Hmong Story Cloth

The first Hmong arrived in Washington State in 1976. They came as refugees from war in their homeland. This story cloth tells the journey of the Hmong from the highlands of China to the mountains of Laos to refugee camps in Thailand and ultimately to cities in the United States. Wing Luke Museum Collection 2010.001.001 

What are the different places represented in the story cloth? 

How many different types of transportation can you find in the story cloth? 

What is the artist communicating about the journey through the story cloth? 

June 20 marks World Refugee Day. In 1951, the United Nations Refugee Convention established an international definition for refugees and outlined refugees’ rights, including freedom of religion and movement, the right to work, education and travel, and non-refoulment, the right not to be forcibly returned to their country of origin. The U.S. did not sign on to the Refugee Convention until 1968. 

What will you do to learn more about the experience of refugees in your region and around the world? 

What step, no matter how big or small, will you take in support of the many steps that refugees take in their journeys to find increased safety for themselves and for their families?