Connecting clans in mountain communities

The spirit of community cohesion is always preserved within the clans of ethnic minority groups. Photo: ALĂNG NGƯỚC

Artisan Ho Van Dinh - a respected village elder in Tra Bui commune (Bac Tra My district): Passing on cultural traditions to the younger generation.

The Ca Dong people in particular, and other ethnic minority groups living in the mountainous districts of Quang Nam province in general, share a spirit of solidarity and close ties. This has become even more evident since the establishment of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh. The people of the mountainous regions no longer harbor hatred towards one another; instead, they unite and fight together to defeat the invading enemy.

In particular, since liberation, the ethnic minority communities in Quang Nam have truly regarded each other as brothers and sisters under one roof. No one discriminates against anyone, whether they are Ca Dong, Co, Mo Nong, or Xe Dang... whenever needed, they are always ready to support and help each other. Despite difficult living conditions, the ethnic minority communities living in neighboring mountainous areas share land with each other and provide spiritual and material support during times of illness, funerals, weddings, and other important events. This is something precious and something to be proud of!

In Tra Bui, a predominantly Ca Dong community, the spirit of community solidarity has been strong for generations. Clans help each other with small tasks such as contributing labor for farming, clearing land, and planting acacia trees, as well as helping build houses, encouraging children to attend school, and especially promoting the preservation of traditional culture. Many cultural training classes have been conducted by me and other artisans in the commune, giving many children from local Ca Dong clans the opportunity to access and contribute to preserving the valuable cultural heritage of their ancestors.

Besides the village's gong ensemble, in recent years we have trained many gong clubs and groups for students in schools. These groups, after mastering the instrument, have participated in festivals organized by the province, district, and commune.

Recently, we have regularly organized cultural and artistic exchanges between the Ca Dong community in Bac Tra My (Quang Nam) and the Ca Dong communities in Tra Bong and Ba To districts ( Quang Ngai ). This has helped to strengthen the bonds between the clans in the two provinces and to resolve conflicts and disputes in the border region.

Mr. Briu Quan - Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Tay Giang District: Unity and preserving the invaluable heritage of our ancestors.

In recent years, Tay Giang has seen the emergence of many culturally rich and studious clans within the community. Typical examples include the Cơlâu and Bhơriu clans in Lăng and A Xan communes; and the Arâl clan in A Vương commune... By promoting the role of these clans in building a new life, the Cơ Tu community in Tay Giang has created a strong sense of unity, contributing to the preservation of traditional cultural values, encouraging their descendants to be studious, and setting a good example in building bright, green, clean, and beautiful residential areas.

441a4833(1).jpg — Mr. Bríu Quân. Photo: ĐĂNG NGỌC

In particular, thanks to national unity, the Co Tu clans in Tay Giang have promptly supported and assisted members of their own clans, as well as other clans, who are facing difficulties with housing, illness, or lack of livelihood resources. Typical examples include the households of Mr. Bhơriu Pố, Bhơriu Roon, Bhơriu Thị Lăl, Bhơriu Thị Mé, Cơlâu Nhấp, Cơlâu Nghi (in Lăng commune); and the households of Arâl Blư, Arâl Nhới, Arâl Lú (in A Vương commune), who have actively provided land for production, building materials, and livestock to disadvantaged households lacking capital in the commune.

The spirit of community cohesion among clans in Tay Giang district is most clearly seen in the movement to build new rural areas, implement rural transportation projects, level land for resettlement, etc., creating conditions for the homeland to develop and innovate.

The Co Tu, Ve, and Ta Rieng people in Nam Giang celebrate a reunion festival. Photo: DANG NGOC

Journalist Alang Ngoc - Head of the Association of Literature and Arts of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Regions (Quang Nam Association of Literature and Arts): The tradition of community cohesion.

The ethnic minority communities in Quang Nam all share a strong sense of community. Throughout centuries of survival, they have consistently fostered this spirit of solidarity, viewing it as a strength to overcome the hardships of life.

