Tel: 612-781-2815
1250 E. 115th Street
Burnsville, MN 55337
612-781-2815
Tou Pao Lor
Author
Tou Pao Lor is a Hmong refugee who was born in Laos in 1971. In May 1979, his father and three children, including Tou, fled from Laos to Thailand because of the Secret War. His mother, second older sister, and younger brother died during their escape. After arriving in the refugee camp, his father did not want to make resettlement plans to any foreign country because he hoped that they would soon be able to return to a peaceful Laos. His father wanted to remain in the camp as long as they could. They lived in three refugee camps in Thailand for sixteen years: Ban Vinai, Chiang Kham, and Phanat Nikhom. While living in the camps, Tou studied Thai, Lao, Hmong, and Chinese for about six years. He also studied English.
His family finally arrived in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1995, when he was about 24 years old and married with two children. He went to an adult school named Hubbs Center for Lifelong Learning to study English and received his adult high school diploma in six months. Going to school as an adult learner was an uphill battle for him, but he made it. In 2012 he completed his doctoral degree in education and leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. Since then, he has been a psychotherapist in the Hmong and Karen communities.
He is writing a few books on his life experiences in Laos, refugee camps in Thailand, and his time in the United States. He likes writing and recording for his family, and he hopes his stories will encourage people to record their life experiences. He remembers the happiness of being together in the village, refugee camp, and the United States, the sadness of leaving, and the joy of reunions that his family has experienced.
About the Books
Finding Mother, Chia and Chao: A Hmong Folktale. is the silver medal winner for the 2024 Midwest Book Awards.
This story exhibits the Hmong cultural beliefs and why most modern Hmong still follow and practice those traditions today. For example, whenever the Hmong have a ceremony, and the food is cooked, we invite the souls of our parents who have already died to come and eat first. We ask them to protect and bless us. We then eat later by setting a new table of food.
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The Mice and the Grain: A Hmong FolkTale from China
This is a very exquisite and fascinating folk tale that tells us how and why mice became thieves and stole grain from humans.
According to the folktale, the mice have a good reason to act the way they have been doing for thousands of years because humans
broke the promise they made with the mice.
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About the Book
The Lauj Family of Minnesota
Tou Pao Lor felt compelled to document the incredible stories of struggle, resilience, and triumph within his extended family. As a first-generation Hmong American, he understood the importance of preserving his family’s journey from war-torn Laos to building a new life in America. After speaking extensively with family members across multiple generations, Tou realized these stories needed to be shared more widely.
The tales Tou gathered from grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins spanned decades of upheaval. They revealed the heartbreaking pain of leaving behind a cherished homeland, as well as the courage required to forge new roots in an unfamiliar country. While each story remained unique, common themes of family bonds, cultural heritage, hard-won freedom, and gratitude emerged. By recording these oral histories, Tou aimed to honor the sacrifices of loved ones and prevent their harrowing yet inspirational experiences from being forgotten. His collection showcases how humans can persevere and adapt when given the opportunity for peace.
The decision to leave their beloved homeland was an extremely difficult one for Tou’s family. Though Laos was no longer a safe place for them, the thought of departing was agonizing. They experienced profound heartache at the notion of leaving behind the lush, mountainous landscapes which had nurtured them since birth. The colorful birds with their cheerful songs, the familiar villages and kind people—saying goodbye to all this was almost too much to bear.
Yet Tou’s family understood there was no other choice. The dangers facing them made remaining in Laos untenable. With heavy hearts, they accepted that in order to have any hope of a secure future, they would need to depart the only home they had ever known. Though it pained them deeply, for the sake of their loved ones, especially the children, they resolved to make the difficult journey to America.
After stepping onto American soil, many family members remark they slept soundly through the night for the first time in their lives. No longer did they need to worry about dangers lurking outside or where their next meal would come from. The U.S. government and the welcoming citizens filled them with appreciation. The generosity and compassion shown gave them hope for a better future.