During Covid emergency, family clan (striped Mong) who did qeej refused to do a funeral unless it was only one day. We complied and they still refused. The family ended up asking non family clan (white Mong) members to do it do to since our small town of family reps/“elders” sided with the qeej people. Theory: It may have been that the elder(s) spoke to the qeej people to decline. Now, everyone tends to have invite only drinking and restaurant dine in group events for bonding and family related growth and less attending small/moderate size family rituals. Less and less people are turning out-since everyone is more interested in bonding like Hmong/Mong Americans with modernized and cost-based outings. Is what is making us Hmong just eating out at restaurants/casinos/flying out to families’ places to eat and drink? Let’s do active things and work out together and not focus on eating rich food. Let’s try healthier and sustainable foods!
