Minnesota Tibetan Oral History Project

22 INTERVIEWS

DATE: August – September 2005

INTERVIEWERS: Tsewang Sangmo Lama and Tenzin Khando and Dorjee Norbu and Tenzin Yangdon and Charles Lenz

The Minnesota Tibetan Oral History Project collected interviews from twenty-two immigrants of Tibetan decent living in Minnesota. The project collected first hand stories from members of a young immigrant community establishing themselves in Minnesota.

Narrators were chosen from a variety of backgrounds, community involvement, careers, age, and histories. Many shared stories of the decision to emigrate, expectations of the United States, difficulties adjusting to life in Minnesota, and community triumphs. A major focus of this project was to document the establishment, progression, and to discuss the future of this young community as it seeks to assimilate with a new culture while trying to preserve its own.

The Tibetan interviewers were all college age youth from various backgrounds and immigration histories. They were chosen based on a keen interest in the project and a substantial level of community involvement and academic excellence. Their involvement in the project brought insights that can only come from cultural insiders re-examining their own community. All four Tibetan interviewers were also interviewed as part of this project.

LENGTH OF INTERVIEWS: 27 hours 20 minutes

TRANSCRIPTS: 670 pages