But in my dreams

  • Dates
    2022 - Ongoing
  • Author
  • Locations Saint Paul, Stillwater, Forest Lake, Minneapolis, Chisago City

“I have comfortable life here but I do miss home and I went back to Myanmar many many times...” Aung Chaimt paused, “...But in my dreams”, then he laughed. Aung Chaimt left Myanmar in 1990 for political reasons after 1988 uprising.

Decades of turmoil in Myanmar—resulting from civil war and the ongoing military oppression—have led to the massive displacement of people from the motherland. Over 200,000 people in the Myanmar diaspora have resettled in the US, forming communities that are diverse ethnically and religiously, characteristic of the Myanmar mosaic of people.

Since the coup in February 2021, tensions in the homeland have intensified under a retrograde military dictatorship, leading to sustained trauma and political violence that, even at a distance, affects the Myanmar diaspora community. These stresses are added to the many struggles they face in their new home, such as racial discrimination—including the rise of violence against Asians in the US—language barriers, loss of a sense of belonging, and poor access to health care. All this hardly allows them the physical and mental space to heal from their trauma.

Low-paying jobs and issues with health insurance and visa status create barriers to meaningful mental health support in the US. Furthermore, education about mental health is nonexistent in Myanmar, making it a taboo topic even today. Nevertheless, there have always been alternative mechanisms to stabilize mental health, especially ongoing cultural practices among the diaspora that involve communal activities and food traditions.

This project aims to explore how cultural practices within the diverse Myanmar ethnic communities in the US help enact alternative mental health care, reflecting the lived experience of how border regimes affect access and subsequent formations of identities among the Myanmar diaspora.

I am using collaborative photography approach and active listening within the diaspora community in Minnesota, which is home to the biggest Burmese population in the US. As a Burmese artist who fled Myanmar after the 2021 coup and arrived in the US recently myself, working with diverse ethnic groups from the diaspora has helped me rebuild my sense of belonging and practice self-care. At the same time, this work lets me unlearn some of the false history I was taught, as I come to better understand the systematic Burmanization of ethnic minorities perpetrated by my Burmese ancestors.

The ultimate goal of this project is the creation of a dual book that incorporates photo narrative with ethnic food recipes. This book would celebrate resilience among the diverse ethnic immigrants from Myanmar and highlight how cultural practices within the diaspora alleviate mental health care issues created by the border regime. Given the many obstacles they face, cultural practices and alternative methods of coping with trauma and mental health issues have the potential to best serve the diaspora in their day-to-day life, and I trust this visual storytelling project can catalyze conversations about health equity in the US.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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Twin Cities Area, Minnesota, United States, July 2022. Among the Myanmar diaspora, over 200,000 have resettled to the US. Minnesota is one of the areas with the largest Myanmar diaspora community in the US.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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The shore of St. Croix River - border water between Minnesota and Wisconsin - where Xcel Energy powerplant is located. Xcel powerplant has been listed as one of the most green house gas polluting plants in the US, and it is operated by firing coal.

