Lahu Hilltribe

The Lahu are a strong independent and very diverse ethnic group who number about 60,000 in Thailand. The Lahu are located primarly in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces, but can also be found in considerable numbers as far south as Tak province. Their settlements are usually remote from roads and towns, due to their strong commitment to the maintenance of the Lahu way of life.

The Lahu are complex and diverse ethnicity. In Thailand there are no fewer than six different Lahu tribes, some of whose languages are not mutually intelligible. The majority of Lahus in Thailand are Red Lahu, pantheistic animists who follow a Dtobo, a messianic leader. There are also a significant number of Black, Yellow and Shehleh Lahus in Thailand, many of whom have been Christian for nearly one hundred years. Black Lahu are the most populous throughout Southeast Asia and theirs is considered to be the standard Lahu dialect.

Although primarily subsistence farmers, growing rice and corn for their own consumption, the Lahu are also proud of their hunter-warrior heritage. They remain a strict, serious people governed by strong principles of right and wrong, every individual in the village answering to the common will of the elders. While less importance is placed on the extended family than in other hill tribe communities, the Lahu are still strongly committed to principles of unity and working together for survival. Lahus may have the most gender-equitable society in the world.

http://lahu.hilltribe.org/english/

Introduce : Ja Lae village

“Ja Lae” is the village of Lahu Laba tribe, who migrated from Tibet to Thailand in 1970. They stayed in Doi Thung for only two years before they moved on to Doi Bor which is in Ampher Maung, Chang Rai province. It was people of 13 families that migrated under the leadership of Mr. Ja Lae. Because of Mr. Ja Lae's leadership at this time, he got the village named after him. There was another Ja Lae village with 62 families which was located in Huay Mae Sai Waterfall area moo.11, Tambon Mae Yaw, Muang district, Chiang Rai. But in 1999 Forestry Department issued a policy. This policy stated that all the people in Huay Mae Sai Waterfall have to move out of the area into the area belonging to Industrial Forest Organization. When moved to this area, the group of 62 families joined up with those who migrated from Tibet in 1970. In Ja Lae village, they have impermanent farming and stair shape paddy farming which are used for making rice. Impermanent farming is changing the area for cultivation every year. The surrounding of the village is suitable for trekking. This again attracts many tourists who either do a 1 day or 2 days trekking tour. On the 2 day tour, they sleep over in the village. From 1986 to 1997, there were many tourists trekking there. Lahu Ja Lae life is like the origin life of Lahu Laba. They have kept their original belief, culture and festival which they are protecting with high concern. All this knowledge is carefully passed on to the next generation. The causes of migration from Huay Mae Sai waterfall • The government assigned the village to be in tourism zone. • The village also felt that the old village was far away from civilization. • The children should have an opportunity to get education like others. • In conclusion, there are advantage and disadventage of migration. Advantages are: • Children will have the opportunity of education. • Transportation is more convenient. Disadvantage: • Not enough land to earn their living. The management in tourism is one way out instead of being under control by outside trend which causing changing. The teenagers may forget their own culture and be crazy in modern life. In contrast, they choose to be the controllers who determine the way of life in the community by their own in order to remain the pride and selfhood. As mention earlier, they pass on their knowledge, culture and tradition to the young, so they will bring precious culture on the next generation. At the same time, the teengers is participating in creation their own direction, such as makimg themselves an opportunity in business. http://lahu.hilltribe.org/english/

Introduce : Costume

Costume

Costume The male Lahu Saelae wears black and dark blue long-sleeved shirt with silver small beads at the back. The pants have stockings with pattern similar to the pants. Female wears the black long shirt which reaches the knees and has the fine embroideries and silver studs at the back and the end of the sleeves. The costume is very important for Lahu’s life because it shows the identity of the tribe. When they have worship or festival, they must wear the costume of Lahu Saelae. If someone does not wear it, he or she will be punished. He or she will not be regarded as a relative because Lahu assume the wrong doer does not respect god and ancestor. However, the younger generation is not as strict as the past. Some of them no longer wear the full costume due to the influence of fashion from the city when they study or work there. The students and workers receive the culture from the outsiders whom they come into contact with. http://lahu.hilltribe.org/english/

Introduce : Herb

Herb

Herb    Herb is a local ancient of Lahu people which is used to treat many an affection and does not have any effect on the body. They continue from generation to generation because in the past, the Lahu people lived in the forest. When the people in the village contract any disease, the Lahu people will use the herbs in the forest to treat them. From the survey done in the area where the Lahu people live, there are many types of herbs and each has properties to treat the affection differently.    Presently, it is easier to contact the outsider thus the Lahu people prefer to go to the hospital or buy medicines from the shop instead of using the herb. This situation has caused fewer people to have knowledge about the herbs, and the few people who know about this do not pass to the younger generation.     http://lahu.hilltribe.org/english/

Introduce : The musical instruments

The musical instruments

The musical instruments    Music is important for the Lahu Saelae living and when they will have a ceremonial or worship. The musical instruments are played during the Lahu’s worship. Lahu believe that music voice can connect with the Lahu’s god. If they do not have the musical instruments, they can not set the worship. Moreover, the musical instruments can create more fun and also attract people who would like joy with dancing. Now, Lahu Saelae plays the following instruments for Jakue dance:     1. A big reed organ or NorGoMa to play with the worship or the ceremonial. 2. A medium reed organ or NorSue is the favorite for middle age and when in the village has Jakue dancing. 3. A small reed organ or NorGaeLa is the instruments used to make a jolly rhythm, the youngsters like to dance with this instrument. 4. Stringed instrument or Tue is the voice attractiveness instrument. 5. A flute or Sae is the instruments for the old age. 6. Jingnong or Arta is the instrument that uses the tongue, and is the individual capable skill. http://lahu.hilltribe.org/english/

Introduce : JaKue Dancing

JaKue Dancing

JaKue Dancing The tradition of Jakue dancing was originated together with the Lahu worships because the hill tribes believe in dancing to propitiate the god. Beside that Jakue dancing is also a chance for the people to have a union unity because when the Lahu people blow the musical instruments, they help one another for switched to play the music. The people, who would like to enter the Jakue court, usually must wear full costume of Lahu dress not only that, this court is the place for the younger people to look for a match. Now Lahu realize the importance of Jakue dance less as compared to the past because the decreasing of musical instrument creates less enjoyment. Nowadays Lahu are attracted to dramas after news like while they are dancing and when the end of news, they return home to see the dramas. http://lahu.hilltribe.org/english/

Introduce : A religion and worship

A religion and worship     A religion and worship is important for the hill tribe people, Lahu Saelae. From the past, the Lahu’s god said that even though we did not have our own country, we need to have a religion because the religion unite all of Lahu Saelae to have a vigorous, united and that is the united for the people to have moral principles and to take respect on the system.     Each village must have the religion rule to take control all of the people in the village. The Lahu people believe in taking respect to an ancestor spirit. It is a must for the Lahu Saelae tribe to have the religion ceremony due to this belief and spirit respect. The ceremony in the year of Lahu Saelae people, every family has cooperate like New Years ( GinWor in Lahu language), a new rice, sent the village’s luck, to propitiate the water and the forest.    In each family will also have a ceremonial. The Lahu people believe that the bad wicked can not come through. That is why the Lahu Saelae takes respect to the religion and practice from generation to generation. http://lahu.hilltribe.org/english/