The voices of Mong elders: Living, knowing, teaching, and learning within an oral tradition
Author(s):
Thao, Yer Jeff
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
Ph.D.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : The Claremont Graduate University, 2002.
Pages:
261
Language:
English
Abstract:
This study explored the lives of thirteen Mong elders who once lived in an oral society and now dwell in a literate-oriented culture. It is the first and only study of its kind in American Higher Education by an insider in Mong culture. The study focused on the ways that the elders use to preserve their traditional values, culture and language as well as on the challenges they encounter in the institutions of a literate society such as the United States. This study also explored the key issues of survival of the Mong kinship organization, clan systems, spiritual welfare, and values. Narrative was used as a method of inquiry and involved dialogues with six female and seven male elders who live in several Mong community in California. The elders were all born before 1930 and have no training in conventional literacy. Over a period of several months, the researcher met with each elder two or more times to have lengthy conversations about the elder's life experience. The elders shared their experiences through story telling. The study was conducted in a non-structured way where all questions except the first were generated from the dialogues between the researcher and the elders. The elders were told they had all the time that they required to impart their knowledge to the researcher. The conversations were conducted in the language of the Mong elders. The conversations were recorded, transcribed, and translated into English by the researcher. Key themes that arose during the conversations were coded as data to reflect the Mong elders' views, experiences, values, beliefs, and customs. The conversations provided ample opportunity for verification, revision, clarification, and elaboration of emerging themes. The retranslations back from English to Mong were reviewed by the elders for any necessary changes and modifications. Interpretation of the conversational data and story telling context resulted in the identification of several themes about songs, religion, weddings, funerals, social lifestyle, kinship, and clan structures, as well as about obstacles the elders encountered in U.S. institutions. Collaboration through dialogue was an important way to help the researcher revisit his world of origin, namely Mong knowledge and oral tradition. The study also triggered in the researcher memories of the predicaments he had encountered in his youth when he first immersed himself in a written society. The researcher found that knowing oral traditional values gives a sense of cultural balance and identity to the Mong within their society. The researcher concluded that without the presence of elders to pass on their sacred knowledge and wisdom to the younger Mong generation, the Mong no longer can perform traditional rituals, know their culture, have an identity, and maintain strong kinship ties. The researcher also found that elders used to play a very important role in Mong society, a role that kept Mong connected with their ancestors' spirits, allowed them to live with spiritual protection, and keep their balance with nature. Hence, the elders are a truly remarkable resource to the Mong people, a library of Mong culture, language, religion, and customs.