Karen |
Karen |
Bpwa-ga-nyaw |
Karens see
themselves as a people who love a quiet, simple, independent
life. They don't like to hassle with other groups. Karens are not
ambitious, they are tranquil. For the most part, Karens like to live in
large, isolated communities, not very near other tribes. Currently,
changes are starting to happen in Karen communities as Karens are
becoming more concerned with wealth and development. |
| Hmong |
Kae Maew |
In some places
(Chiang Mai, for example) Karens and Hmongs live close
to each other and will work together, but some Karen communities are
completely unfamiliar with Hmongs. |
| Mien |
Kae Yao |
Karens have had
good relationships with Miens for a long time as they
have had a history of trade together. That relationship continues to
today. |
| Lahu |
Mussur |
Karens have
always thought of Lahus as good people, a feeling that persists today. |
| Lisu |
Kae Lisaw |
In many areas
Karens do not live near Lisus, thus Karens generally do not have a set
opinion of Lisus. |
| Akha |
E-Gaw |
As of Lahus,
Karens have always thought of Akhas as good people. |
| Thai |
Jaw Dtae |
Karens have
always found Thais to be good people and agreeable partners in trade.
That feeling persists today. |
Hmong |
Karen |
Yang |
In the past,
Hmongs viewed Karens as a group without ability, just like
the Akha. They didn't know how to find food for themselves. But today,
that opinion has long since changed. |
| Hmong |
Hmong |
Hmongs think of
themselves as a minority of hard-working, patient,
intelligent people. Hmongs see themselves as second to no-one. |
| Mien |
Ju |
Hmongs have
never had a bias against Miens, because Hmongs and Miens
come from the same ethnolinguistic background in China. Even though the
Hmong and Mien languages are not the same, Hmongs and Miens have lived
together peacefully for generations. |
| Lahu |
Lu-he |
In the past,
Hmongs have had little interaction with Lahus, so they do
not have much of an opinion either way. More recently Hmongs and Lahus
have had greater interaction through trade. |
| Lisu |
Li-xu |
In the past,
Hmongs did not like Lisus much, because the experience of
Hmongs was greater than that of Lisus, but presently that feeling has
started to change as society has changed to force greater interaction
with the outside world. |
| Akha |
Khua |
In the past,
Hmongs viewed Akhas as a group that had no ability in
fending for itself and a group that didn't really know how to do
anything. Thus, Akhas were not equal to Hmongs. Currently, that
perception has changed. |
| Thai |
Mang Glao |
In the past,
Hmongs did not like Thais very much, because they saw that
Thais took advantage of and exploited Hmongs, and that Thais were
"black-hearted". Today that feeling is starting to change. |
Mien |
Karen |
Jan Yang |
In that they
migrated from different directions and Miens don't
generally try to involve themselves with other groups, Miens exposure
Karens has never been much. Some groups never encountered Karens at
all. Today, Miens and Karens are in greater contact and get along well. |
| Hmong |
Jan Bpamieow |
In general,
Miens have no problems with Hmongs, because each tribe
allows the other tribe to live in peace. There are differences though,
one being views over public health and sanitation. |
| Mien |
Mien |
Miens view
themselves as a group that enjoy peacefulness and has an
aptitude at commerce. Miens hate receiving insulting opinions from
other groups. |
| Lahu |
Jan La-he |
In the past,
most Mien groups hardly knew of Lahus, and those Mien
groups that lived near Lahus rarely had any dealings with them. |
| Lisu |
Jan Lisaw |
Similarities
between Miens and Lisus stemming from inherited aspects of
Chinese culture and a propensity to engage in commerce has led to
feelings of competitiveness between the tribes, even though they do not
usually live in the same area. Presently, there is a greater
understanding between the tribes. |
| Akha |
Jan Akha |
Miens see
themselves as different from Akhas in issues of sanitation
and in ceremonies. Miens enjoy peacefulness and quiet, while Akha
ceremonies tend to be boisterous. |
| Thai |
Jan Gaw Law (Bpaw Law) |
Historically,
Miens have cared very little for Thai people, because
they have felt that Thais take advantage of them. Perhaps this was
because Thais did not have enough exposure to access "Mienness".
