History

The background and history of the Karen tribe

The Karen come from a diverse ethnic mix with many different languages and religions. In the past, the Karen worshipped their ancestors. They believed in the trees and the big forests. As time went on, most Karen groups either adopted Buddhism or Christianity. The Karen originate from Burma but emigrated in large numbers to Thailand as a result of war. Many Karen continued to migrate to Thailand even after the war. The Karen of Thailand can be divided into 4 groups: the Sgaw, which refer to themselves as Pagayor, meaning “human.” The Sgor are the largest of the four groups and have their own written language, which was created by Christian missionaries. It combines both Roman and Burmese characters. Most members of the Sgaw faction have become Christian. The Pro are quite strict in their adherance to traditional ways and customs and can be found in greatest number in Amphur Mae Sa Riang in Mae Hong Son province, Amphur Om Gauy in Chiang Mai province, and the Western border of Thailand. The Ba-way can be found in Amphur Khun Yuan in Mae Hong Son province. As for the Pa Aw, also known as the Tong Su, they exist in Thailand in only small numbers. The Pagayor keep their history alive in the form of hundreds of stories and tales passed on from generation to generation. Although they may not be substantive evidence for historians, they do help preserve and pass on the essence of what it means to be Karen, e.g. their ethnic origins, customs and traditions. It is said these stories have been told since God created the earth. It was God that created humans. It was God that created the first couple: Adam and Eve. The couple lived together in the garden of Eden, which God had created for them. Adam and Eve disobeyed the law of heaven, however, and were thus banished to Earth where they and their children and their children's children were to live out their sentence. This brings us to the present day.

Speaking of Legends       According to legend, the Karen originate from a mountain by the name of Tawtee bplawgaw. The village leader went by the name of Taw mae bpa. His children and grandchildren propagated and prospered to the point they were so great in number the land on the mountain was not sufficient to feed everyone. Taw mae bpa thus decided it was time to move the village. It is said that during the journey Taw mae bpa walked very quickly, determined to reach his destination. When his children wanted to stop and rest he ignored them, walking on. By the time he finally stopped to turn around, he found that his troupe had broken up into little bands; some resting in the Salawin river basin, some in the Erawadi river basin. Each of these groups established themselves in these new locations, causing the Karen tribe to divide and scatter all over Burma, and into the north and east of Thailand. Some documents report that there were Karen living in southeast China as well, until they were chased out of the country. These Karen groups resettled in the middle of Burma and Mon (the Western border area of Burma). Later, under pressure from the Burmese, they moved up into the surrounding mountains. Some reports suggest all Karen who have migrated to Thailand have come from Burma. The only thing unknown is exactly when the Karen came. Historians theorize that some of the Karen emigrated towards the end of the Thai Ayuthaya period and settled in the Lanna region. Others say it was before the Greek Ionian period, which would have been around the time of the birth of the city of Chiang Mai.

Moving to a new homeland       An old man by the name of Peu Moon Boon Bpeng speaks about the history and background of the Karen in Thailand. He claims that the first Karen (Pagayor) settled in Amphur Sa Meurng, in the province of Chiang Mai. They were farmers. Later, during the period before World War II, the Thai government opened the door for foreign companies to bid on a logging project in the sub-district of Mae Yao in Chiang Rai province. The winning bidder would be given the right to harvest the timber in the area and transport it to market overseas. A French company, referred to by the Karen as the "Bo Bay firm," won the contract and the right to harvest the land of its timber. Peu Moon Boon Bpeng explains that the immediate problem encountered by the company upon arrival was communication. The harvesting of the timber was also more difficult than expected. The company employed the services of Karen elephant masters and their elephants to haul felled timber out of the forest. Some of the Karen (Pagayor) that emigrated to the area during that time found the land to be perfect for farming and decided to settle in Naam Laat village, just outside the capital city of Chiang Rai province. These settlers farmed the land until World War II when they united with the Thai military, using their elephants to help transport food and provisions for the soldiers. After the war, many northern Thais began moving into the area, causing congestion and competition for the use of the land. Some of the Karen decided to move once again.

The birth of the sub-district of Mae Yao      The Karen, by nature, are a people that like peace and solitude. When a place becomes too densely populated, they prefer to move away and find a new place to live. At the time that Naam Laat village was filling with people the Karen noticed that the sub-district of Mae Yao, where the logging company had been working, was an ideal location for farming. Dtoodonge Toorawone, an elder (Say Ko), led his extended family to the area where they settled down permanently. Mae Yao, the name for the sub-district, came from the name of the logging project. Another group chose to resettle in the sub-district of Thung Phrao in Amphur Mae Suai, Chiang Rai province. One more sub-group decided to move to the Thai-Burmese border in Kanchanaburi province. To this day the Karen people live in scattered pockets in every region, all over Thailand.

http://akha.hilltribe.org