Dia’s Story Cloth

Written by:  Dia Cha

Stitched by:  Chue and Nia Thao Cha

Discussion Guide by:   Pat Bowes

Stitched By:  Chue and Nhia Thao Cha

Setting:  Laos and USA

Topics:
Hmong People (pronounced Mong)
Geography
Traditions
Secret war
Storytelling
Cultural traditions
Stitching


Note: There is a superior summary of the history of the Hmong people in the back of the book.  Here, though, is a brief summary of the Hmong people:

The Hmong originated in China but migrated to Southeast Asia, settling in Burma, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.  Small in numbers and a peaceful people, the Hmong found themselves in middle of war.  During the Vietnam war the Hmong fought as U.S. allies, in particular in Laos, and when the Americans pulled out, the Hmong found themselves the target of genocide by the Communist troops. Beginning in 1976, many Hmong escaped to Thailand by crossing the Mekong River.  So brutal was their treatment that they continued to flee the country by the thousands, and in 1980 alone more than 20,000 Hmong came to the United States.

The Hmong had their own oral language, but no written language. Over time they have used stories, songs, and their arts to pass on their history. Their trademark  is in   crafts - the "pa ndau", or flower cloth, a complex form of textile art using applique, cross-stitching, batik, and embroidery.  Designs may be geometric patterns, humans, or symbols of nature. The cloths demonstrate the history, beliefs, culture, and folk art of the Hmong people.
 

Web site:   http://wms.luminet.net/demographics/hmong/Information.html


Prereading

: Preview difficult vocabulary:  embroidered, ancestry, communism, communist
  regime, guerrilla soldiers, culture, tropical highlands, thatched roof, etc.
: Look at the cover of the book, discuss the illustration and title. Predict what the story
  is about.
: Use a map and pictures or slides to give brief history of the Hmong people.
: Perform a KWL with the students.

Discussion Guide

1) Listen to the story again, except this time don’t look at the words.  Just listen and
    look at the detail in the pictures. (Or have student do this with a partner.)

2) Read any of the following books and then compare and contrast them with Dia’s
    Story Cloth:   The Patchwork Quilt;     The Keeping Quilt;      Tar Beach

3) Read The Whispering Cloth (fiction) and compare to Dia’s Story (nonfiction)
     (The Whispering Cloth is a superior work that is highly recommended.)

4) Why did Dia’s country get “divided in two”?

5) What do you think happened to Dia’s father?

6) Why do people have wars?

7) Why do children have fights on the playground?

8) Are any of the answers to #5 and #6 the same?

9) What can you do to help prevent us from having any more fights or wars?


Activity Ideas

: Tell the story of your life by making a story cloth.  Use cloth, but instead of stitching
   use color markers.  Be sure to prepare your design using paper and pencil first so
   that cloth is not wasted.  Another option is to use large art paper, cut out pictures and
   glue them on.  Teachers share an example before beginning.

: After learning more about the Hmong people, the students create a story cloth
  expressing their understanding of the Hmong people and their culture.