Modern Immigration Activity #1:

The Hmong Migration

Developed by the Outagamie County Historical Society with funding from Cooperative Education Service Agency 6, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and the U.S. Department of Education. © 2006 OCHS.

Goal:  Students will become familiar with a recent story of Hmong immigration and will see the story of Hmong migration to Wisconsin represented in a variety of formats.

Objectives:

1)  Students will analyze a 2004 Gannett Press document called “The Hmong Migration”.

2)  Students will be able to locate Thailand and Laos on a map and describe their connections to the Hmong story.

3)  Students will be able to recognize Wat Tham Krabok as a Thai refugee camp for Hmong people and will be able to describe what was about to happen there in August 2004.

4)  Students will synthesize the info in the document with their own knowledge to describe why the Hmong would not want to return to Laos.

5)  Students will employ observational skills in answering questions 4, 5, and 6.

Study the document titled “The Hmong Migration”.  This is part of a supplement on Hmong migration that was prepared by Gannet Newspapers and published in the Post-Crescent in August of 2004.  The supplement highlighted the story of Hmong migration to America just as the state of Wisconsin expected over 2000 new Hmong immigrants from the Wat Tham Krabok refugee camp in Thailand.

1)  Locate Thailand and Laos on the map.  Read the timeline.  Why are these two countries important in Hmong history?

2)  What is Wat Tham Krabok?  At the time of the printing of this story, what is about to happen there?

3)  Based upon your knowledge of Hmong history, why wouldn’t the Hmong at Wat Tham Krabok want to return to Laos?

4)  In March, 2003, how many Hmong people were estimated to have lived in Wisconsin?

5)  What percentage of that estimated population lived in Outagamie County?

6)  According to the local resettlement map, how many more Hmong refugees was Wisconsin expecting?  How many were expected in Outagamie County alone?

7)  What suggestions does the newspaper give for welcoming the refugees?  Can you think of any other ways you might welcome new immigrants?  With your class, brainstorm some other suggestions and choose a couple to implement.  Agencies like the Hmong American Partnership, the Hispanic Culture Coalition, or Catholic Relief Services might be able to put you in contact with recent immigrants your class can befriend.

Hmong American Partnership
2198 South Memorial Drive
Appleton, WI
(920) 739-3192

Hispanic Culture Coalition
Contact Hector Leon at (920) 731-7950

Catholic Relief Services
Green Bay Diocesan Director
Ms. Cindi Brawner
P.O. Box 23825
Gren Bay, WI  54305-3825
(920) 437-7531
cbrawner@gbdioc.org

This activity uses the primary source document:

Newspaper page "The Hmong Migration," Appleton Post Crescent, August 29, 2004.

Click here for a printable worksheet for this activity (PDF file)
Click here for a printable worksheet for this activity (PDF file)