Advanced TV direction class" preserves Hmong culture WSC ‘The sor, such as a family or church group. To meet the requirements to live in editorial Bingham with Yaworsky Valerie from by Cathy assistance the United States, they had to make up birth dates because they do not TV Direction Advanced celebrate class has allied itself with the Weber County Coordinating Council for a to preserve Services Refugee culture in danger of extinction. The ; culture is the Hmong (pronounced Hmong The people very little. When they first come against the known of tion. When the Americans pulled out of the United States. The Hmong had to behind when nomadic people from they ejection annister an elders in the form of fables, since they have only had a_ written language for about 30 years. he help honor Neber ve had Coltook ‘lora earth te Hmong society, the and young of the council, which helps older people are highly respected. In America, however, they have lost their respected psoition. The older people aren't as flexible and able to the relate to their new society as young people are. For the Hmong to come to the United States, they must have a spon- McGarry, who was also a member. Since then, Ogilvie, as a representative of the Weber County Library, work there. “I met them and saw their artwork. I admired it so much they asked me to help sell it so they could make some money. I would take their artwork to schools, churches and malls,” said Sister Francesca. December, Last Sister by State Department for Refugee Services for money to do the documen- Francesca and Ogilvie contacted John Peterson, aptary and archive, her request was proved immediately. "They (the State tion class at WSC, to find someone to Department instructor of the Advanced TV Direc- artwork. According.to. ‘I Peterson, t had been looking for a major projec be class and _ this will for my ty is the first to do a program’ like and Sister Francesca, in conjunction Serwith the Catholic Community er vices, have been working togeth . just to American society and culture chive. this," says Sister Francesca. Sister Hmong Like the Francesca has found the to be the most shy of all the ethnic groups she has worked with. According to Sister Francesca, "It's hard for the younger generation of Says Peterson, “I would like the Before Sister Francesca came to entary to be a dual culture docum . leresett ee refug the Utah, she was entary. This means there docum Ohio. , ment director in Youngstown be two tapes, one in English would and She worked with several thous and one in Hmong. The tapes would Vietnamese refugees to find sponsors be kept at the Weber County Library Sister them. help to take them in and to for the Hmong and anybody else nated fasci Francesca said, “I was very use." a with the people and developed. The archive will also consist of special interest in Southeast Asian audio and video, as well as tapes, with d worke refugees.” She has also samples of Hmong handand slides follow social service agencies doing y, iwork. Services) Refugee for were thrilled when they heard about was a the program. They thought it Counmost creative program. Weber take pictures of the Hmong and their something that will give the students a neat experiecne.” With that idea in mind, the project developed from pictures into a documentary and an ar- with the Hmong in helping them ad- and WSC leaders of the Hmong community. the documentary and archive, With see the Hmong children could read, or hear about their culture. Says Peterson, "These tapes will help them know where they came from. Roots are important to everybody.” | When Sister Francesca asked the She three years at St. Ann's Center. met the Hmong through her social to live. Here she met Sister Francesca the History has been passed down by the teenagers at Library, County has been in Utah with refugees for the last working refugees with finding jobs and places language, religion and social mores. In Older member isolated culture. They have their own rove Pashley Sister Francesca We had nothing— nothing." Ogilvie's interest led her to the Weber County Coordinating Council for Refugee Services. She became a Laos, but they are not Laotians. They a in this survive if adults kept coming in and asking ge. we had anything in their langua fled to Thailand. There they stayed in crowded camps—some for up to four years. ‘The Hmong, which means “free people,” lived in the mountains of are to copies will be kept at the Weber. feeling of culture shock." library. I knew there was the popula- Laos, the Hmong became extremely vulnerable. The Communists were intent on retribution and wanted to wipe out the Hmong for supporting everything support to se foreign land. Ogilvie said, “I wanted to see more Southeast Asian refugee kids in the American allies. leave jobs paying low Communists least able become themselves financially. Many are having a hard time adjusting to the economic and social structure of the United States and must subsist on are army in Southeast Asia, yet they the they til ‘n Southeast Asia. The Hmong have been referred to as the CIA's secret probably to America, the Hmong are placed on welfare un- munist soldiers in the mountains and jungles of Laos with American weapons. They fought alongside the Americans speak cannot Hmong Many English. Some can speak English, but Com- hunted in America. Most live in Minnesota and California and a few live in Utah. Mung). The tools for preservation are a documentary and an archive. assistant Ogilvie, Blythe Lanis librarian in the children’s department at the Weber County Library, tells this story of the Hmong: not do Many birthdays. even know how old they are. There are about 50,000 Hmong in Hmongs. They want to be accpeted , America. They know they're Hmong but they want to be one of us. They need to be proud of who they are, but they shouldn't have to give up who they are to be American.” She feels and the primary goal of the archive the gthen stren “to is y entar the docum Hmongs’ identity and enhance their own self concept.” documentar ce en ll ce ex ize gn co re s d ar Aw t es Cr l ta Crys "the up work to help refugees get over ting. tories." The Second Annual Crystal Crest Awards Program, hosted by Spencer Kinard of KSL television and Michele Brown, Miss Utah Teen, was held June 2 at Weber State College. The program honors students as egards 'Y e se- ire beent of tinu- by well as a few faculty and staff The 200-plus people members. originally nominated this year were -Thomas Alumnus Welch of the Year Mary Jo LaTulippe Friend of Students Farley Gerber Wildcat Machelle Dr. Helen Farr Ross Special Award. Personality LaRee Whitney Special Award of the Year narrowed to 50 finalists, from which 12 winners were selected. Entertainment for the evening featured trumpeter Al Hirt and included such WSC groups as Tangent Factor, Orchesis, the WSC Chior and Singers and the Chatonelles. Farley Gerber Talent of the Year Joan Wilcox Dr. Daniel C. Scholar of the Year Litchford Master Teacher John Wilcox Ginny Wright Woman of the Year Man of the Year Organization of the Year une1984° Weber State College COMMENT * J page’3