© Min Ma Naing - Twin Cities Area, Minnesota, United States, July 2022.
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Twin Cities Area, Minnesota, United States, July 2022.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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Woman dancer from Sein Win Ko Dance Troupe prepares herself before her performance back stage at the communal ordination ceremony on July 30th 2022. Sein Win Ko Dance Troupe is a group composed of young people from diverse Myanmar ethnic groups such as Karen, Burmese, etc, who are from different parts of the US, from Rochester, Upstate New York, to Saint Paul, Minnesota.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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Karen wedding at Ebenezer Karen Baptist church in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on July 17th 2022. Among the Myanmar diaspora, over 200,000 have resettled to the US. Minnesota is one of the areas with the largest Myanmar diaspora community in the US.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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Community members from the first Baptist Church, Saint Paul, enjoy the fishing trip at the shore of St. Croix river, which is the border water between Minnesota and Wisconsin, July 19th 2022.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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Kyaw Poe poses for his portrait at Dhamma Thuka Karen Monastery in Harris, Minnesota, on July 30th 2022. Kyaw Poe said “I often come to this monastery because it’s difficult for us to meet our friends in the US. It’s not like in Myanmar where we could easily hang out at the teashop.” He adds, “I am excited to see this opera show because this is my first time watching live opera in 30 years since I left Myanmar.”.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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Twin Cities Area, Minnesota, United States, July 2022. Aung Chaimt said, “I have comfortable life here but I do miss home and I went back to Myanmar many times...”, he paused, “...But in my dreams” he laughed. Aung Chaimt left Myanmar in 1990 for political reasons after the 1988 uprising.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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The audience enjoy Sein Win Ko Dance Troup’s opera show on July 30th 2022, after their communal ordination ceremony at Dhamma Thukha Karen Monastery, Harris, Minnesota. Dhamma Thuka Monastery was relocated from Saint Paul to Harris in 2019 because of neighbor’s noise complaints from holding cultural activities, according the head monk U Ashin Uttamalinkara. He added, “It’s important to be able to hold this kind of cultural and religious events, so that this will help keep our culture alive in our community and also it’s the only bridge between young and old generation.”.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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Hla Myint’s outdoor garden kitchen in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on July 22nd 2022. She said, “We use this outdoor garden kitchen most of the time. We mainly use our inside stove just to warm up the dishes sometimes. We cook here even in winter. But we have to be really careful when to cook at this out door kitchen to avoid complaints from the neighbors who are not familiar with our cooking.”.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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A Karen young man plays traditional drum at the communal ordination ceremony at Dhamma Thuka Monestry in Harris, Minnesota, on July 30th 2022. Dhamma Thuka Monastery was relocated from Saint Paul to Harris in 2019 because of neighbor’s noise complaints from holding cultural activities, according the head monk U Ashin Uttamalinkara. He added, “It’s important to be able to hold this kind of cultural and religious events, so that this will help keep our culture alive in our community and also it’s the only bridge between young and old generation.”.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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The head of the deer taxidermy is seen at one of the Burmese grocery store in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The owner said he got this as a gift from his hunter friend and he is so proud to display it at his shop. Hunting and fishing have been cultural practices among ethnic minorities from Myanmar, passed down through the generations.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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In August 2018, Saw Nay Plo committed suicide in the forest of Saint Paul’s Willow Reserve (changed name by request of the surviving family).

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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Pyone spends the evening in her garden after work. She said, “It’s actually a good way out. My dad passed gardening down to me. To him gardening is memory of home, Myanmar. Though I was born in Burmese refuge camp at Thailand/Myanmar border, gardening with my dad helps me connect to Myanmar but most importantly helps me connect with my dad more.”.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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Naw Reedoh fishes in front of Xcel Energy’s Allen S. King powerplant which is located on the bank of St. Croix river bordering between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Reedoh said, “Fishing is a mental escape for me because it’s peaceful and I also have more time to hang out with my friends while I am fishing. I got the practice of fishing back in my childhood days in Myanmar. I am the only one who fishes in my family here but I try to teach fishing to my daughter.”.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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In front of Xcel Energy’s Allen S. King power plant which is located on the bank of St. Croix river, bordering between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Xcel powerplant has been listed as one of the most green house gas polluting plants in the US, and it is operated by firing coal.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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Visitor at a house warming party held by a Karen family in Forest Lake, Minnesota.Among the Myanmar diaspora, over 200,000 have resettled to the US. Minnesota is one of the areas with the largest Myanmar diaspora community in the US.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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Kay and May enjoy their evening in their family garden after their Mon language class at Mon Buddhist Temple of Minnesota. The Monastery has been organizing Mon language classes for 5 years. The head monk said that teaching Mon language to children was not only to help them understand their own roots but also to facilitate better communication between the children and the parents, as some of the community members are not fluent in English.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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Vegetables from Hla Myint’s backyard garden. She said, “Gardening is a way out from stress and I grow vegetables mainly used for mon cooking. Spending time in this garden reminds me of my family’s village house back in Mon State, Myanmar.”.

© Min Ma Naing - Image from the But in my dreams photography project
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Sitagu Dhamma Vihara, Chisago city, Minnesota. Their website says, “The Sitagu Association, the international umbrella organization with which the Vihara is affiliated, was founded in Burma by Ashin Nyanissara in 1980, to promote Buddhist education and public welfare.”. Ashin Nyanissara is commonly known as Sitagu Sayadaw. After the recent military coup in Myanmar, Sitagu Sayadaw—considered one of the nation’s most respected monks—backed the dictator Min Aung Hlaing operating as his head monk. Mean while, Min Aung Hlaing’s armed military forces brutally killed thousands of people including innocent children in their own classrooms. As of October 5th 2022, 2336 people have been confirmed killed and 12572 people have been detained, as recorded by AAPP. According to the New York Times, Sitagu Sayadaw reportedly said that Myanmar’s military and the Buddhist clergy cannot be divided.

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