The Hmong originated from China. They migrated to the Indochina and the surrounding country over 2 hundred thousand years ago. Battling with the Chinese for thousands of years, the Hmong gave up and started migrating thousands of miles, through planes, valleys, hills, mountains, and across oceans to other continents in search for peace, liberty and freedom. In the early 18th century, the Hmong reside along the highest summits of mountains, riverside, and valleys in Thailand and Laos. The Hmong thought life in Laos were finally at peace but never imagined they would become refugees after the massive corruption during the “Secret War of Laos” which took place after the French left the continent in 1954. The Hmong had joined with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in North Laos and along the HO-Chi Minh Trail to fight against the communists between 1961-1975. After 1975 the Royal Lao Government and the Pathet Lao Government had agreed to form a coalition Government. After the agreement, the last member of the CIA withdrew. Therefore, we can no longer remain in Laos. The Pathet Lao began mining routes, armies await to fire and bombing chemicals to poison rivers, lakes and vegetation to make sure the Hmong were doom. With starvation and disease from the chemicals, numerous amount of Hmong were unable to cross the Mekong River due to heavy fire from the Pathet Lao. Those who had made it to Thailand lived their lives in a thorn fence camp until the United States accepted all assistance to the refugees to unlock their hope to the United States. Still, today some of our elders ask themselves “Why did we become Refugees? At what point had we stop being a refugee? What should we do next?” While others said “This land is the end of the world. On this land we will not have to run anymore. We find peace, and liberty to set up a new life here.” With the dramatic contrast between the American cultures and our cultures it is hard for our elders to adjust. New customs had forced many changes in our tradition. Though, the corruption of the Hmong had scattered families, relatives and friends through out the world, the love we have to find one another will not die.
