Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Lydia Gantert Hmong Student Association members serve food Sunday evening in Davies Center for the 20th Annual Hmong Culture Fest.

UW-Eau Claire's Hmong Culture Fest celebrated its 20th year on Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. in Davies Center. This year's theme was "Hmong Generation Y" and included many different events including various workshops, dinner, entertainment and two speakers - Sophia Vuelo and Seng Vang.

The Hmong Culture Fest began in 1988 when there were around 10 Hmong students on campus, said student adviser Charles Vue. He said the Hmong population was very new to the university and Eau Claire community so the culture fest was a way to share a new culture and create "harmony" between Hmong people and the rest of the community.

Today, the event not only serves that purpose, but is also a form of cultural preservation for a new generation, added Vue.

"It's about helping the students and the audience."

This year's theme, Hmong Generation Y, speaks for this idea. Junior and Hmong Student Association President Seng Vang said this year they were observing how cultural ideas have changed through the generations. The HSA even performed a skit about how courting and marriage have changed.

There were three different workshops during the fest - Technology and Communications, Hmong Higher Education and Gender Roles. The higher education workshop focused on the progression of Hmong in education and the gender roles workshop focused on relationships between Hmong men and women. This was followed by dinner, a slide show and entertainment.

Towards the end of the event, Vuelo came to speak about her experiences. According to the event pamphlet, Vuelo is originally from Eau Claire. She often speaks about "issues of domestic violence and gender dynamics in the Hmong community, and the educational progress of Hmong Americans throughout the country."

Junior Megan Christian attended the event out of curiosity and said it was very informative and it really opened her mind. She especially enjoyed talking and learning about the Hmong artwork.

Christian believed the event was an overall good experience.

"It's important to the university because of the diversity," she said.

Karen Pope, a student adviser for the event was enthusiastic about what the event meant for the students at the university. She said the event used workshops and entertainment to educate.

"It's really important for this community to get recognized for their contributions over the last 20 years," Pope said. "It's a really nice opportunity for people to become familiar with their neighbors."

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