In Southeast Asia, identifying people groups is very complicated. The Hmong Njua are not the same ethnic group, nor do they speak the same language as the identically named Hmong in Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. In their language, the same word is used for both green and blue. For this reason, the Green Hmong have been listed as Blue Hmong in many publications. In an attempt to simplify the situation some scholars have listed them by their autonym, Hmong Njua. Chinese sources use the names Qing Miao or Lu Miao to describe this group.
As a result of the numerous wars waged against the Hmong during the Qing Dynasty, most of the survivors "dispersed in several directions." The Hmong in Vietnam and Laos migrated from China at the end of the 1700s and the beginning of the 1800s. "Due to geographical separation ... the two Hmong Njua groups [China and Vietnam] have no extensive sociocultural contact and do not consider each other to belong to the same group." Ironically, these different Hmong groups who have migrated to Australia will be coming together for festivals and cultural events in a foreign land.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, various Hmong groups, including the Njua, had to flee Southeast Asia. They were perceived as being against the emerging communist governments, especially in Laos and Vietnam. Some lived in refugee camps in Thailand, but there have been times when the Thai government has tried to send Hmong people back to Laos, where they would be persecuted by the communist government. Though most Njua Hmongs left Southeast Asia 40 years ago, there are still small waves of them fleeing to safe countries like Australia.
Most of the Njua Hmong people are in Southeast Asia, but a number have migrated to Australia, New Zealand, the US, or even French Guyana in South America.
Initially, the Njua Hmong had to make some major adjustments. They were rice farmers in a developing country, and they had to adjust to working in modern Australia.
The primary religion practiced by the Hmong Njua is ethnic religion. Ethnic religion is deeply rooted in a people's ethnic identity and conversion essentially equates to cultural assimilation or even betrayal. There is a lot of shamanism mixed in with their beliefs.
Though the Njua Hmongs who arrived 40 years ago have adapted to their new lives, those who have arrived more recently desperately need job skills.
Pray that the stronghold of shamanism and traditional religion will be broken in the name of Jesus Christ.
Pray for Njua Hmong people to be able to find jobs in Australia where they can contribute to their host country and flourish economically.
Pray for other Hmong groups in Australia to disciple those who are spiritually hungry in the ways of Jesus.
Pray for a Disciple-Making movement among the Njua Hmong people to flourish in Australia.
Scripture Prayers for the Hmong Njua in Australia.
https://joshuaproject.net/index.php/people_groups/18495/LA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm39IiOwf5U
http://press.anu.edu.au/publications/hmong-australia
http://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-offers-new-home-for-expelled-hmong-20091229-lis7.html
| Profile Source: Keith Carey |
