Physical space + creative space.
H-Rina
posted but I have not done that yet. So, please pardon any redundancy,
or if my response seems out of touch with what was written before -- I
will get to it, and soon!
My vision for a Montagnard Educational Center is one where the past
and the present live side-by-side. That it is a place that not only
harbors artifacts from the past but also provides a creative shelter
for the Montagnard diaspora to cultivate its changing, American
identity.
For those who don't know me, I am a first-generation Montagnard with
an American father, having been raised in New England, where a
thriving Montagnard community never existed. So, I have been raised
very "American," identifying politically and socially with other
minority groups (Latino, Black, Chinese), supported by a white,
American family whom instilled in my a progressive, activist spirit.
At college in Oregon, I founded a chapter of the Asian American
Pacific Islander Student Union -- what I would consider a "blossoming"
of my Asian - Vietnamese - Montagnard identity. This search for
identity continued, leading me to teach English in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh
City) for 6 months in 2003 and visit the Central Highlands for a short
period -- I published an essay based on that trip. And eventually back
to the east coast where I got a liberal arts education focused on
creative writing, and very recently, a master's degree in journalism.
I'm excited about a space like the MEC being a creative haven for the
entire Montagnard community -- and especially the youth, who are
having to live dual identities as typical Americans and Montagnards,
much like I have. I envision a space that's open and constructive,
that engages Montagnard youth in creative writing, poetry, dance and
music.
Having worked with and taught minority, immigrant teenagers, I see
much value in ensuring that Montagnard youth have a constructive
outlet for dealing with their dual identities. I believe that they
need a space that nurtures their creativity while at the same time
positively affirms their unique experiences, historic legacy and
present lives. Giving them the tools to examine where they stand in a
cultural and historic context, and to express is creatively for
themselves and for generations to come, is key to preserving and
strengthening the Montagnard diaspora and identity as it evolves.
The unexamined life is not worth living.
- Socrates
Thanks for reading this and I look forward to any and all feedback!
Lap Siu
Thanks Kay, Andrew, and H'Rina in sharing your visions for a possible
physical MEC in the future. My apologies for not responding your posts
much sooner. If you would like to know somethig about me, clikc here:
https://sites.google.com/site/lapminhsiu/about-me
I think it's a very good idea to have a physical center. There are
different things that we could do for such a center.
(1)Montagnard artifacts: baskets, traditional animal traps, clothings,
musical instruments, traditional farming tools, rice wine jars, etc.
(2)Documents and videos: Montagnard family movies, documentaries
(films)about the Montagnards/Americans working together, newspapers
about the Montagnards in Vietnam or war, newspapers about the
Montagnards in the U.S or around the world, photographies, language
materials in Montagnard languages, literature about the Montagnard
people such as legends, stories about villages, stories about family
life, diaries,books about the Montagnards, etc.
(3) Music: tapes, CDs, videos that have the Montagnard music.
(4) Activities and cultural events: I think H'Rina included them
already. Montagnard musician can display their talents, women who know
how to weave clothes can display theirs, children can be brought in to
listen and learn, etc.
(5) Media: Montagnard newspaper in Montagnard languages and English
(online and physical), flyers, posters, hosting social events, etc.
(6) Documentation: Montagnard scholars can document Montagnard
languages such as making dictionaries in diferent languages, write
down legends, write books, articles, filming community events,
photographing different events, etc.
(7) Artifacts from different Montagnard tribal groups have to have
descriptions written in their languages with English translation.
Without stories and descriptions on these artifacts, things don't have
much meaning. This idea applies to other documents as well.
(8)Of course, we will need computer or software experts (like Andrew)
to deal with the computer programs. Maybe have Montagnard games on
computer, DVDs, Films. By the way Andrew is an artist, game designer,
etc. So, he can expand this description better.
(8)Classes: Teach children the Montagnard culture, teach Montagnard
adults about American ways, bring Montagnard people to tell legends,
share experiences as refugees (this includes health, cultural shock,
jobs,ect, and much more.
Sorry about my rusty English:) Well I have a lot of ideas, so I can't
include them all here. So I better stop right here. Hope to see your
feedbacks. Best wishes to all. Lap