Hmong in Minnesota

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments For the first time, Hmong people are actively participating in the documentation and writing of our collective history. I am grateful for the opportunity to write the story of the Hmong in Minnesota: this history is also my personal history. As part of my dissertation on this subject in the Department of American Studies at the University of Minnesota, which I completed in December 2006, I conducted extensive research at the Immigration History Research Center (ihrc) and in the Minnesota State Archives and I interviewed nearly two dozen Hmong Americans about their resettlement­experiences. Many people contributed to making this book possible. First, I thank my adviser, Dr. Jennifer Pierce, and members of my dissertation committee for their support and guidance during the last two years: Dr. Rod Ferguson, Dr. Erika Lee, and Dr. Helga Leitner.IespeciallythankErikaLeeandformerihrcassistantdirectorJoelWurlforthe opportunity to examine the International Institute of Minnesota’s resettlement materials . ihrc staff member Daniel Necas also provided much research support. I am deeply indebted to the men and women who shared their life experiences with me, some of whomarequotedinthisbook,andthemanycommunitymemberswhograciouslyprovidedphotographsandothermaterials .Thesepersonalcontributionsenrichedthenarrativebeyondmeasure .ThankyoutoShannonPennefeatherforherthorougheditingof the manuscript and enthusiasm about the project. Dr. Gary Yia Lee’s careful review has greatlystrengthenedthisbook.MyuncleTongVang,oneofthefirstHmongrefugeesto come to Minnesota, deserves special appreciation for directing me to the many people whose voices are heard in these pages. Finally, thank you to my husband Tong Yang not onlyforhisencouragementandpatiencebutalsoforhisfeedbackonthemanyversions this story took. 92    Acknowledgments ...