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The Daw Kev (funeral officiant, pronounced “Thdaw Kea”) begins the funeral ceremony to guide the spirit of the deceased back to the Hmong cosmological homeland. He chants an ancient Hmong funeral song, March 30, 2006.

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Members of the Yang family watch the funeral. Chong Yang, Ia’s father, is fourth from left. Marge Bilsten, a supporter who helped sponsor the funerals, sent Chong and his wife to a tailor at her own expense so that they would have proper attire for the funerals. Chong had never owned or worn a suit and tie before.

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Yang family members watch the Daw Kev’s ceremony. Doua Vang-Yang, Ia’s mother, is second from left, March 30, 2006.

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A moment arrives at every Hmong funeral when all the mourners cry together, March 30, 2006.

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Yang women support each other in their shared grief, March 30, 2006.

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Chong Yang’s Father, Blia Tou Yang, cries for Ia, March 30, 2006.

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A Yang relative cries for Ia, March 30, 2006.

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Chong Yang’s mother, Blia Yang, cries for her granddaughter, Ia, March 30, 2006.

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Chong Yang’s sister, Mai, cries for her niece, Ia, March 30, 2006.

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A Yang relative mourns Ia, March 30, 2006.

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Doua Vang-Yang (right) is comforted by her sister-in-law, Mai Yang (center), March 30, 2006.

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A qeeb player (pronounced “keng”) sweeps the area near Ia’s casket to chase away dab (evil spirits, pronounced “dah!”), March 30, 2006.

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Men from the Yang family bow down in gratitude for donations received to help pay for the cost of the funeral. This practice is followed at every Hmong funeral, where many attendees make cash contributions, March 30, 2006.

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Men from the Yang family bow down in gratitude for donations received to help pay for the cost of the funeral. This practice is followed at every Hmong funeral, where many attendees make cash contributions, March 30, 2006.

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Closeup of a qeeb player’s hands (pronounced “keng”). Pitch is controlled by moving fingers on and off of small holes in the bamboo pipes, March 30, 2006.

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Men from the Yang family bow down in gratitude for donations received to help pay for the cost of the funeral. This practice is followed at every Hmong funeral, where many attendees make cash contributions, March 31, 2006.

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Men from the Yang family bow down in gratitude for donations received to help pay for the cost of the funeral. Brothers Chon Yang (right) and Tou Yang (left) came from Merced for the funerals, as did many other relatives. This practice of gratitude is followed at every Hmong funeral, where many attendees make cash contributions, March 31, 2006.

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Yang funerals-34

Men from the Yang family bow down in gratitude for donations received to help pay for the cost of the funeral. This practice is followed at every Hmong funeral, where many attendees make cash contributions, March 31, 2006.

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Men from the Yang family bow down in gratitude for donations received to help pay for the cost of the funeral. Moua Vang (center) is a local Hmong language broadcaster who played a significant role in raising money to support the Yang family. This practice of gratitude is followed at every Hmong funeral, where many attendees make cash contributions, March 31, 2006.

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Ia’s grandfather, March 31, 2006.

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A Yang elder member delivers the eulogy for Ia, March 31, 2006.

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Michael Rabar (left) was the director of Palm Memorial Chapel in Fresno, where the three funerals were held. His offer of a significant discount to the Yang family helped make it possible for these funerals to take place in a venue where no Hmong memorial had ever been held, thus building a bridge between communities, March 31, 2006.

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Chong Yang, his arm in a sling from an injury sustained while rescuing his family from the fire, watches as Ia’s casket is moved from the hearse to the burial site. Ia was his favorite daughter, March 31, 2006.

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La’s female cousins and relatives pay their final respects.

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Yang funerals-41

La’s male cousins and relatives pay their final respects.

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