of their wealth in Laos. Often families had literally only what they could carry. As a result, several families began life in America on public assistance. As language skills and education with each generation, families can become more financially independent.
• Make sure to read the page about political history on the right hand side. The facts of the Hmong involvement in the Vietnam conflict are often not widely known to most Minnesotans, but almost all of the Hmong students will have at least of vague understanding of the role of the Hmong in Vietnam. 
• I've only shared some facts, but the real experts are your students. Often students are willing to share what they know, but make sure that your questions don't put them unexpectedly in the spot-light. I ask questions during work time, after school, or during passing time.