Digital Zine: Hmong American Pandemic Experience

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The past two years have been tough. COVID-19 disrupted everyone’s lives including Hmong families. There has been so much loss and trauma within the Hmong community affecting physical and mental health. Stories emerged of Asian hate where Asian Americans were physically and verbally abused. Many Hmong felt scared and anxious. However, the community came together to support and empower one another by lifting each other’s voices, marching in unity, and taking action. The Digital Zine captures stories told through words, art and video of Hmong American experiences during the pandemic.

Hmong Chronicles

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The Hmong Chronicles series which launched in July 2016, focuses on the revival of Hmong oral traditions through intergenerational collaborations between Hmong elders and contemporary Hmong artists. The concept is simple: How can Hmong elders pass on oral stories in the traditional way, while encouraging contemporary artists / the next generation learn and be inspired to re-tell those stories in their own artistic way?

This collection is funded in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Asian Pacific Endowment Fund, and donations from over 800 individuals and businesses in the community. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Hmong Tattoo

Hmong in the diaspora are reconnecting with their roots through contemporary means such as tattoo. Through this collection, visitors can examine portraits of individuals who have chosen to permanently represent their heritage through tattoo. The collection explores the interconnectedness between the Hmong and their environments through traditional Hmong textile designs. Email info@hmongmuseummn.org for access to the archive.

Hmong Women Pioneers

Pioneering Hmong women have risen to leadership roles in their families, in their communities, and for themselves. These courageous women overcame the Secret War, leading, surviving and moving their families to safety. Some, forced to on their own as the men were torn away from their families to fight in the war. Others took advantage of opportunities to become nurses or interpreters. They faced changing family and gender dynamics as they made their journey through refugee camps and migrated to a new country. In addition to adapting to their new home in America, Hmong women struggled with cultural norms which were often at odds with their new roles in America. These stories showcase the path paved for younger Hmong women and honor these Pioneer’s achievements and contributions to American history. Email info@hmongmuseummn.org for access to the archive.

Unforgotten: An intergenerational project with Hmong Veterans

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Like most refugee and immigrant communities, the Hmong American community continues to experience generational gaps. Often times, Hmong youth may not understand how their parents’ or grandparents’ stories are relevant to their lives. While Hmong elders feel that the young are not listening, making them feel invisible and disrespected.

Hmong Museum and the Special Guerrilla Unit Veterans both recognize these challenge. Therefore, the “Unforgotten” project was designed to pair students and young professionals with Hmong Veterans from the Special Guerrilla Unit, to document their untold war stories. Over the course of 2018, Hlee Lee, a local filmmaker, taught participants the art of film making in order to bring the Vet’s stories to life. The producers captured hours of interviews with each Veteran, then thoughtfully assembled key moments into a few special minutes.

Veteran Voices

The Hmong are a minority group originating from Southeast Asia and China. After 1975, a majority became refugees in North America, Australia, Europe, and South America due to war. From 1961 to 1975, the United States recruited, trained, and financed the Hmong and Lao as surrogate soldiers to contain the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. This initiative became known as the Secret War of Laos. It operated under the US president, Department of State, Department of Defense, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with minimal knowledge among Congress and the American public.

Despite Laos being a neutral country in the Vietnam War, the US collaborated with Hmong General Vang Pao and employed CIA advisors to train the Hmong and other ethnic groups for combat. Child soldiers were also utilized in various tasks, including engaging North Vietnam’s army, disrupting military supply routes passing through Laos to South Vietnam, guarding radar installations, rescuing American pilots, and gathering military intelligence. An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 Hmong soldiers lost their lives between 1961 and 1975 in defense of America’s interests in Southeast Asia and Laos’ sovereignty.

In May 1975, as the US withdrew from Laos after the Vietnam War, three planes evacuated high-ranking Hmong military officials from Long Tieng, the headquarters of General Vang Pao and the CIA in Laos. Others had to flee through jungles, crossing into Thailand, where refugee camps were set up. An estimated 50,000 Hmong lost their lives between 1975 and 1985 attempting to escape persecution from the Lao government into Thailand.

Today, over 350,000 Hmong reside in the United States, with Minnesota hosting the largest urbanized Hmong population, totaling over 81,000 individuals. ‘Veterans Voices: The Secret War’ showcases the stories of these veterans. Email info@hmongmuseummn.org for access to the archive.

We Are Water

For the Hmong American community, our relationship with water threads through history and culture. The way we gather around water in the past and present has transformed from survival and trauma to happy and fun memories. In partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC), Hmong Museum shares the experiences of the Hmong American community’s connection with water through a storytelling. Learn more about MHC on their website.