Background : the Akha hill tribe
The Akha Hilltribe originate from Tibet and speak a tonal language classified as Sino-Tibetan. An Akha will probably be able to recite their ancestry up to 60 or 70 generations. Akha villages are generally located in the mountains, although (especially in Northern Thailand) many are moving closer and closer to the cities, due to economic, educational and social pressures. The Akha and the Hani-Akha live in the mountain regions of southern China, and northern Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam and Thailand. Although the numbers we have seen vary, there appear to be approximately 60,000 Akha living in the northern provinces of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in Thailand.
The typical Akha village is unique among the hilltribes, distinguished by their hand carved wooden gates, raised bamboo houses on low stilts, and hillside farming methods. Also distinguishing the Akha from other hilltribes in Southeast Asia are the headdresses, adorned in coins and other silver craft, worn by Akha women.
Unfortunately, there are other distinctions. The Akha are also the most at risk of being exploited by the sex industry and the drug trade. They are poor and are often not granted full rights of citizenship in the nations in which they live.
Issues facing the Akha people:
- The Poorest of all the Hilltribes : In our village, a woman makes about $0.12/kilo of hand picked tea. Or $2.50/day.
- The Least Educated : The knowledge of the Akha about their environment is astounding, however they are pushed down socially and economically due to their lack of formal education. Our village is fortunate, being near a school. However, most of the adults have had no formal education and are unable to read any language.
- The Highest Rate of Drug Addiction : Every few months, someone in our village is arrested for drug posession.
- The Highest Rate of HIV / AIDS Infection : We have attended at least one funeral of an AIDS victim.
- The Highest Mortality Rate : An astounding number of young men and women in our village have lost spouses or parents at a young age.
some of this information courtesy http://akhachildren.org/people.htm
Our Vision
We believe that Christ's Commission in Matthew 28 calls us as believers to go and make disciples of every tribe, language, people and nation. Scattered throughout five countries in Southeast Asia, the Akha Hilltribe share a common language and heritage and we desire to see them living with purpose and passion as Akha Christians. We have joined with a Foundation led by Akha staff in Chiang Rai, Thailand, who are teaching and discipling Akha men and women for the building, strengthening and enlarging of Christ's church.
We desire to encourage Akha Christians from the perspective of their community and worldview, to interact with that community with a holistic ministry (to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs), and to encourage them to be proud of their Akha heritage.
This vision requires a lot of time and effort. Currently we are pursuing this vision by living with the Akha in a village and by learning the Akha language and script. We are making this investment in order to further understand Akha culture, community and environment. This time of language acquisition and cultural interaction provides us the opportunity to see what specific ministry roles we might play as we look forward to our future living with the Akha.
