Chapter 1: The Politics of Change: A Study into the Thai National Government and it’s
Effects on the Karen Government of Tee Mae Ker Lah

Chapter 2: Education in Northern Thailand

Chapter 3: Mu Si Khee: A Region of Economic Transition

Chapter 4: Family and the Karen Hill Tribe of Northern Thailand

Chapter 5: Animism, Buddhism, and Christianity in Northern Karen culture: A Karen View
of Religion in Culture

 Chapter 1: The Politics of Change: A Study into the Thai National Government and it’s Effects on the Karen Government of Tee Mae Ker Lah

Brad Lindbergh, Sonja Renander, Sara Ursin, Amy Kirchner

 I. Historical Background

A. Origins and Settlement of the Karen

B. Burma and the Karen

1. Burmese/ British wars

a. effect on migration

b. effect on Karen relationship with the Burmese

2. Independence

a. founding the KNDO

b. declaring independence

c. peace treaty

d. ongoing desire for autonomy

II. Thai National Government

A. Thailand’s Constitutional Monarchy and it’s Major Players: King, Prime Minister, Cabinet, Parliament, Military, Regional Divisions, Provincial, Governor, Ampur, District Officer, Tambon, Kamnan, Village Headman, Assistant Headman, Village Council.

B. Decentralization

C. National Presence in Northern Thailand

D. National Security

III. Regional Politics

A. Overview of Internal Problems

1. Bureaucratic government

a. overlapping agencies

b. land claims

2. Corrupt government

a. forestry

b. Interior minister

B. Decentralization

1. Apawtaw(APT)

a. structure

b. agenda, role

2. Occurring differently in each tambon

3. APT future

a. effect on traditional governance

b. future projects

C. Regional Issues

1. Land

2. Environment

a. water

b. reforestation

c. land management

3. Drugs

4. Village Politics

IV. Official government structure

A. Voting rights

1. Age restrictions

2. Housing requirement

3. Voter turn out

4. Who runs

5. Voter participation

B. Village Headman

1. Term-grandfather clause

2. Background- father as headman

3. Plans for job future

4. Duties and responsibilities

C. Village council and Assistant Headman

1. Duties and description

2. Term limits committee assignments meetings

D. Villager influence

E. Tax Collection, village law and military presence

1. Sales and Land

2. Village law

a. Christian Tradition

b. History

c. Written codes

d. Punishments

3. Military presence in Mu Si Khee

F. Police force

1. Far away

2. No funding

G. Queen’s Royal Project

H. Drug enforcement prevention

I. Alternative projects

J. Government Official

1. Duties and power

2. Elections

3. Income supplement

K. Role of APT

L. Sources of Authority

1. Official

2. Traditional

3. Church

4. Elders

M. Power in disputes

V. Current Issues

A. Thai-Karen conflict

B. Land usage

C. Misrepresentation

D. Gap in dreams

E. Prepare children

F. Karen attempts to close gap

1. Tongdee

2. Paulo

VI Conclusion

VII. References Cited

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Chapter 2: Education in Northern Thailand
 Sara Dahl, Mee Vang, Caroline Hilk

 I. Thai Education in General

A. History of Thai Education

1. Traditional Learning

2. Buddhism and Religious Training

3. Women’s Lack of Educational Opportunity

B. Bangkok Curriculum and School Structure

C. Extra-Curricular Activities

1. Sports and Arts

2. Scouting

II. Karen History of Education

A. Traditional

B. Lack of Buddhism

C. Growth of Thai Influence

III. Pre-Kindergarten, Daycare

IV. Primary and Middle School

A. Sahamit School

B. Hwuih Ya Government School

V. High Schools, Post Secondary

A. Options

B. Feasibility

VI. Tete’s Project

A. Hostel

B. Occupational Training

VII. Continuing Education

A. King’s Royal Project

B. Queen’s Royal Project

VIII. Religious Education

A. Church

B. Home

IX. The Future of the Karen

A. Benefits and Problems with Education

B. Growth of Tourism

X. Conclusion

XI. References Cited

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Chapter 3: MU SI KHEE: A REGION OF ECONOMIC TRANSITION
 Heidi Larson, Betsey McLain, Alecia Swenson

I. Traditional Economy

A. Farming

B. Herbal Medicine

II. Shifts in Economy

A. Royal Project

1. Purpose

2. History

3. Plans for Project

4. Funding

5. Satisfaction

6. Problems and Plans for the Future

B. Roads

C. Cash Economy: New Opportunities

D. Teachers

E. Church Positions

F. Weaving Projects

G. Other Projects of Tete

H. Store Owner

I. Truck Driver

J. Health Care Worker

K. Construction Worker

L. Music

III. An Example of a Villager’s Expenses

IV. Effect on Environment

A. Erosion

B. Pollution

C. Deforestation

D. Future Problems

E. Soil

F. Competition for Resources

G. Effect of New Farming

V. Eco-tourism

VI. Conclusion

VII. References Cited

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Chapter 4: FAMILY AND THE KAREN HILL TRIBE OF NORTHERN THAILAND
 Annika Harrington, Heidi Lellman, and Ann Westby

