KAREN/ KAYIN / KARIANG (กะเหรี่ยง)
The Karen are an ethnic minority, living at higher elevations in the mountains of Northern Thailand, Southern or Southeastern Myanmar. There are also groups on the Andaman and Nicobar islands
Belonging to the diverse 'hilltribes' in Thailand
Despite the notion of a 'pan-Karen' ethnic identity, this group is very heterogeneous with distinguished languages, belief systems and cultures
Traditional form of subsistence is agriculture
When I worked as an assistant teacher in Mae Hong Son, the northernmost province in Thailand, I met many folks of the Karen group. They were very heartwarming, hard-working people. Most of them were Christians and they welcomed everyone regardless of the ethnic or religious background. I taught English and tried to help as much as I can to assist the kids and young adults at school. But honestly, though, I learned more from them. Especially about kindness and how to treat others.
After a while I realized there is more to know when it comes to the Karen groups than expected.
DEMOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Ethnic minorities who are settled along the mountainous fringe of Thailand are called ‘hill tribes’ to which i.a., the Karen group belongs. However, the group itself is quite heterogeneous; they may not identify culturally and linguistically or associate with each other. For example, a large number of Karen groups reside in the Kayin state along the Salween river in the South and Southeast of Myanmar. Other groups settled in the Andaman and Nicobar islands or in other parts of South or Southeast Asia. During the civil war in Myanmar, many Karen groups fled across the Burmese-Thai border in the late 1980s. Beginning in 2000, Karen groups began to settle in the US or Canada.
The idea of a 'pan-Karen' ethnic identity can be derived from policies and practices when Myanmar was under British colonial rule. Due to contacts with European and American Christian missionaries, some groups converted to Christianity which is intertwined with their local belief system such as Animism, e.g. Scholar Nick Cheesman stated that most of the research on Karens has been conducted in Thailand, but the dominant 'pan-Karen' identity is a product of social and historical forces in Myanmar. This unifying, ‘Western’ notion is in contrast to the inherent diversity of the Karen groups. According to Cheesman, “state policies are designed--among other things--to emphasise a myth of common descent of all 'national races'; construct a unifying national culture, and concentrate administrative power at the centre.”
KAREN PEOPLE NOW
Despite the fact that Karen groups live within the Thai national borders, their access to education, healthcare, resources, etc. is rather limited due to the lack of infrastructure and state support. Especially during the rainy season, it’s tricky to provide for the Karen villages deep in the mountains. Most of the Karen work in agriculture and textile fabrication.
However, there are several NGOS and foundations who give their all to secure the livelihoods of the Karen communities. You’ll find a selection of them below.
Until this day I feel very thankful to meet the lovely folks in Mae Sariang.
MORE INFOS:
Karen Environmental and Social Network
“A non-profit organization to improve livelihood security and to gain respect for indigenous people’s knowledge and rights in Karen state of Burma”, located in Chiang Mai, Thailand
The Karen Hilltribes Trust
A community-led organization working with Karen communities in Northern Thailand to secure livelihoods, access to education and more
https://karenhilltribes.org.uk/
Dr. Robert Dyckerhoff Foundation
A German foundation which emphasizes on providing proper education and scholarships to students of the Karen communities in Mae Hong Son province
SOURCES:
“Background of the Karen People” in karenwomen.org
https://karenwomen.org/background-of-the-karen-people/
“The Karen People” in australiankarenfoundation.org
https://australiankarenfoundation.org.au/karen_people_18.html
“The Karen Hilltribe” in Chiang Mai
https://www.chiangmai1.com/chiang_mai/karen.shtml
“Seeing ‘Karen’ in the Union of Myanmar” by Nick Cheesman, in Asian Ethnicity, Vol.3, Iss. 2, 2010, pp. 199-220.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14631360220132736
"Conversion and Identity: Religion and the Formation of Karen Ethnic Identity in Burma". In Gravers, Mikael (ed.). Exploring Ethnic Diversity in Burma. Copenhagen: Nordic Institute of Asian Studies. p. 228.