|
Nyaw, Tai Nyo |
| People Group: |
Nyaw, Tai Nyo |
 |
 |
| Location: |
Central Laos |
| Population: |
15,000 |
| Religion: |
Buddhism |
| % Christian: |
1.0
% |
| % Evangelical: |
Less 2% |
| Ministry
Resources: |
One known Church |
|
|
Total People Group
Population: |
75,000 |
Other Countries SEAMisT
Links to: |
Thailand |
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Additional Information:
More than 13,000 Tai Nyo live in central Laos. Their
main location is within the Pakkading District of Borikhamxai Province,
where they are spread out over almost the entire district. The Tai Nyo
spill over into the Pakxan and Borikhan districts of Borikhamxai, and
also the Hinboun District of Khammouan Province.
An unspecified number of Tai Nyo also live among the Thai Isan people in
northeastern Thailand. Although no figure has been estimated, it is
believed there are many Tai Nyo living in Thailand.
 Although
they maintain a separate ethnicity, the Tai Nyo speak a language similar
to Phutai. When people from the two groups meet, they are able to
communicate with each other without too many problems except some
different pronunciation and a few different words. Because of these
similarities, the Tai Nyo were counted as part of the Phutai ethnic
group in the 1995 Lao census.
Many Tai Nyo live along the Mekong River, which they fish from. The
Mekong is the 12th longest river in the world (the 10th largest in terms
of volume). Until recently, there was not a single bridge crossing the
Mekong into Laos. The Thai-Lao Friendship bridge, constructed with the
help of the Australian government, was opened in late 1993. Recently,
plans have been announced to build the first dam on the Mekong in Laos.
This dam will flood at least 609 square kilometers (238 square miles) of
land, and will require some 43,000 people to relocate their homes.
The Tai Nyo believe in many spirits and gods. Buddhism has made little
impact on them, despite the fact they have lived alongside the Lao for a
considerable time. Some of the major spirits worshipped by the Tai Nyo
include the spirit of the rice, water, forest, village and trees. They
also worship the spirit of heaven, as do the Phutai.
There are a small number of known Tai Nyo Christians on both sides of
the Lao-Thai border. They usually meet in Lao churches in Laos, or Isan
churches in Thailand.
No Scriptures or recordings exist in the Tai Nyo language, but until
they do, Phutai and Lao material could be used.
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