Hill tribes in Thailand: Ethnic minority groups in the North
Northern Thailand, a mountainous region covered with deep forest, is home to several ethnic minorities with their own culture, beliefs, traditions and language, popularly known as the Hill Tribes of Thailand.
The Siamese melting pot in the 19th century
The kingdom of Siam, and to an even greater extent the capital city of Bangkok, showed an astonishing diversity of ethnic groups in the 19th century. In Bangkok, the original Thais were almost always a large minority. It was only in the course of the 20th century that an integration started that eventually gave almost everyone a Thai identity.
From the series 'You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand'. Volume 37. The Sgaw Karen. Residents of Ban Ber Bla Too (บ้านเบ๊อะบละตู) live in an area that has been promoted to a 'national park'. This step makes traditional crop rotation in the fields impossible.
From the series 'You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand'. Volume 36. The Sgaw Karen. Residents of Ban Tha Ta Fang (บ้านท่าตาฝั่ง) oppose the construction of a dam because they live from fishing and farming along the Salween River.
From the series 'You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand'. Part 35. The Sgaw Karen. Residents of Ban Huai Makok (บ้านห้วยมะกอก) are opposed to plans for a fluorite mine in neighboring Mae La Noi district.
From the series 'You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand'. Volume 34. The Pow Karen. About the planned lignite mine in Ban Ka Bor Din (บ้านกะเบอะดิน) and its impact on life and nature.
The Bisu extinct soon?
In the past I have regularly paid attention on this blog to the patchwork that the Thai multi-ethnic state is from an ethnographic point of view. Today I would like to take a moment to reflect on what is perhaps the least known ethnic group in the country, the Bisu. According to the most recent counts – which are now 14 years old – there are still about 700 to 1.100 Bisu living in Thailand, which also makes them the most endangered ethnic group.
The regular Thailand-goer will probably be familiar with the term 'Thainess', but who are actually Thai? Who was labeled that? Thailand and the Thai were not always as united as some would have people believe. Below is a brief explanation of who 'Thai' were, became and are.
You-Me-We-Us: The 'Become My Home' Movie
The film is now ready in the context of the website You-Me-We-Us that I have reviewed about the nearly 500.000 people in Thailand who are stateless or who cannot provide complete paperwork. The movie is called 'Becoming home' which I translated into 'Becoming my home'.
Part of the You-Me-We-Us series; indigenous people in Thailand. The S'gaw Karen. About Mueda Navanaad (มึดา นาวนาถ) who wanted to study, only got an ID card after a change in the law, was able to achieve her goal but still feels 'you don't belong here'.
You-Me-We-Us: Covid-19
From the series You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand, this part is about the influence of Covid-19 on minorities in Thailand such as the Tai Yai and the Sea Gypsy.
From the series You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand, yet another new part. It seems that the Thai government wants to get rid of endemic groups that live in the forests, apply small-scale rotation to small fields and live in harmony with nature.
From the series You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand, the last part is about the population group the Sgaw Karen.
You-Me-We-Us: The Hope of Mrs Arm
From the series You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand, this part is about a Lua/Lawa woman and her family. Location: Ban Santisuk, Pa Teung, Mae Chan, Chiang Rai.
You-Me-We-Us: 'Our Kin Wo New Year's Festival'
From the series You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand, a story about the New Year's celebration among the Lahu in Huay Lu Luang, Muang, Chiang Rai.
You-Me-We-Us: 'Very proud to be a bilingual teacher'
From the series You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand. this part is set in Ban Ja Tee (บ้านจะตี) village school, tambon Thuht Thai (เทอดไทย), Mae Fa Luang, Chiang Rai.
You-Me-We-Us: You-Me-We-Us: 'Life and Death Next to a Lead Mine'
From the series You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand. This section is about Pwo Karen in Klity Creek in Kanchanaburi. A story about lead poisoning, legal proceedings and the endless waiting for a clean-up.
You-Me-We-Us: You-Me-We-Us. Yutthachai's life with an ID card
From the series You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand. This part is about a Lahu man who obtained Thai nationality in the year 2000. This story plays in Ban Mae Ma Ku, Ping Khong, Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai.
You-Me-We-Us: 'We weave the rainbow'
From the series You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand, this part is about Sgaw Karen in Mae Hong Son. About weaving textiles in the colors of the rainbow, about old techniques, about the power of women and about the equality of the sexes.
You-Me-We-Us: Disenfranchised after a boundary correction
From the series You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand, today the indictment of the son who was not recognized by his Thai father, who has therefore remained stateless. The article is set in Ranong.
You-Me-We-Us: The New Life and Rights of Artee
From the series You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand, today a part about an Akha woman who gets her papers.
You-Me-We-Us: Come on, let's go back home
From the series You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand, this part is about Sgaw Karen people in the Chiang Mai region.