Working with New Americans: Bhutanese and Somali Populations K A T H E R I N E D A C H T L E R L U T H E R A N S O C I A L S E R V I C E S N E W A M E R I C A N S
Agenda Lutheran Social Services New Americans Bhutanese Refugees The Journey Culture Religion Somali Refugees The Journey Culture Religion
LSS New Americans Who is a refugee? A person or peoples who have been persecuted or fear they will be persecuted on account of race, religion, nationality, and/or membership in a particular social group or political opinion.
LSS New Americans What is asylum? Meet the definition of refugee Are already in the United States Are seeking admission at a port of entry
LSS New Americans Resettlement UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Assisted approximately 50 million people 15.4 million refugees (2013) Repatriation Local Integration Third Country Resettlement Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), asylum seekers, returnees, stateless people
LSS New Americans Resettlement countries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others Identification of refugees in need of resettlement Screening and processing, application Integration into country offering resettlement Each year, about 1% of refugees submit for resettlement Which countries resettle?
LSS New Americans New culture.new language. U.S.A. Year 2013: 69,927 refugee arrivals Total in ND: 449 GF: 132, FAR: 279, WFAR: 8, MOOR 20, BIS: 10 Since 1975, U.S. resettled approximately 3.1 million+ refugees Immigration status
LSS New Americans Refugee Benefits Refugee Employment & Case Management Social Services Programming Refugee Medical Assistance Health Screening Reception & Placement Funds/Refugee Cash Assistance
LSS New Americans FY-2013 Arrivals for North Dakota FY-2013 Arrivals for North Dakota Oct-12 Nov-12 Dec-12 Jan-13 Feb-13 Mar- 13 Apr-13 May- 13 Jun-13 Jul-13 Aug-13 Sep-13 FY-Totals New Arrivals 30 26 26 23 71 44 35 40 21 19 53 61 449 Secondary Migrants 10 9 9 6 9 21 7 9 1 11 92 Asylees 2 1 3 URM 7 1 1 1 1 11 TOTAL 42 35 42 23 77 53 56 47 32 21 65 62 555 FARGO Individuals 17 19 15 22 47 34 15 29 15 13 26 27 279 WEST FARGO Individuals 1 6 1 8 MOORHEAD Individuals 5 3 6 6 20 BISMARCK Individuals 4 6 10 GRAND FORKS Individuals 8 4 11 0 20 4 20 10 6 6 15 28 132 TOTAL 449
The Journey Bhutanese Refugees
Bhutanese Refugees
Bhutanese Refugees Culture Ngalongs, Sarchops, Lothsampas 95% Lothsampa or Southern Bhutanese Approximately 108,000 refugees Main language: Nepalese Bhutan: Dzongkha Education
Bhutanese Refugees Culture Lhotsampa names (2 parts) Children: 2 first names given Parental discretion Caste System Nice to meet you Namaste
Bhutanese Refugees Culture Let s Eat! Traditional diet: Vegetables & grain/legumes Hindus: Please don t pass the beef or pork Bhuddists: Please don t pass the protein
Bhutanese Refugees Culture Driglam Namzha, 1989 Public Mandate What is traditional? Men Bhutanese: Gho, Kabney Nepalese: Daura Surual Women Bhutanese: Kira, Toego, Rachu Nepalese: Varies Guniu, Sari, Tongok, etc.
Bhutanese Refugees Culture Family is deeply valued Safety net when in need Extended family lives together Elders deeply respected
Bhutanese Refugees Culture Patriarchal Society Marriage Male & Female Roles Refugees in the US Family Structure Adult time vs. Child time It takes a village Child-rearing Different development milestones timeline
Bhutanese Refugees Culture Caste and Clan What s in a name? Marriage, polygamy Generational conflict Common Values Family-focused kinship Democracy Respect & Hospitality Frugality & Collaboration
Bhutanese Refugees Religion Hinduism Buddhism Christianity Kirat Nature-base, animism
Bhutanese Refugees Cultural Resources Center for Applied Linguistics http://www.culturalorientation.net/learning/population s/bhutanese Department of State http://www.state.gov/p/sca/ci/index.htm United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees http://www.unhcr.org
The Journey Somali Refugees
Ifo, Hagadera, Dagahaley Dadaab, Kenya
Somali Refugees Culture 85% homogeneous Minority groups: Arabs, Southeast Asians, Bantus Main language: Somali 2 dialects: Af Maay and Af Maxaa Arabic, French, Italian, English, Russian, Swahili
Somali Refugees Culture Somali names (3 parts) Rhyme and reason Nicknames Married name? Nice to meet you Shaking hands
Somali Refugees Culture Let s Eat! Traditional diet: low in calories, high protein Please don t pass the pork or the alcohol Xalaal or Halal
Somali Refugees Culture Let s Eat! Cultural Chew Qat Chaat, caat, khat, Quatt, kat, and tchat
Somali Refugees Culture Diverse Traditional Dress Formal and public: Western Non formal/rural: Traditional What is traditional? Men Benadiry kufia Women Depends upon region, marital status or religious belief Guntiino Hejab or Hijab Henna = Celebration!
Somali Refugees Culture Family is deeply valued Safety net when in need Protection of family honor is important
Somali Refugees Culture Patriarchal Society Marriage Women s freedoms Female head of household Family Structure Hierarchal Basic needs focused It takes a village Loyalty and Honor are paramount.
Somali Refugees Culture Clans and Tribes What s in a name? Conflict vs. Solidarity Younger generation s take Whom are you from? Common Values Independence & Individualism Democracy & Egalitarianism Humor & Generosity Strength & Pride
Somali Refugees Religion Islam Peace and Submission to God 5 Pillars Declaration of faith Daily prayer Fasting Ramadan Concern for the needy/charity Making the pilgrimage to Makkah or Mecca Majority: Sunnis
Somali Refugees Religion Daily Prayer 5 times a day Every 1-1.5 hrs Approximately 15 minutes Time is important! Friday Prayer 12:00 pm Men are obligated, not women
Somali Refugees Religion Ramadan Scorching Muhammad s Revelations 9 th month of Islamic Calendar 30 days or Holy Month Prayers and fasting Pregnant/breastfeeding women, sick, travelers, children Dawn to sunset : No food or water Suhur or predawn meal Iftar or meal to break the fast
Somali Refugees Cultural Resources World Wide Prayer Times http://www.islamicity.com/prayertimes/ Center for Applied Linguistics http://www.cal.org/co/somali/somtxt.html Department of State http://www.state.gov/p/af/ci/so/ United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees http://www.unhcr.org
Q & A K A T H E R I N E D A C H T L E R R E S E T T L E M E N T C O O R D I N A T O R 4 1 2 D E M E R S A V E. G R A N D F O R K S, ND 5 8 2 0 1 K D A C H T L E R @ L S S N D. O R G ( 7 0 1 ) 7 8 7-7 7 4 3