FLC Works With These Ethnic Peoples

. Rawang

Rawang - A little known but significant tribe located in the northernmost tip of Myanmar. Rawangs are estimated to have migrated migrated down from Tibet around tenth century A.D. and are Tibeto-Burman origin. Distinct from Jinghpaw (colloquially referred to as "Kachins"), Rawangs believe themselves to be of proto-Burman stock as evidenced by the sacred worship sites located in and around Putao. Rawangs are characterized by their colorful woven dress, traditional sword and strong acceptance of Christianity with over 80% of the population claiming to be Christian.

Rawangs' love of peace and unity has helped to keep their northern homeland a place of tranquility and relative prosperity in stark contrast to several other regions of Myanmar. Several prominent figures including the Princess and the former Prime Minister of Thailand ventured to Putao to admire the stunning snow capped mountains and tranquil atmosphere.

Shan - Shans dwell in permanent settlements along river valleys and in pockets of level land amid the hill country of northeast Myanmar, northwest Thailand and southern China. Nearly all Burmese Shans are Theravada Buddhists, who, until recently, lived within a distinctive structure of feudal states ruled by hereditary princes. The men usually wear turbans and are often heavily tattooed. There are still very few Christians among the Shans.

Kachin - A name formerly applied to different hill peoples of northeast Myanmar, Kachin refers only to the groups speaking Jinghpaw and closely related languages of the Sino-Tibetan family. The women ornament themselves with mantles of silver tassels and disks. Kachins live principally by shifting cultivation of dry rice and trade with the valley-dwelling Shans. Roughly 30-40 percent are Christian.

Lahu - Generally, Lahu live at elevations of 4,000 feet or more. Large silver medallions adorn the women of the Lahu, mountain people of northern Thailand and the Myanmar-Laos-China border area. Though guns are used, men still hunt with cross-bows and poisoned arrows. Between harvest of rice and maize, they plant the fields with opium poppies - a principal cash crop. Roughly 20 percent of Lahu from Myanmar and Thailand are Christian.

Lisu - Exceptionally large turbans and silver bangles distinguish Lisu women from other mountain groups. The Lisu live in remote villages, at high altitudes. Though largely concentrated in China's Yunnan Province, many dwell in northeast Myanmar and northern Thailand. Lisu farmers raise poppies and rank with the Meo as major opium producers. Roughly 20 percent of the Lisu in China, Myanmar and Thailand are Christian.

Akha - Elaborate headdress and jewelry mark this woman as an Akha. Her people grow rice in the hills of northern Laos and adjacent Myanmar, Thailand and China. Akha villages, guarded by sacred gates erected to keep out evil spirits, generally lie at elevations of 3,500 to 4,000 feet. Approximately 15 percent of Akha in China, Myanmar and Thailand are Christian.

Karen - These peoples of the hills in and around Kawthule in southeast Myanmar, in western Thailand and in the Irrawaddy Delta vary in economy and religion. Most live by wet-rice farming. Some own elephants and work as mahouts in the teak forests. A closely related group of Karen, called Kayah, live in their own semi-autonomous state in Myanmar. Thirty percent of Karens are Christian. The first Karen (Ko Tha Byu) was converted by Adoniram Judson.

Mien (Yao) - The Chinese use the name Yao to designate a scattered minority in southern China. These people, also found in northern Vietnam, Laos and Thailand call themselves Mien. Yao craftsmen produce not only the hill peoples' customary tools and weapons such as knives and crossbows but also rifles and paper. The men traditionally wear black caps; Yao women often add red-plush collars to their garments. Less than one percent of Yao are Christian.

Hmong - The color of a woman's dress often identifies the subgroup - White, Red, Black, Flowered - to which a Meo of Viet Nam, Laos or Thailand belongs. The majority, however, live in southern China, where they are called Miao. Men and women alike usually wear silver necklaces - often with a chain looped across the opening. The elevations of their villages - 3,000 to 6,000 feet - favor the cultivation of opium poppies, their major cash crop. One percent are Christian.

Additional Tribes and People Groups- FLC also works with the: Thai, Lao, Burman, Pa-O, Intha, Gurkhas, Arankan, Naga and Tibetan peoples.

Note - A majority of the tribe descriptions were taken from an illustrative map called The Peoples of Mainland Southeast Asia produced by the Cartographic Division of the National Geographic Society in March 1971.