Preserving Hmong Culture Through Language: Mai Neng Moua
“Although the Hmong have not had a tradition of written language, we are building one. We are the creators of our own history from this point on.”
- Bamboo Among the Oaks, Introduction
Caption: Example of a Paj Ntaub.
Mai Neng Moua is a hero for many reasons. Not only was she the first recipient of a kidney transplant within the Hmong community – breaking ground for the community's potential distrust of US Western medicine – but she is also one of the founders and editors of some of the most notable Hmong literary works of the Hmong to date.
Originally from Laos , Mai Neng Moua is one of the co-founders of Paj Ntaub Voice Hmong literary arts journal, a periodical “containing contemporary literary work, visual artwork, cultural criticism, and essays.” Paj Ntaub , meaning “flower cloth” are Hmong textiles that artistically depict nature and other scenes in beautiful form.
Moua's work creating this journal is monumental for many reasons. Firstly – to capture the stories and thoughts of Hmongs in America and the issues that they face today. Secondly - Hmong didn't have a 
written language until 50 years ago, so creating this helped the Hmong create their first body of literary work in over 4,000 years – an extremely notable achievement.
From Moua's work on the Paj Ntaub Voice grew the anthology entitled “ Bamboo Among the Oaks ”, a volume of Hmong writers published in 2002 that is the longest standing compilation of its kind.
Currently residing in Minnesota , Mai Neng Moua has completed an M.A. from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota . She has worked for various non-profit organizations and has also taught creative writing to Hmong youth at the Jane Addams School for Democracy.
She is this month's Unsung Hero for the incredible work she has done in sharing Hmong culture through expression, through language and literature.
Resources:
For more information about the Hmong community, culture, and history, visit the Hmong Studies Internet Resource Center at: http://www.hmongstudies.org/
Here is the citation for: Bamboo Among the Oaks: Contemporary Writing by Hmong-Americans . Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2002.
Sources:
Asian Week http://www.asianweek.com/2002_11_01/arts_hmong.html
University of Minnesota , Voices from the Gaps: http://voices.cla.umn.edu/artistpages/moua_mai_neng.php#biblio
Acknowledgements: Bryan Thao Warra
