Presentation created by Irene Miller, Jim Steinke, and Kathy Sanders for the Monona Grove School District - Fall, A special thank you to the Madison Children’s Museum staff for their assistance..

Who are the Hmong?

Who are the Hmong? The Hmong have moved from place to place for thousands of years. About 5,000 years ago, they came to live in northeastern China. In the late 1800s, many Hmong moved to southeast Asia, farming in the highlands of Burma, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The War in Vietnam In the 1960s, the United States became involved in a war in Vietnam. The Hmong helped the United States during that war.

Refugee Camps Following the Vietnam War, the Hmong escaped Vietnam and Laos to live in refugee camps in Thailand.

Coming to America Starting in 1976, thousands of Hmong began to emigrate to the United States, France, Canada, Australia, and other countries. Over 300,000 Hmong live in the United States today. California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have the largest Hmong populations. Wisconsin is now home to more than 50,000 Hmong.

Living in America Most Hmong today speak more than one language. Children learn the English language and American customs in their schools and communities. The majority no longer make a living by farming.

In May of 2004, students from Cottage Grove visited the “Hmong at Heart” exhibit at the Madison Children’s Museum. The exhibit taught many interesting things about the Hmong!

Hmong Homes don’t look like ours! Because the climate is very different from here, Hmong homes in Laos and Thailand

Hmong people living in the United States live in houses like ours.

Clothing Hmong people wear beautiful, colorful clothing for special occasions and ceremonies.

Hmong people living in the United States dress just like us most of the time!

Farming Hmong people were farmers in their homelands in Asia.

Buildings like this were used to store grain.

Many Hmong continue to farm and have vegetable gardens in the United States.

The Story Cloth Hmong people use a needlework story cloth to tell stories about their lives and history.

Can you imagine what it would be like... Moving to America?

Where instead of rain and green plants...

there is snow and ice!

Where instead of open air markets...

there are huge stores!

Where the schools are so different... Photos of a Hmong school in Laos.

from here. Taylor Prairie School Cottage Grove, USA

And where people speak a different language...

The Hmong are among us...

adding their strong family values...

and making all of our lives richer!