Hmong at Heart
Exhibit Crosses Cultural Boundaries

by Beth Erickson

At the age of 7, Moua Lee and her family were forced out of their native homeland of Laos by the Vietnamese when America pulled its soldiers out of the Vietnam War. Her father, as did many, stayed behind to fight the Vietnamese. The rest of her family was forced to walk for days, weeks, months—along the way, passing the bodies of many infants unknowingly given too much opium in the mere hope of lulling them to sleep so the Vietnamese wouldn’t hear them.

In time, they would cross an unforgiving Mekong River, which took the lives of many refugees. Approaching the border of Thailand was also treacherous. Soldiers shot many Hmong because they saw them as the enemy. For those who did make it safely across the border, the Thai government hustled them into refugee camps, giving them daily rations of rice and fish—but with strict orders not to leave the camps. Those who did were at risk of rape, murder, and torture, just for seeking employment and a better life.

Eventually, the United States government, in recognition for the service those from Laos provided in fighting the Vietnamese, allowed the Hmong to come to this country. In 1980, at the age of 15, Lee came to America, and eventually settled in La Crosse. Many Hmong came to Wisconsin because programs were available for Hmong immigrants to aid in their integration, including learning English. It was not an easy journey, though. Lee spoke no English when she arrived, and she began trying to become part of a culture that knew nothing of hers, a culture that had little or no understanding of her language, customs, or history.

Just for a minute, imagine how different your life would be if you were born in Laos and forced through the same journey as Lee. Odds are that if you’re not among that population, you can’t.

A recent survey by the Association of Children’s Museums found that 15 percent of United States parents are not familiar with any aspect of the Asian culture. Of those who are, food was the most familiar at 39 percent, with art, music, and literature trailing at under 10 percent each.

But an effort is underway to change that. The Children’s Museum of La Crosse is hosting an award-winning traveling exhibit, “Hmong at Heart,” from Oct. 6 through the end of December.

An experience for everyone
An experience for people of all ages, Hmong at Heart simulates the daily life of a Hmong community, including hands-on activity centers in three different environments—a Hmong village in Laos, a refugee camp in Thailand, and a Hmong-American home. Activities include weaving bamboo, sewing, playing games, gathering and preparing food, storytelling, making music, and planting a rural garden.

At 1,000 square feet, the exhibit is impressive in size. It will be located on the museum’s second floor, and some smaller exhibits may be placed in storage to accommodate Hmong at Heart. “We’re really lucky it’s here,” says Leanne Poellinger, marketing and development director for the Children’s Museum of La Crosse. “This exhibit brings people together by sharing information and providing hands-on opportunities to put ourselves in situations that help us see what life was like for the Hmong population.”

Who are the Hmong?
An Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, many of the Hmong migrated to Southeast Asia in the late 18th century, and later to Vietnam and Thailand. After the Communist takeover in 1975, many Hmong sought refuge in other countries, including the United States. Today, approximately 4,000 Hmong currently live in the La Crosse area, and that’s why this exhibit is especially important to our community, agree Poellinger and Lee.

“The Hmong have been a fairly significant presence in our community for years,” Poellinger says. “They came to a city that was unused to having much diversity. There were a lot of stereotypes that existed, which was just based on people’s lack of knowledge about the culture.” This exhibit counters those stereotypes and educates people on the Hmong journey, she adds.

Spreading the word
To maximize the exhibit’s impact and educate as many people in our region as possible, the La Crosse Rotary Foundation is offering a local grant to the Children’s Museum of La Crosse so that schools and other youth groups can attend at a discounted rate for field trips during the exhibit’s visit. In addition, the Hmong Culture and Community Center in La Crosse will distribute coupons to Hmong families interested in attending for free on Sat., Nov. 3.

Throughout the duration of the exhibit, local diversity groups will offer programming and activities on several Saturdays a month for the duration of the exhibit. For details, patrons are encouraged to call the museum at 784-2652.

Beth Erickson is a freelance writer and editor who lives in La Crosse with her husband and two children. She looks forward to experiencing the Hmong New Year one day soon with her family.