Hmong Njua in Suriname

People Name:	Hmong Njua
Country:	Suriname
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	2,400
World Population:	782,900
Primary Language:	Hmong Njua
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	10.00 %
Evangelicals:	1.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Miao / Hmong
Affinity Bloc:	Southeast Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Identity

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. Hmong Njua women's clothing in China is very similar to the clothing of the Hmong Leng group. In Vietnam, however, the Hmong Njua clothing style is very different. "All the clothing is made from heavily indigo-dyed hemp cloth with no embroidery. Both women and men wear knee-length trousers and a long jacket ... because of cold weather in Sa Pa."

History

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."

Customs

There are several ways for young Hmong Njua to show their admiration for each other. In some areas, lovers give each other fruit tree saplings which they plant together. For years to come they go into the woods together and tend to their growing trees. Some crops harvested in southern Yunnan include sugarcane, tea, hemp, cotton, and maize.

Religion

Most Hmong Njua are animists. They are susceptible to being deceived by strong influential figures. One of their legends tells of a Hmong savior who will come and lead them into their own land where they will be left alone in peace. In recent years thousands of Hmong in Vietnam have followed a miracle-working leader who claims to be the Hmong savior.

Christianity

Although there are large Christian communities among the Hmong Njua in Vietnam, their counterparts in China are an unreached people group. More than half have yet to receive a clear presentation of the gospel. The Jesus film is available in "Blue Miao" - the only translation completed in any Miao/Hmong language. Most Hmong Njua in China are able to understand it, depending on the amount of contact they have had with their Hmong Daw neighbors. Many Hmong Njua can also understand the Hmong Daw gospel radio programs.