Language might have also played a role, specifically that Miens used
the word "Jan Tai" to refer to police officers, a word that can also be
used to refer to all Thai people. Presently, Miens have among the most
contact with Thais in an official or government capacity. This has led
to greater understanding and an improved ability for Miens to speak
Thai. |
Lahu |
Karen |
Ya Lae |
Lahus have
always gotten along well with Karens. |
| Hmong |
Keh Mieow |
Historically,
Lahus had very little interaction with Hmongs, so had
very little opinion about them. Presently, however, Lahus have greater
dealings with Hmongs, dealings that have led many Lahus to feel that
Hmongs inter-personal skills are sub-par. |
| Mien |
Keh Yao
|
Though the
feeling is slowly diminishing, Lahus have always thought of Miens as a
group that very much takes advantage of them. |
| Lahu |
Lahu |
Lahus view
themselves as a group of people whose every action is motivated by a
desire for blessing by their god, G'ui Sha. Lahus
believe that G'ui Sha sees everything that they do and watches over
them always. |
| Lisu |
Lisaw |
Because Lahus
and Lisus have a shared history, Lahus feel closer to and more
protective of Lisus than with other tribes. |
| Akha |
Dtaw Gaw |
Akhas are the
group with which Lahus have had the greatest interaction
over the generations. They have migrated down from Yunnan through
Myanmar (Burma) side-by-side with the Akhas and, therefore, view them
as brothers. |
| Thai |
Gaw Ler |
In the past,
Lahus viewed Thais as good people because they were
agreeable trading partners. More recently, however, Lahus have grown
distrustful of Thais and view them as exploitive, especially in issues
of land rights and ownership. |
Lisu |
Karen |
Ya-geu-leu |
Lisus have
always gotten along with Karens because they have never tried to take
advantage of each other. |
| Hmong |
Mia Tseu |
In the past,
Lisus could not get along with Hmongs at all, because they
viewed Hmongs as selfish and always taking advantage, but today that
feeling has faded. |
| Mien |
Ya Jaw |
Much like their
feelings for the Hmong, Lisus have viewed Miens as
smart and tricky. Today, that feeling has faded considerably. [Asa's
oldest sister is married to a Mien.] |
| Lahu |
Lakheu |
Lisus have
always been able to live with Lahus because many aspects of
their style of dress and culture are very similar, especially their New
Year's ceremonies. |
| Lisu |
Lisu |
Lisus feel that
they are just normal people, no more special than anyone else. |
| Akha |
Akha |
Though Lisus and
Akhas have not had as much interaction, Lisus feel
comfortable with Akhas much as they do with Lahus. Indeed, Lisu, Lahu,
and Akha are all related languages. |
| Thai |
Bee-yi |
In the past,
Lisus felt as though Thais were exploitive and often took
advantage. Currently, as Lisus have greater exposure to Thais, that
feeling is beginning to change. |
Akha |
Karen |
Ya-lae |
From past to
present, Akhas have usually lived near Karens and always felt that
Karens are people with good people skills. |
| Hmong |
Chae Mieow |
In the past, the
Akhas (in Burma and Thailand) had no trade and little
interaction with the Hmong (from Laos), so did not know much about
Hmongs. Today, changes in society are causing all groups to have
increased interaction and interdependence. |
| Mien |
Chae Yao |
Akhas never had
a close relationship with Miens because they have
always viewed Miens as smarter and with more trade experience than
themselves. Today, however, as Akha and Mien villages are often forced
together, they have built good relationships. |
| Lahu |
Mawsur |
Akhas view Lahus
as relatives and have had more interaction and trade
with Lahus than any other tribe. As a result, most Akhas can speak Lahu. |
| Lisu |
Lisaw |
Despite being
from the same language family, Akhas have not had the
interaction with Lisus that they have had with Lahus. Today, however,
Akhas have developed close relationships with Lisus. |
| Akha |
Akha |
Akhas view
themselves as a tribe that can interact well with other
tribes. They view themselves as not a danger to anyone, because they
are honest. They feel they are not skilled at sales and trade . Akhas
like a traquil life where they can hear the sounds of the forest and
the mountains. |
| Thai |
Gaw-ler |
A long history
of trade has formed the Akha opinion of Thais as good
people. Akhas admit that Thais are savvy, honest and have an incredible
unity. |
Thai |
Karen |
Garieng |
...but really how many Thais are going to
know ethnic minorities well
enough to be able to call them by the right names? In general, Thais
just call all hilltribes by the name
Maew,
even thougheach group has its own distinct name and culture. But, in
the same way, ethnic minorities lump all Thais under the term Kon Meuang (the name Northen
Thais give to themselves), even though there are many distinct
sub-groups such as the Thai Lue and the Shan. |
| Hmong |
Maew |
| Mien |
Yao |
| Lahu |
Mussur |
| Lisu |
Lisaw |
| Akha |
E-gor |
| Thai |
Thai |
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