Food offerings, alter at Cambodian Temple, Silver Spring, Maryland

After the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970’s, approximately 150,000 people resettled in the United States from Cambodia. Today, the Cambodian community in Washington D.C. area is one of the largest in the nation. Members of the community make great effort to educate the youth and preserve the traditional Cambodian arts and culture.

Religion plays an important role in the community. There are many Cambodian temples and religious organizations in the D.C. area alone. These organizations such as The Cambodian Buddhist Society and the Vatt Buddhikarama function as the center of the community, providing a place for fellowship and education. Many of these organizations offer celebrations and services in both Khmer and English. The temples also offer classes on religion, language and dance, enabling the children of the community to learn their cultural heritage.

Dance is an important part of Cambodian culture. There are many Cambodian dance troupes and dance schools for children across the United States. In the D.C. area, organizations such as The Cambodian-American Heritage, Inc. (CAHI) were formed to maintain the tradition of Cambodian performing arts. One of our interviewees, Madam Sam-Oeun Tes, who is the director of the Cambodian American Heritage, Inc. was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship for her achievement of introducing Cambodian classical dance to the American public. These fellowships recognize lifetime achievement, artistic excellence, and contributions to our nation’s traditional arts heritage.

In the following interviews, you will find incredible Cambodian American women from the Washington, DC area community. They are all brave women who have maintained their positive attitude through their transnational journeys. These women are carrying on their traditions, sharing their wisdom, and keeping the community strong.