Journalist Alăng Ngước. Photo: ĐĂNG NGỌC

In recent years, people in mountainous areas have witnessed many meaningful and humane activities demonstrating this spirit. Typical examples include the brotherhood ceremonies between the Co Tu, Ve, and Ta Rieng ethnic groups in Nam Giang; and between the Ca Dong and Xe Dang people in Nam Tra My...
There have been continuous efforts to support and assist each other, helping ethnic minority communities gradually bridge the gap and live together harmoniously.

Living under the protection of Mother Forest, the Co Tu, Ve, and Ta Rieng people no longer distinguish between "Brother Ve and I, Ta Rieng," thus creating miracles in the resistance war and even in their new lives today. Many conflicts are resolved through cultural stories; in which the historical role, traditional roots, and the voice of the village elders are seen as "judges" delivering verdicts with profound humanistic value.

For the Co Tu people in particular, since the establishment of the Party, the largest ethnic minority community in the border region of Quang Nam province has abandoned the "blood hunts" (Teng brâu). Later, continuous reconciliation efforts were made, extending community bonds through fraternal ties between villages.

They share the same water source, cultivate the same fields at the foot of the Truong Son Mountains, and share community stories through migrations, welcoming brothers and sisters from the high mountains bordering Vietnam and Laos to live together. In the communes of Dong Giang, for decades, the Co Tu people have reminded their children and grandchildren of that migration journey, viewing it as a beautiful testament to the tradition of local community cohesion...

Today, despite the many changes in life, the Co Tu people in particular, and ethnic minorities in Quang Nam in general, still cherish the teachings of their ancestors about the spirit of community cohesion. Overcoming the constraints of history, the younger generation in the mountainous region now freely explores marriage, connects with relatives, and helps each other develop their lives under the roof of the Truong Son Mountains.

Young Ca Dong people participate in performing traditional cultural activities in the local area. Photo: D.N.

Mr. Pơloong Plênh - Deputy Head of the Culture and Information Department of Tay Giang District: Connections without boundaries

The spirit of solidarity among the ethnic minority people in the mountainous areas of Quang Nam province in general, and the Co Tu people of Tay Giang district in particular, was clearly demonstrated through the two protracted wars of resistance. Responding to the call of the Fatherland, the people of the mountainous regions united as one, rising up to fight the enemy, protecting the achievements of the revolution, and holding onto their land and villages.

Living together under the Trường Sơn mountain range, that spirit of solidarity was further nurtured and grew stronger. Thousands of families, clans, and villages in the mountainous region of Quảng province contributed to the revolution, sheltering soldiers and cadres from the lowlands; readily carrying food and ammunition to the front lines; and directly participating in battles across the mountains, achieving victories.

Upholding the spirit of solidarity, today, thousands of ethnic minority households follow the Party's guidelines and contribute to preserving traditional cultural values. Many traditional communal houses, huts, and stilt houses have been restored, creating unique architectural and cultural values, demonstrating the spirit of solidarity of the Co Tu community in particular, and the ethnic minorities in the mountainous areas of Quang Nam in general.

Young people in mountainous areas diligently learn from the "fire of craft" by folk culture artisans, passionately crafting and performing musical instruments, weaving, wood carving, etc., contributing to the story of cultural preservation, maintaining traditional beauty, and opening up avenues for future tourism development.

The spirit of solidarity is also reflected in the unique and humane "village culture" and "forest preservation culture" of the mountain ethnic groups, especially the Co Tu people, through the culture of sharing, donating firewood, and giving rice... to help the disadvantaged in the village. Through their roles and spirit of solidarity, they help each other overcome difficulties, especially during times of natural disasters and epidemics. In recent years, implementing the policy of building new rural areas, thousands of ethnic minority households have voluntarily donated land, crops, houses, and trees... contributing to the renewal of their homeland and villages.

For the Co Tu people in Tay Giang, where eight communes border Laos, the spirit of solidarity is not only demonstrated within the village and commune communities but, more importantly, through a "borderless" connection between the people on both sides of the border. With the motto "Helping a friend is helping oneself," the community and authorities of Tay Giang have organized numerous visits, cooperation programs, and fraternal ties to build a peaceful, friendly, and sustainably developing border region.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/ket-noi-toc-ho-trong-cong-dong-mien-nui-3145319.html