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Recognizing the contribution of the Captain Chia Koua Vang and Sai Yang Vang.
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WHEREAS, Captain Chia Koua Vang was born on March 8,1945 in Xieng Khouang, Laos; and
WHEREAS, Sai Yang Vang was born on January 8,1946 in Lua Mong, Laos; and
WHEREAS, in 1960, at the young age of 14, Chia Koua was recruited as a soldier for the Auto Defense de Choc (ADC) for the Royal Lao Armed Forces under the leadership of General Vang Pao; and
WHEREAS, from 1962 to 1975, Chia Koua served as an Special Guerrilla Units (SGU) soldier for the United States CIA’s Secret Army against the North Vietnamese Army; and
WHEREAS, Sai was one of the first few Hmong girls to be educated of her generation. She became a teacher in 1963; and
WHEREAS, Chia Koua’s most dangerous mission was the retrieval of Shong Lue Yang, known as “The Hmong Mother of Writing”, from the North Vietnam territory. It was necessary to safely secure Shong Lue Yang out of communist North Vietnam because Shong Lue created a Hmong alphabet, specific to the Hmong language; and
WHEREAS, Chia Koua was chosen as the main disciple by Shong Lue Yang to preserve and continue the teachings of the Hmong writing system, called Pahawh; and
WHEREAS, after immigrating to St. Paul, Minnesota, both Chia Koua and Sai were among the first few Hmong to receive training and get certifications as machinists in 1981; and
WHEREAS, Chia Koua and Sai then ventured into business by opening a grocery store in the west side of St. Paul. They further acquired and renovated several rental properties throughout St. Paul; and
WHEREAS, Chia Koua founded Hmong National Organization, a non-profit organization to promote the Pahawh and Hmong culture; and
WHEREAS, Chia Koua and Sai opened the first Hmong-owned Assisted Living in Frogtown, St. Paul, providing cultural-specific care and services for the community; and
WHEREAS, from 1985 to 2009, Sai worked as a Paralegal for (SMRLS) Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services where she helped the Hmong community with legal assistance; and
WHEREAS, Chia Koua improved the Hmong Pahawh writing system by creating a special Pahawh font typewriter, which now can be used digitally through an app or on a computer; and
WHEREAS, Chia Koua was a recipient of the Bush Fellowship to trace the historical details of the Hmong people and the Pahawh writing system; and
WHEREAS, Chia Koua also co-authored the book “Hmong Mother of Writing” and several other books available on Amazon; and
WHEREAS, Chia Koua devoted his life to preserving and developing the Hmong Pahawh writing system; and
WHEREAS, Sai is proficient in four languages and has dedicated 24 years of her life serving the Hmong community; and
BE IT RESOLVED, the Saint Paul City Council recognizes the profound leadership Captain Chia Koua Vang and Sai Yang Vang has contributed to the city; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby proclaims Saturday, July 26, 2025, as Captain Chia Koua Vang and Sai Yang Vang Day in the City of Saint Paul.