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| 3/16/2006 | Email this article • Print this article | Center for Hmong Studies at Concordia First of Its Kind
Amy Doeun
For the past year Lee Pao Xiong has been working closely with Concordia University to set up the Center for Hmong Studies. This Center will have 3 main duties—1. Research and publication of academic works dealing with issues related to the Hmong Community. 2. Curriculum and teaching, including a minor in Hmong Studies which will be launched in the Fall of 2006. 3. Conference and Convening which begins with an international conference focusing on lectures by Hmong scholars to be held in March of this year.
Robert Holst, president of Concordia University, told HMONG TIMES that the idea for the Center really began about 5 years ago, “We had the idea but we were all non-Hmong … we didn’t know how to do it. The Hmong had to lead.” When asked what inspired the idea of the Center Holst said, “To me, the Hmong are such a dynamic part in the community … their past isn’t being studied.” President Holst went on to describe his role at the center in this way, “I support it as much as I can, but that may be getting out of the way.” While the Center is closely related to the University, Holst wants “the center to be able to move quickly.” This often means not having to deal with committees and other aspects of University planning.
The Center is housed in the former University’s President House. Holst commented on the space, “It’s a professional place but also a community place. Maybe I feel that way because I lived there for 13 years.”
This fall the Center will be launching a minor in Hmong Studies. A Hmong language course has already been added to Concordia’s list of courses. Xiong said that they were planning on adding the class in the fall but students said, “No, we want to learn now.” Currently 17 students, all Hmong native speakers, are enrolled.
The Minor will consist of 24 credits with courses including; Introduction to Hmong Studies; Introduction to Hmong History; Hmong Literature and Art; Hmong Culture and Society; Reading and Writing Hmong; and Hmong Cosmology and Beliefs. A Study tour would also be required to China, Vietnam, Laos or Thailand. The Center is very excited to announce that Dr. Gary Yia Lee, “a leading Hmong scholar based in Australia” will be the scholar in residence this fall, adding his own contributions to the program.
Robert Holst spoke with pride, “There is nothing like it [the Center for Hmong Studies] in the world and we are extraordinarily fortunate to have it here and to have Lee Pao here.” Holst went on to say that he hopes to add a major and that this Center will be a “stabilizing force for the pride and well-being of the Hmong Community.”
For more information on the Center for Hmong Studies go to www.csp.edu/hmongcenter or call 651) 641-8870.
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St. Paul, MN
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