Hmong Youth Learn Native American Culture: Similarities, Ojibwe, Hmong

Hmong Youth Learn Native American Culture

One teen noticed similarities between the Ojibwe and Hmong cultures.

Multiculturallife.Org | Hmong teens explore Ojibwe culture at Mille Lacs Indian Museum, discovering shared traditions and survival skills through Hennepin County Library’s International Teen Club field trip.

Exploring Cultural Connections: Hmong Teens Learn Ojibwe Traditions at Mille Lacs Indian Museum

On March 26, 2011, Hmong teens from the Hennepin County Library’s International Teen Club visited the Mille Lacs Indian Museum in Onamia, Minnesota. Led by Hmong Outreach liaison Chaleng Lee, the field trip offered young participants from Brookdale and North Regional branches a unique opportunity to learn about the rich heritage of the Ojibwe people and to explore surprising cultural parallels between Hmong and Native American traditions.

The day’s activities provided hands-on learning experiences that brought the teens closer to the Ojibwe way of life. From witnessing how the Ojibwe built and dismantled their homes to learning about their hunting and food-gathering techniques, participants gained an in-depth look into the daily lives of Ojibwe ancestors. The field trip also included a taste of traditional Ojibwe food, which gave the Hmong teens a more immersive experience of Native culture.

One of the teens remarked on the striking similarities between Ojibwe and Hmong traditions. Both cultures share a deep respect for nature and rely on their environment for sustenance across all four seasons. The trip shed light on the shared values and practices that bridge these communities, including building sustainable homes, cultivating food, and the strong role of family and community in daily life.

The Hennepin County Library’s International Teen Club has organized previous events to expose teens to Minnesota’s 19th-century life, with visits to historical sites like Murphy’s Landing in Shakopee and Fort Snelling in St. Paul. These activities foster a deeper understanding of the state’s diverse cultural history, connecting youth with their heritage and other cultural narratives that make up Minnesota’s unique identity.

Funded by the Library Foundation of Hennepin County, the Comcast Foundation, and Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, the International Teen Club encourages Hmong youth and other teens to learn about various cultural histories and the stories that unite them. For more details, visit www.hclib.org.

Exploring cultural similarities offers teens a chance to honor the rich legacies of both their heritage and that of others, fostering a spirit of inclusivity, curiosity, and respect. Through trips like this, youth learn the importance of heritage preservation and gain a better understanding of what connects them to those who walked before them.