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HMONGKEEBKWM

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Preserving the Hmong

Heritage in Catawba County

The MissionThis preservation project was titled, “Hmong Keeb Kwm.” Keeb kwm is a Hmong

phrase that embodies history, traditions, and background.

Goals of the project:

● Preserve the culture

● Build community

● Foster collaboration

● Make it accessible

Who are the Hmong?Hmong /hmôNG/ is an ethnic minority scattered throughout Asia. They are a subgroup of

the Miao from China. Those living in the United States are from Southeast Asia, primarily

Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, where they live in isolated mountain villages.

The Secret WarLaos, a small, land-locked country...played a strategically pivotal,

though secret, role for both the North Vietnamese and the

Americans during their 15-year long fight for the control of

Indochina. In Laos, the North Vietnamese built and developed

their critical supply route complex to South Vietnam and later to

Cambodia, known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

In Laos, the Americans, with strong commitments to contain

communism at the borders of “Red China” and to keep the first

domino from falling, and the Hmong, with their dislike of the

Vietnamese and their desire to be free, came together in a

common cause… The Americans lost and retreated across the

ocean; the Hmong remained behind to be savaged by the

conquerors.

Jane Hamilton-Merritt, Tragic Mountains

Hmong in the United StatesThere is an estimated

260,073 Hmong living in the

United States. At 10,864

North Carolina has the fourth

largest population of Hmong,

following behind California,

Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Hmong is the fifth largest

Asian group in the United

States.

Hmong in Catawba CountyAlthough scattered throughout

the US upon arrival, the

Hmong quickly moved and

settled in communities with

one another. Many Hmong

moved to North Carolina for

the topography which is

similar to their homeland, the

furniture and textile industry,

and farming.

The majority of Hmong in North Carolina are concentrated in Catawba and

the surrounding counties.

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/fact-sheet/asian-americans-hmong-in-the-u-s/

Preserving the CultureRecognizing the need to preserve and represent the large presence of the Hmong in their

community, the Catawba County Library and Historical Association of Catawba County,

received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to collect and digitize

artifacts from the Hmong community in Catawba County.

Collection events took place in 2018 and will be preserved online through

North Carolina Digital Heritage.

Collections yielded 16 participants and over 145 artifacts including photos,

documents, physical objects (digitized) and oral histories.

Collection Days

February Collection 1: Newton Library

March Collection 2: St. Stephens Library

April Collection 3: Conover

Library

May Collection 4: True Life

Alliance Church

June Collection 5: Partnership

with Hmong Southeast Puav Pheej

Building Community

Kick-Off!

February during Collection 1

Dance performances by

Challenger High School

International Club and Laim Txias

dance team

Refreshments

News coverage by Hickory Daily

Record

May Day

Celebration

Held at the Conover Library,

this was a showcase of Hmong

traditional performing arts.

Performances included kwv

txhiaj (song poetry), qeej

(bamboo pipes) playing, xim

xaus (hmong violin), nraj

nplaim (reed flute) and dance

performances.

Panel DiscussionHeld in April as a platform for discussing the Hmong’s background, adjustment to American

culture, and the hopes for the Hmong in the future.

Panelists:

Dr. May Khang, Admissions Counsellor and International Student Affairs

Catawba Valley Community College

Mrs. Kay Ying Lo, Bilingual Specialist

Catawba County Schools

Dr. Richy Xiong, Intern Pastor

True Life Alliance Church

Deputy Darren Yang

Catawba County Police Department

Book Discussions

As part of the summer reading challenge, the

Catawba County Library held a community

read of the books, The Song Poet by Kao Kalia

Yang and the poetry anthology, Bamboo

Among the Oaks by Mai Neng Moua.

Participants were able to choose to attend

either of three evenings for discussion.

Each discussion included a guest speaker who

shared their first person experience of the

Vietnam war and refugee life.

Fostering CollaborationCHURCHESTrue Life Alliance Church● First Hmong Alliance Church

SCHOOLSUniversity of NC Greensboro, volunteers● University of NC Charlotte, Hmong Student Association●

Appalachian State University, Hmong Society Club● St.Stephens Elementary● Lyle Creek Elementary●

Challenger Early College High School, International Club● Catawba Valley Community College, Celebration

of Nations

COMMUNITY GROUPSLaim Txias, Hmong dance group● Cheemeng and Cheemoua, Qeej performers● Paj Zeb Lauj, performer●

Niam Ntxoov Zeb, song poet● Geniey Yang Campaign Group● Hmong Southeast Puavpheej● Southeast

Asian Coalition

AREA BUSINESSESSaigon Garden● Pho777 Vietnamese Cuisine● Asian Supermarket● Vinai Asian-International Market● K-

Oriental Market● Delicious Southeast Asian Cuisine

MEDIAHickory Daily Record● Hmong North Carolina- Facebook group

The Hmong presence in Catawba County plays into a greater story. Inspired by

the Hmong heritage project, the Historical Association furthers the celebration of

culture with their exhibit “Unpacking.” Housed in the History Museum of Catawba

County, the exhibit contains artifacts and stories representing and reflecting

Catawbans today. It highlights objects that define everyday life and milestones and

emphasizes the importance of immigration to our economy and community.

Making it Accessible

Participants of the Hmong Keeb Kwm heritage project received flash

drives containing their digitized items. Photos, artifacts, documents, and

oral histories that were collected will be made available on the NC Digital

Heritage Library website.

Sourceshttps://www.observernewsonline.com/content/hmong-presence-increases-county-state-%E2%80%A8

http://www.hmongstudies.org/PfeiferSullivanKYangWYangHSJ13.2.pdf

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/fact-sheet/asian-americans-hmong-in-the-u-s/

Hamilton-Merritt, J. (1999). Tragic mountains: The Hmong, the Americans and the secret wars for Laos, 1942-1992.

Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

Questions?Dr. Amber Clawson, Director- Historical Association of Catawba County

30 N College Ave, Newton, NC 28658 (828) 465-0383 cchadirector@gmail.com

Siobhan Loendorf, Associate Director- Catawba County Library115 W C St, Newton, NC 28658 (828) 465-8664 sloendorf@catawbacountync.gov

Houa Yang, Hmong Keeb Kwm project coordinator- Catawba County Library, Sherrills Ford-Terrell9154 Sherrills Ford Rd, Terrell, NC 28682 (828) 466-6827 hyang@catawbacountync.gov