Iu Mien Americans

Iu Mien Americans are Americans, primarily Indochinese refugees, of Iu Mien descent, a subset of the Yao people. This group arrived from Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand in between the late 1970s to the early 1990s as the last wave of refugees post-Vietnam War, settling primarily along the West Coast of the United States.

Classification

The Iu Mien are under the "Yao" classification in China because of their name in Standard Mandarin, the official language of China. It has become apparent that the term "Yao" is no more than a longstanding name used by host Chinese. These peoples traditionally do not call themselves "Yao" and not all "Yao" are Mien.

The Republic of China made the name "Yao" official in 1945 by classification for government purposes. The classification associates minorities that may or may not have related ancestry. Although they share festivities of the same creation story, Panhu (Pien Hung), it is hard to determine what relations are beyond that fact. Through recent contacts, some spoke the same language as Mien Americans while others did not, with unintelligible conversation, clearly distinct cultures, food, dress and more. There continue to be various names under the "Yao" classification for these differences, named by the Chinese, such as: Bunu, Dongnu, Panyao, etc.

It is extremely difficult to find history behind Mien origins when the term "Yao" is used. Many sources (both Western and Chinese) describe the "Yao" history, yet the particular language and people is never defined.

History

Iu Mien originated from China to Vietnam, migrated to Laos, Thailand, and then to the United States. The Iu Mien scriptures and stories were told that Yao people were from a place called “Qianjiadong,” the homeland of the Yao or Iu Mien people. For generations the legend of the “Qianjiadong” was told that there was only one way in and one way out of this peaceful beautiful place through a cavern. This homeland of the Yao, was told that it is very beautiful, has surrounding waterfalls and rivers, and that it is secluded from the outside world. As many years has passed people started to doubt and thought it was just a myth, until, recently Gong Zhebing discovered this homeland of the Yao/Iu Mien.

Iu Mien Americans descend from migrants who arrived in Laos from Southern China during the late 1600s to 1800s. Before their migration, they had 12 sub-tribes. The group’s migration resulted from land disputes between the King of China and Iu Mien King. Due to his love for his people, the Iu Mien king gave up his land to the emperor of China to safeguard his people from genocide. After the Iu Mien king surrendered his land, they agreed to have Iu Mien live as a nation in the hillside and practice their culture without forming a government. However, the hillside terrain was unfavorable for crop cultivation, forcing most of them to migrate to Laos and Thailand, where they lived peacefully until the Vietnam War. Reasons for this migration remain controversial, varying from political to socio-economic ventures.

The “Secret War”

Many Iu Mien people were involved with the United States CIA during the " Secret War" in Laos in an effort to block weapon smuggling via parts of the Ho Chi Minh trail from North Vietnam to South Vietnam. Beginning in 1964, the U.S. army began to train Mien people to provide their intelligence, surveillance, and armed manpower during the Secret War. There were three Iu Mien important figure soldiers to fight alongside the United States: Colonel Chao Mai Saechao, Colonel Chao La Saechao, and Captain Vern Chien Saechao. In Laos of 1967, Colonel Chao Mai died by either heart attack or stroke. His younger brother Chao La Saechao was promoted to Colonel. Chao La passed in 2005 in France at age 82. Captain Vern Chien Saechao resided in Richmond with his family, where he passed early 2009.

When the American operation pulled out, and the Lao People's Democratic Republic or the Communist government was established in 1975, hundreds of families were forced to seek refuge in the neighboring country of Thailand to escape political persecution for supporting the CIA. Hundreds died during this journey on foot through the deep jungles of Southeast Asia and across the Mekong River. In the next few years, thousands settled in Thailand refugee camps. Organizations, like the United Nations, provided food, water, and shelter for many living in the camps. The United Nations started providing an insufficient amount of resources after a certain amount of time for the people sheltering in the camps, as they were running low on those. Through their programs, roughly 60,000 were sponsored to western countries such as the United States, France, and Canada.

Resettlement

From 1976 to 1979, the first wave of Mien families began to arrive in the United States. Mien people have faced numerous obstacles in resettlement.

They were forced to move from a non-industrial, slash and burn economy, to an industrialized, post-modern economy. Lack of exposure to formal education and paid labor has led Mien refugees to find resettlement difficult.

Problems existed in all areas, from language and customs to religion and power structures. Since their arrival, the Iu Mien language has been slowly disappearing. A majority of third generation Iu-Mien are fluent in English but cannot converse in Mien. Many Iu Mien have abandoned the Taoist/Animist religion and converted to Christianity. Gender and power relations are in flux, as authority is no longer centered around the oldest male in the family. Many changes have taken place during the last 25 years. It has been argued that "traditional" Iu Mien culture will disappear in a matter of decades and ethnic identity will slowly diminish through generations.