I. Marriage

A. Courtship

1. Letter Writing

2. Family Visits

B. Wedding Process

1. Ceremony

a. Buddhist/Animist

b. Christian

2. Rituals

II. Gender Roles

A. Women’s Roles Within the Home and In the Community

B. Men’s Roles

1. Work Related

2. Within the Home

III. Divorce

A. Reasons Why

B. Adultery

C. Thai Influence

D Repercussions

E. Results in Single Parenting

IV. Thai Assimilation

V. Child Development

A. Motherhood

B. Daughter’s are prized

C. First born gives paternal status

D. Birth Rituals

E. Umbilical Chord and Afterbirth

VI. Parental Hopes for Children

A. Tatoomo

B. Timothy and Esther

C. Headman

1. His own Childhood Dream

2. Dedicated to Becoming Next Headman

VII. Ajarn Tete’s Work with the Children

A. Prevent Prostitution

B. Maintain Karen Culture

VIII. Parenting Styles

A. The Children of Mu Si Khee

B. Learn by Social Modeling

C. Collective Culture

D. Independence and Dependence

E. Responsibilities

IX. Roles of Young Karen Adults

A. Adventuresome Young Men

B. Young Women Stay Closer to Home

C. Camaraderie Among Friends

X. Conclusion

XI. References Cited

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 Chapter 5: Animism, Buddhism, and Christianity in Northern Karen culture: A Karen View of Religion in Culture

Lillian Harris, Beth Henry, Dan Kuehl, Angela Miller

 I. Animism

A. Origins

B. Creation stories

1. Forbidden white hen scatters the people

2. "The Golden Book"

3. Defining Karen-ness

4. Philosophy

5. Orphan concept

C. Importance of Rituals

D. Spirits

E. Concept of sin and suffering

F. Rituals / Ceremonies

1. Au Xae

2. Kla ceremony

3. Land rites

G. Animist Future

II. Buddhism

A. Karen Buddhism

1. Becoming Buddhist

2. Reasons for conversion

a. Expense of Animism

b. National Security

3. Practice and Function of Buddhism

a. Death and the Afterlife

b. Care for Elderly

c. Monks and Education

d. Village Unity

e. Seven Functions of Religion

B. Buddhism and Karen-ness

III. Christianity

A. Christianity comes to the Karen

1. Karen traits influenced acceptance of Christianity

2. Karen have sense of being orphans

3. Karen look forward to prosperity

4. Karen can sometimes feel morally superior

B. Christianity spread best through Karen Christian missionaries

1. Judson’s convert Ko Tha Byu

2. Ko Tha Byu evangelizes the hills

3. Jonathan Wade and Francis Mason reduced Karen to written language

4. Bible gets translated into Karen

5. Karen had folklore which connected to Christian message

a. Similarities of Y’wa and Yahweh stories

b. Karen had been waiting for their younger brother

c. Christians brought new way of life

6. Animism was difficult

7. Medicines brought healing

8. Education was improved

9. Pragmatic reasons helped missionaries convert people

C. Village of Tee Mae Ker Lah

1. Thra Baw Ney

a. Karen need to preserve their culture

b. Baw Ney was Christian since he was young

c. Baw Ney evangelized the hilltribes

d. Founder of church in Tee Mae Ker Lah

2. Church of Tee Mae Ker Lah

3. Pastor Timothy is head of church since 1980

4. Church performs many activities in community

5 The desire to preserve culture of Karen

IV. The Contemporary Karen View-Tradition and Religion

A. What the Missionaries Brought

B. The package deal and modernism

1. Two institutions for improvement

2. Technological approaches

C. Education

1. CUHT-Center for the Uplift of Hill Tribes

2. Sahamit school and Thai involvement

D. Medicine

1. Conklin Clinic and Naw Win

2. Christian ethics in medicine

3. Boon Na, the last medicine man

E. Karen Christianity- The Chosen People?

1. Definition of Worldview and how Christianity has altered

2. Karen Worldview.

a. Ritual

1) Christian worship heavily relies on ritual

2) Continuity from days of Animism

b. Spirits

1) Spirits are metaphors for our fears and sins

3. Dualistic view of the universe--The devil versus God

F. The Karen and Hebrews

1. The oppressed orphans

2. Ties to the traditional Karen tradition

V. Karen Tradition and Christianity- The Plight of Preservation

A. Boon Na

1. Talks of old ways

2. Christianity involved with natural remedies and other medicine.

B. Mojopa

1. Old tradition and connection with the Hebrews

2. Description of Karen Jesus

C. Tongdee

1. Tongdee's viewpoint

2. Does Christianity preserve Karen culture?

D. Timothy and Ester

1. Thai society with the church

2. How they view traditional Karen religion

3. The future of the Tee Mae Ker Lah church

VI. Conclusion

VII. References Cited

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