For Hmong refugees arriving in the United States forty years ago, life was confusing, stressful and complex. As political refugees from Laos, many Hmong established communities in California. The Hmongstory 40 project was created to trace the immigration experience of the Hmong in California, through artifacts, photos, tapestries, clothing, artwork, newspaper clippings and other memorabilia. Hmong throughout California are encouraged to contribute their personal stories and loan artifacts to be displayed in this unique traveling exhibit.
Hmongstory 40 will present Hmong customs, culture and life stories in a way that people can understand and relate to. The exhibit will go on full display first in Fresno during the Hmong New Year in December of 2015, and then it will travel to Sacramento and Merced, California, in 2016.
The story of the Hmong in California
told through the eyes of those who lived it.
Through the Hmongstory 40 exhibit, visitors will gain an understanding of how it felt to arrive in America, experience the hardships, challenges and triumphs of adapting to a foreign culture and eventually become settled in a new country. Many Hmong refugees arrived in California, found work, assimilated into American culture, raised families and became contributors to society. However, they kept their history and heritage alive through family stories, a deep commitment to the Hmong communities, and the celebration of their culture in their adopted country.
Today there are about 62,000 Hmong living in California’s Central Valley, mainly in the Sacramento and Fresno areas. They are professionals, community leaders, teachers … but none has forgotten the stories of their families’ past. Those stories will be brought to life for others to experience through the Hmongstory 40 project.
So far, exhibits in the Hmongstory 40 project include Life in Laos; Laos and the Secret War; Thailand Refugee Camps; California; Storytellers; Fine Arts; Refugee Mural and Fashion. For those wishing to contribute photos, stories or other memorabilia, they can visit the Hmongstory 40 website and follow instructions for submissions.
Serving the language needs of the Hmong community
At Avantpage, we frequently get requests to translate materials into Hmong, and we have access to a number of translators fluent in Hmong and English who can swiftly and accurately address these needs. Contact us today to learn more about our translation services.
