Preserving cultural identity of ethnic minority groups

Tran Thanh Liem (left), vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee grants merit certificates to typical ethnic minority people.

‘After difficult years, ethnic minority people’s life has been improved significantly. Many ethnic families’ children with trained knowledge at universities and colleges have returned to serve for their homeland. Enjoying a prosperous life, ethnic minority groups have paid much attention to preserving their cultural identity”, Le Dinh Ngoc, head of the provincial People’s Committee’s division of ethnic minority said.

Overcoming difficulties for wealth making

Attending the honoring ceremony for typical examples, typical ethnic minority households were very excited for their efforts bringing fruits. In the past, Lo Van Phuong Binh’s life, Thai ethnic minority group in Chanh Nghia ward, Thu Dau Mot city faced many obstacles. In 1991, he spent his modest capital source to purchase 2 pigs. Aside from raising pigs, he managed to increase his income by planting and selling ornamental trees. Thanks determination and effort plus timely assistance of local authority, his family has thus far enjoyed a stable life with annual income of VND80-100mil. “I feel very happy when my family escapes poverty. I am really grateful to the Party, authority and neighbors”, Binh shared.

Talking proudly about his business, Lam Hong Quang, S’tieng ethnic minority person in My Phuoc ward, Ben Cat town revealed, in order to enjoy today’s stable life, he managed to do various jobs. In the past, he worked as a worker after that he shifted to trade rubber latex. Thanks to preferential loans of the State, he expands rubber latex business. Until now, he has enjoyed an income of about VND70-100mil per year. Escaping poverty, his family has lived in a spacious house with home facilities.’

Meanwhile, Danh Riem, born in 1952, Khmer ethnic minority person in Minh Thanh commune, Dau Tieng district said that thanks to local authority’s care, his family escapes poverty. His family enjoyed preferential loans from the State to raise pigs, chickens and plant rubber plantation. In addition, he enjoyed technical assistance of breeding and farming. Up to now, his family has possessed more than 6 ha of rubber trees, 100 chickens with the total income of VND1bil per year.

Apart from the mentioned ethnic minority households, Binh Duong province has more than 10 typical ethnic minority households in this year. Le Dinh Ngoc added that most of the ethnic minority households in the province escape poverty basically. Many of them carry out the motto of “whole leaves wrap torn leaves” to help other needy ethnic minority households overcome difficulties in life.

Contributing to recover cultural identity

Beside being commended for good production and business, many ethnic minority households are highly appreciated in promoting, preserving cultural identity. Typically, La Van Binh, born in 1952, San Chay ethnic group in Tam Lap commune, Phu Giao district has awarded merit certificates for many consecutive years for good production and business as well as cultural identity preservation. He along with his children and grandsons recover cultural identity by wearing traditional clothes, establishing clubs of tug of war, petanque and more.

Annually, on the sixth day of the first lunar month, San Chay ethnic minority group holds its traditional new year festival including rites of offering incenses to pray abundant crops, dancing Tac Xinh, singing traditional songs, holding folk games of tug of war, pentanque, stick pushing, running on stilts and more. “These activities and games will help young generations learn and love ethnic minority people’s traditional cultural identity for the sake of preserving this tradition”, La Van Binh added.

In the meantime, Au Dai Mong, Nung ethnic minority person in Tan Dinh commune, North Tan Uyen district has become a rich household in this commune. He has thus far possessed a 5 ha rubber plantation, 50 chickens, 100 porcupines, reaping VND250mil per year. He boasted he often helps needy households and involves in local activities of social charity, gratitude repayment, learning promotion fund and among others. In addition, on holidays, he usually raises funds to help Nung ethnic people join in the provincial culture and sport activities or assigns local people to attend traditional festivals at Nung ethnic minority group’s homeland in the Northern province of Cao Bang.

Thanks to enthusiastic people like La Van Binh, Au Dai Mong, the provincial ethnic minority groups in Binh Duong province retake their cultural identity. Specifically, many ethnic minority groups have built their cultural identity imbued playgrounds such as petanque club of Khmer ethnic group in An Binh commune, Phu Giao district, San Chay ethnic group in Tam Lap commune, Phu Giao district, traditional clothes of Cham ethnic group in Minh Hoa commune, Dau Tieng district and more.

Reported by T.LY, D.TUAN – Translated by A.C