“Within this predominantly American environment, I forged a path independently by not following what is normally considered traditional, but instead I carried my tradition into new spaces. Willing to take a risk of adapting and sharing my culture with a broader audience, I made it my passion and my priority to put my heritage above all, and to allow it to define who I was.”

“Once backstage I made a comment to my friend who was helping me get dressed, “Who knew looking pretty took so much work!” On stage I portray flawless beauty and elegance, but backstage, things are another story. Looking beautiful and flawless takes a lot of effort. Thankfully, I have my family and friends to help me every step of the way.” – Hlee Xiong

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Art is not always what we traditionally think of it as. In fact, art comes in many different forms. It is broad in its medium and canvas. Art is as subjective as it is objective. It is the use of ”skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others.” (Encyclopedia Britannica) For centuries, art has been a preservation of culture, of events, and of things. Art is an individual’s own passion of expression.

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According to Chinese legends, the San Miao were the natives of China, and today are known as Hmong, or Miao, and in some cases, Mien, H’mong, and even Mong. Five thousand years ago, the great king that ruled China was Chi You, also known as “Txiv Yawg” to the Hmong (San Miao). Legends say that Chi You was a very powerful king who could not be defeated. Although his enemies tried to kill him many times (and thought they had killed him), he did not die. It was believed that he had two gems from a dragon that protected him.

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The Hmong look forward to celebrating the New Year more than anything else. Every year, the Hmong New Year Festival is celebrated throughout the world, this is the only time they can rest and celebrate their heritage. In the old country or ‘lub tebchaws qub’ (a term Hmong refer to as in the mountains of Laos prior to the Vietnam War), the days consisted of hard labor and farming. Every morning, hours before the sunrise, the Hmong would pack their garden tools and walk miles into the fields to work until dusk. During the harvesting season, they made sure they would gather enough food to celebrate the coming of the New Year, or the 30th of the last month in the year. In Hmong, this is referred to as ‘Noj Tsiab Peb Caug’ – literally translated as Eating the New 30th. Families and friends would come together to celebrate and feast for several days.

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Two tragic events involving Hmong hunters in Wisconsin have led to the life sentencing of one Hmong hunter (2004) and the death of another (2007). In the response to the surge of racism and tension, aggravated by the mainstream media, 18XEEM decided to break from the negative coverage of these tragedies and, instead, explore the intimate relationship Hmong people have with the sport of hunting. In this way, we hope that 18XEEM is able to shed light on the personal side of these unfortunate stories and offer a perspective that is too often overlooked.

Priceless Memories is a personal narrative about the experience of young Hmong American enthusiasts who hold the sport of hunting in the highest regard as a form of bonding between family, friends, and generations.

Subscribe today to read this entire story in the Feb 08 issue of 18XEEM.