CHUT PEOPLE Chut ethnic group Name of ethnic group: Chut (Ruc, Sach, Arem, May, Ma Lieng, Tu Vang, Pa Leng, Xe Lang, To Hung, Cha Cu, Tac Cuc, Ymo, and Xa La Vang) Population: 3,829 people Locality: Minh Hoa and Tuyen Hoa districts of Quang Binh Province. Customs and habits: Though most Chut live a sedentary life, their villages are quite separated and their houses are temporary. Each lineage has its leader and an altar to worship their common ancestors. Among the leaders of the lineages, those who can win the highest prestige will be proclaimed village chief. Matrimony is still practiced. The Chut have very simple funerals. Culture: The Chut language belongs to the Viet-Muong Group. The Chut have inherited a rich folk art and culture. The folk songs are called Ka-tum and Ka-lenh, and are very popular among many people. The ancient tales of the Chut are diverse and have various themes. The Chut play pan-pipes and six-hole flutes. Economy: The Chut are primarily involved in agriculture and they practice slash and burn cultivation. They also practice hunting, gathering, fishing, and animal husbandry. Carpentry and basketry are another means of income generation. Introduction / History Possibly as many as 700 people of the May ethnic group live in a remote area along the Laos-Vietnam border in the Bouarapha District of Khammouan Province. Wurm and Hattori, in their 1981 Language Atlas of the Pacific Area, listed a total population of 1,500 May in Laos and Vietnam. Their location has been given as both sides of the Vietnam-Laos border, east of Phuc Trac, southeast of the Arem. The May are part of a larger group called Chut. These days, most of the different tribes of Chut speak one language, but in the past they spoke different dialects and fought with each other. Still today, however, each group carries its own ethnicity and customs. In Laos, the May were officially counted in the 1995 census under the Xaek (Sach) ethnic group. The name May means beggar in their own language, which is part of the Viet-Muong branch of Mon-Khmer. The several different tribes of Chut in Laos are called Kha Tong Luang (Yellow-Leaf People) by local people because they used to build temporary shelters made of banana leaves, and moved on when the leaves had yellowed and withered. This has led to a great deal confusion among researchers and ethnographers because there are two other groups in Laos who practice the same custom. We have named these other two groups Mlabri and Aheu. May women are experts at finding edible roots, snails, vegetables and mushrooms on the forest floor. May men hunt small game using traps and crossbows with poisoned arrows. Dogs are also used to track animals during large-scale hunting expeditions. When a May dies, the corpse is kept inside the house for three days. Mourners present offerings of food to the soul of the deceased. After three days the corpse is placed in a grave, which is filled with soil until a mound of dirt remains above ground. The various Chut tribes share a common belief in a Creator God. They take great care to recite their legends to future generations in stories and folk-songs called ka-tum and ka-lenh. Prayer Points * Pray the May would soon be introduced to their loving Creator, who longs to be in relationship with them. * Ask God to send His workers to the May in both Laos and Vietnam. * Pray the May may no longer be known as beggars, but as children of the King and joint-heirs with Christ. * Pray for translation of the Bible to begin in this people groups primary language. * Pray for the availability of the Jesus Film in the primary language of this people. * Pray for Gospel messages to become available in audio format for this people group.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 10:30:23 +0000
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