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Full Description
In 1975, after years of struggle, Communists seized control of the government of Laos. Members of the Mong culture who had helped the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in their quest to halt the spread of Communism were forced to move to America as political refugees. The Mong, with their strong culture of oral traditions and beliefs, were plunged into a multicultural society where the written word was prevalent. As a result, their oral customs are now being slowly eroded and replaced with a written tradition. Desperate to hold on to their cultural identity and continue the traditions of their ancestors, the Mong still struggle with the dilemma this change in literary perception has caused.
Compiled from numerous interviews, this volume explores the lives of 13 Mong elders. With emphasis on their unique oral tradition and cultural practices, the book discusses Mong rituals, tribal customs, religious beliefs and educational experiences. The main focus of the work, however, is the lifestyle the elders maintained while living in the mountains of Laos. In their own words, they describe their childhood, communities, religious rituals and cultural traditions as well as the ongoing struggle of adjustment to their new homeland. The work also delves into the Mong perceptions of industrialization and the generational conflict that immersion into a literate society has caused. The author himself is a member of the Mong culture and brings a personal perspective to preserving the oral traditions of this unique ethnicity. The work is also indexed.
Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword by Lourdes Arguelles
Preface
1. Oral Culture and Multicultural Education
Living the Vision of Oral Culture in Modern Society
Oral Culture and Written Culture Together in One Society
Summary
2. The Mong Oral Tradition and Cultural Practices
Theories of Mong Origin
Mong Oral Cultural Tradition
Mong Oral Culture Practices
Farming
Parenting
Rituals and Customary Traditional Values
Summary
3. Mong Society and Sociocultural Settings
The Mong Kinship System
Cultural Identity
The Environment
Social Gatherings
Summary
4. Oral Tradition as a Source of Knowledge
Traditional Stories
Songs
Sacred Chanting Songs
Funeral and Wedding Songs
Soul Calling Songs
Ritualistic Secret Language Chanting Songs
Summary
5. American Education and the Transformation of the Mong Community
The Loss of the Oral Tradition Custom's Values
Language and Culture Loss
Religious Conflict
Summary
6. The Stories of Mong Elders
Elder Boua Tong Yang
Elder Lee Xiong
Elder Nhia Cha Yang
Elder Jer Thao
Elder Xai Dang Moua
Elder Phoua Her
Elder Chong Yer Thao
Elder Mai Vang
Elder Cha Shoua Hang
Elder Chai Xiong
Elder Tong Yao Her
Elder Ying Yang
Elder Xao Cheng Lee
7. Keeping Oral Culture Alive Through the Mong Elders
Mong Oral Tradition and Culture Elements
Understanding the Interconnectedness of Mong Oral Culture
Summary
Afterword by Marianne Pennekamp
Bibliography
Index