Population

Approximately 50,000 Iu Mien settled along the western coast of the U.S. in states of California, Oregon and Washington. Approximately 10,000 or less have settled in other parts of the country, in states of Alabama, Alaska, Texas, Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, North Carolina and other states. This ethnicity group has yet to be included in the United States Census and consequently, current population numbers have been skewed anywhere from 40,000 to 50,000. Since resettlement in America, historical contacts have been and continue to be made, between Mien Americans and Mien in China and Vietnam. Many Mien American relatives still remain in the countries of Laos and Thailand.

As a people from ancient, isolated farming societies, first Iu Mien American generations struggled through obstacles of language, acculturation and more as they resettled in bustling, modern cities. As younger generations Americanize, they face generational gaps, loss of language, loss of culture, lack of identity and more. Community-based organizations formed among communities in Washington, Oregon and California to provide direct services, catering to resettlement issues.

They celebrated their 31st anniversary in Sacramento, California, on July 7, 2007. Achievement awards were given to Mien American military service members, doctors, educators, scholars, leaders, and others.

There are approximately 50,000 Mien in the US as of 2012, with 15,000 of those in Sacramento, and 13,000 in the East Bay.

Iu Mien people have settled all across continents of the world. There are Iu Mien who settled in the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Laos, Myanmar, New Zealand, Switzerland, Thailand, and Vietnam after or during the "Secret War."

There is a large population of Iu Mien Americans that have settled in the city of Sacramento, California, as well as in Oakland, Richmond, San Jose, Merced, Visalia, Stockton, Fresno, Yuba City, Oroville, Gridley, and Redding. In Oregon, most of the Iu Mien populations are resided in Salem and the greater Portland area. In Washington, most of the Iu Mien population are living in the King County of the greater Seattle area.

Culture

Marriage

The patrilineal clan system plays a central role in identifying Iu Mien’s culture. Iu Mien has 12 clan names and operates parallel to the Hmong clan system (MacDonald, 2009). Within the practice, intermarriages among the clan are essential. However, for members with a related tradition, intermarriage is barred. The individual families have sub-clans that play a critical role in religious and socialization functions. The sub-clans are more vital than clans due to their social position and closeness with individual members.

Marriage is an essential social function among Iu Mien. Iu Mien has a distinct cultural practice concerning marriages and sexuality where elders play a critical role in presiding over marriages. The elders are respected and play a central role in blessing newborns with protective spirits. The elders shun premarital sex and childbearing out of wedlock. A groom’s family has to pay an extra dowry for any child born out of wedlock.

Music

In traditional days, Mien communicate by singing and telling folk stories. It was a way of philosophical communication and a way of teaching by passing on stories in profound songs generations after generations. Singing and reciting by doing noble ritual offerings to the ancestors from the "Book of Death," burning incense "Tao / Dao" was a way to keep the roots educated and benevolence performing peaceful harmony in ceremonies. "The Book Of Death" is very much the same as the Tibetan "Book of the Dead" and the Three Bardo Thodol. In this Book of Life and Death are the names of ancestors from birth to death, family lineage passed down by generations. The rebirth of the new generation is believed to be in the mixture of Hip-hop, Pop and R&b and some can be found very articulate, powering and political. Nowadays, Mien people usually write their own songs or they translate Thai and Lao songs into Mien.

Traditional dishes

Mien traditional dishes/diets consist of vegetables, chicken, pork, beef, fish, and rice. Authentic dishes are mien pork-sausages (pork with mien herbs/seasoning), ah-won (pork stew), Klang Phen (rice flour that is cooked, complemented with spicy bean paste and sour broth), steamed or boiled pork, chicken, or beef with Tofu, Ka-Soy, rice noodle and meat salads, fermented pickled mustard greens, fermented Mien bean paste (thop choi/thop zhay), roast/baked fish wrapped in banana leaf (modernly wrapped in banana leaf as well as foil) and banana-leaf wrap roast/steam ground-pork, beef, or chicken. A traditional condiment is Mien pepper sauce Fuhn-tsu.

Other influences include Tum Som, also known as papaya salad (originally a Thai/Lao dish), and Larb (a Thai/Lao dish).

See also

* Iu Mien people
*Yao people

References

External links

The Virtual Hilltribe MuseumMienh.netThe Iu-Mien Community OnlineIMMIEN.comLearnMien.comVoice For The People

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Asian-American society
Yao people