Sib Hlub Sib Txhawb: A Methodology for HMoob In-relations Mentoring

• In Event: Reclaiming Selves, Histories, Language, and Culture Through Relational Processes of (Re)membering

Abstract

This paper offers a framework for HMoob in-relations mentorship: Sib hlub sib txhawb. This mentorship is inspired by Tachine & Nicollazo (2023) and re-members (Ngo, 2024) HMoob forms of relating, teaching, and learning (Vue & Author, 2021). Sib hlub sib txhawb means to mutually love and support. We use the making of Dlaim Tab/Daim Tiab (HMoob pleated skirts) for its framework. Our context for inquiry is Lub Zej Zog (LZZ)’s HMoob Research Fellows: a four year mentorship project with fourteen emerging/advancing HMoob scholars from six disciplines, twelve universities, and six US states. We asked: How does the process of sib hlub sib txhawb (HMoob in-relations mentoring) resist extractive academic norms and foster collective healing and transformation?
We used a braided methodology (McGregor, et al, 2018) of critical multi-person autoethnography, extending ways of knowing while reflecting sociohistorical and political ecologies of power. Data included reflexive notes, adapted plática, and storywork sessions. We analyzed recursively, first identifying key moments and dilemmas, and then collectively re-membering possible linkages to HMoob ways of mentorship.
The resulting framework involves four tenets, with tenets 2-4 repeating - just as making and keeping HMoob infinity skirts requires mindful and repeated re-pleating.
Tenet 1: Sij Hawm: This is the time required to make, pleat, and re-pleat a skirt. As mentorship, this involves (1) npaj: preparing and tending the relationship, (2) xaws: (sewing/doing) mentoring being how you are with each other and what you do when you are called, (3) Lauj sij hawm: spending intentional and meaningful time together.
Tenet 2 (repeating): Ua Zam/Zaam: This is to dress in our finest traditional clothing, representing a yearlong sacrifice of time and effort creating something beautiful. When we “ua zam/zaam” our HMoob clothes, we remind ourselves and others of our roots and our support for one another.
Tenet 3 (repeating): Khaws Nre: This is the keeping of the skirts’ infinity pleats (Lee, 2024) through pleating and re-pleating, a protective design that must be re-stitched after each wearing. Khaws Nre is the threading and re-threading of LZZ’s far-flung scholars together through HMoob mentoring. Without ongoing attention, our pleats can lose their folds, leaving smooth fabric that may forget its purpose - though it carries memories of its folds, and can be re-pleated.
Tenet 4 (repeating): Khaws Ca/Caa: When skirts are worn, they must be re-pleated: folding, rolling, and tying the skirt to hold its pleats shape so it can ua zam/zaam again. In mentorship, each pleat is a person whose ideas all must find their place together to complete the mentorship skirt. A special thread is needed for this task: strong enough to move through our fabric without tearing at the effort to keep us together.
Sib hlub sib txhawb involves reciprocal love and care through mutual mentoring actions. We are called on to move patiently, improve over time, forgive and wear what we have made, bring and teach knowledge, and honor the shape of each fold, which makes up our skirt’s memory with every wearing.

Authors

• Vicky C. Xiong-Lor, California State University - Fresno

• Kaozong Nancy Mouavangsou, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

• Jenna Cushing-Leubner, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater