Please join us!
Third International Conference on Hmong Studies"Hmong Global Identities in the 21st Century."
The 3rd International Conference on Hmong Studies
April 9th- 11th, 2010
Concordia University, St. Paul
St. Paul, Minnesota 55104
USA
The Center for Hmong Studies at Concordia University-St. Paul is pleased to announce its Third International Conference on Hmong Studies.
It is estimated that over two million Hmong and eight million Miao exist worldwide. Hmong Studies scholars invest much time and energy in debating whether Hmong and Miao are the same. Often, more questions emerge than answers. When a person says he or she is Hmong, what does that mean? Does sharing a common history and culture mean one is a Hmong person? What essential characteristics constituted Hmong identity fifty years ago? How do they differ from current interpretations of who can be considered Hmong? This growing complexity in the development of Hmong global identities will be the theme for the Third International Conference on Hmong Studies.
The purpose
of this conference is to provide opportunities for emerging and established
scholars to share their research on Hmong related topics, to inspire and
motivate students to engage in scholarly research, and to recognize
distinguished scholars for their work in the field of Hmong Studies.
Please tune in to the Haiv Hmong Radio Program.
Forty-one years ago, on March 11, 1968, the North Vietnamese Army
(NVA) overran Lima Site 85 at Pha Thi mountain. On top of Pha Thi
mountain sits a top secret US Air Force radar system that provided the
United States with the ability to direct F-105 fighter bombers against
important targets in and around the North Vietnamese capital of
Hanoi. Sixteen Americans were stationed at Pha Thi along with the
Hmong the night that the Vietnamese scaled the cliff and attacked the
site. Many Americans as well as Hmong were killed.
On Haiv Hmong Radio tonight, we will broadcast a speech by noted
author Dr. Timothy N. Castle, who wrote several books on the war in
Laos (One Day Too Long and At War in the Shadow of Vietnam) where he
will talk about the fall of Phu Pha Thi. He gave this keynote address
at the Vietnam Center Conference this past weekend. You may tune in
by logging onto www.kfai.org from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. If you live
in the Twin Cities, you can tune in on 90.3 FM in Minneapolis and
106.7 FM in St. Paul.
Here's more info about Dr. Castle:
Tim Castle joined the CIA's Center for the Study of Intelligence (CSI)
in August 2006 following a tour with the Office of the Director of
National Intelligence (ODNI) where he established and directed the
Intelligence Community Lessons Learned Center. Before his service with
the ODNI, Dr. Castle was Professor of National Security Affairs and
Director, Security, Strategy, and Forces, at the U.S. Naval War
College. Prior government responsibilities include Deputy Chairman,
Department of Warfighting, U.S. Air War College, and Chief, Southeast
Asia Archival research, POW-MIA, in the office of the Secretary of
Defense. His areas of specialization are Modern Southeast Asia, U.S.
Foreign Policy, and Special Operations.
Dr. Castle is a career intelligence officer with wide-ranging Asia
experience, including two wartime tours in Southeast Asia. While
serving as an enlisted man at Nakhon Phanom Air Base he participated
in 38 combat support missions with the 21st Special Operations
Squadron and received the Airman's Medal for heroism in the rescue of
a crashed and injured pilot.
Dr. Castle currently directs CIA efforts to develop lessons learned on
counterterrorism and military programs and has been a frequent
traveler to the warzone.
He is the author of One Day Too Long: Top Secret Site 85 and the
Bombing of North Vietnam, Columbia University Press, 1999, selected by
the Chief of Staff of the Air Force for inclusion on the 2009 USAF
professional reading list, and At War in the Shadow of Vietnam: United
States Military Assistance to Royal Lao Government, 1955-1975,
Columbia University Press, 1993.
Explore China - The land of our ancestors
Join us in our trip to China! The trip will take place from December 29, 2008 - January 14, 2009. We will visit many historically significant sites in China as well as Hmong villages. The cost of the trip for the trip is $3,700 and includes all transportation expenses to, from and within China, hotel, activities mentioned within the trip itinerary and some meals. Space is limited, so please sign up as soon as possible. To sign up or learn more about the trip, click on the following links:
Hmong Filmmaker, Actor and Song Writer to perform
The Center for Hmong Studies at Concordia University and Neighborhood House in St. Paul will host a film screening and performances by Hmong filmmaker, actor and song writer, Kao Moua, who goes by the screen name of Dr. Tom.
Kao Moua of California will be in the Twin Cities to promote his films, albums and children books, which his production company, Ja Iab, produces.
The event will begin with a reception and song performances by his talented wife, who is also in many of his movies, Vixian Moua. After the film screening, audience members will have an opportunity to interact with Kao and Vixian Moua.
What? A Film screening and performances by Kao and Vixian Moua
When? Wednesday, July 2, 2008
5 pm ? 8 pm
Where? The Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building
(Neighborhood House)
179 East Robie Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55107
Cost? Free and open to the public. A light dinner will be provided.
For more information, please contact Lee Pao Xiong at 651-641-8870. .
Funding for this program is provided by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Minnesota.
The Hmong of French Guiana: A presentation by Dr. Yang Dao
When: March 17, 2008
Where: Buenger Education Center, Concordia University
275 North Syndicate Street
St. Paul, MN 55104
Time: 6 pm - 8 pm
Soon after 1975, a resettlement program was established to bring Hmong to this South America country, a colony and territoriate of France. To date, close to 2,000 Hmong makes Grench Guiana their home. In 2007, at the request of the Hmong in French Guiana, Dr. Yang Dao joined them in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Hmong being in that country. Through his presentation, you will gain a better understanding about how the Hmong arrived in French Guiana and what they are doing to become economically self-sufficient.
Second International Conference on Hmong Studies
When: April 11 - 13th, 2008
Where: Concordia University, St. Paul
Time: 12 pm - 8 pm, Friday
8 am - 6 pm, Saturday
To find our more information about the conference, please log onto our conference website at
http://www.csp.edu/hmongcenter/Conference_Web_Page.html
With the exception of the International Conference on Hmong Studies, all lectures are free and open to the public! Call Lee Pao Xiong at 651-641-8870 or Tzy Lee Ya at 651-603-6337 for more information.
The Center for Hmong Studies is proud to be able to offer the following two lectures by Dr. Gary Yia Lee.
The first lecture will be on the origin of the Hmong. This is a subject that Dr. Lee spent researching during his residency at the Center for Hmong Studies.
What? The Orginin of the Hmong - a lecture by Dr. Gary Yia Lee
Where? Buenger Education Center, Concordia University, St. Paul
When? Thursday, November 15, 2007
6 pm - 8 pm
The Second lecture by Dr. Lee will provide an opportunity for Dr. Lee to share and reflect on his time, experiences and observation on the Hmong people during his stay as a Scholar-in-Residence at the Center for Hmong Studies.
What? A lecture by Dr. Gary Yia Lee, reflecting on his experiences and observation of the Hmong in America
Where? Buenger Education Center, Concordia University, St. Paul
When? Thursday, December 6, 2007
6 pm - 8 pm
Secret Wars - a Film Premier by Optimum Film
While American GI's were fighting a devastating war in Vietnam, the CIA was recruting the Hmong in Laos to wage a secret guerilla war against the communists. Through archival footage and contemporary interviews, director Rob G explores the history of a war most Americans know very little about. As the United States once again finds itself embroiled in a deadly conflict, Secret Wars becomes all the more relevant as it reveals the devastation wrought on the Hmong in the aftermath of allying themselves with America in the country's fight to ensure freedome and democracy in foreign lands.
This film will premier on June 15, 2007, with the first showing at 5 p.m and the second showing at 8 p.m. Prior to the film showing, we'll have a discussion with the director as well as special guests relating to the film.
What? Secret Wars - a film showing about the Hmong and the Secret War in Laos
Where? Buetow Music Auditorium, Concordia University, St. Paul (http://www.csp.edu/AboutUs/Campus_Maps.html)
When? Friday, June 15, 2007
5 p.m and 8 p.m.
For information, please contact the Center for Hmong Studies at 651-641-8870.
A Million Miles Away to the Place Where We Were Born - A free film screening by Kao Kalia Yang
Join us as we feature a film by Kao Kalia Yang. This film will feature images of the various aspect of refugee life in Ban Vinai as seen through the eyes of a six year old Hmong against the back drop of reading from Kao Kalia's latest book, The Latehomecomer. What? A film showing
Where? EM Pearson Theater, Concordia University, St. Paul (http://www.csp.edu/AboutUs/Campus_Maps.html)
When? Sunday, July 1, 2007
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
For more information, please contact the Center for Hmong Studies at 651-641-8870.
International Conference on Hmong Studies
We want to thank everyone for making the First International Conference on Hmong Studies a success. We want to especially thank our financial sponsors. They are listed in our conference program booklet, which is below. Over 300 people came from throughout the world to participate. Please continue to check our website for new announcements regarding the Second International Conference on Hmong Studies, which will take place in 2008 and current activities. Be sure to check our "News About Us" link and read about us in the local news media.
View the Conference Evaluation in its raw form
View the Conference Program Booklet
If you have question, please contact Lee Pao Xiong at xiong@csp.edu or Tzianeng Vang at tvang@csp.edu. Again, thank you for your support!
