Thanks, Sarah, for posting about this distinct group of ethnic refugees here in the United States. I had heard the term Hmong before, but had never learned about their history or culture; your post got me doing some research.
Most of the United States' Hmong population descends from Laotian refugees that fled extermination after the American withdrawal from Vietnam. In the earliest days of the war (while the CIA was operating for the US secretly after the defeat of the French), many Hmong were recruited in Laos to defend against communist political forces.
Following the pattern of violence and genocide that emerged after the North Vietnamese reclaimed control of Vietnam, the Hmong were targeted in Laos for their participation and support of the Americans. They fled to save their preciouis lives and culture.
I really liked your eagerness to embrace their culture (which, in instances like their medicinal practices that you mentioned, can be very strange to Americans) and apparantely it is crucial that the younger generations of Hmong in America continue to learn about their unique history and preserve their language and cultural practices! Thanks so much for telling us about these fantastic people.
http://www.jefflindsay.com/Hmong_tragedy.html