The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Lesson Plan

How does folklore describe how the Hmong began to live in the mountains? How does being montagnards help explain their history and character?

Centuries ago, the Hmong used to live in the primordial northern homeland where days and nights lasted for six months each. During this time, they became involved in a land dispute with neighboring tribes. The king decided how the dispute would best be resolved: each tribe would select an envoy who would walk as far as possible during the six months between sunrise to sunset. At the end of the journey, the envoy would return to the king's palace. All the territory covered during this journey would belong to the envoy's tribe....