Neighborhood News: Albany Park’s National Cambodian Heritage Museum is “a one of a kind experience”
“We must not forget.
We will transform our past suffering into a positive future.
We will continue life’s journey with understanding, compassion, and wisdom.”
National Cambodian Heritage Museum
As Asian American Pacific Islanders Heritage Month comes to a close, it’s worth a trip to Albany Park to experience the remarkable journey of Cambodian-Americans at the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial, 2831 W. Lawrence Avenue, established in 2004 under the auspices of the Cambodian Association of Illinois (CAI).
The Museum & Memorial is the only museum of its kind in the US, dedicating its programs and activities to the Cambodian genocide awareness and social justice, advocacy for genocide survivors and their families through healing arts and youth leadership.
As Choose Chicago notes, the museum provides an unforgettable educational experience and offers a place for reflection, healing and celebration of the human spirit.
What Are ‘The Killing Fields?’
As Wikipedia sources note, the Killing Fields were sites in Cambodia where more than 1.3 million people were killed and buried by the Communist Party of Kampuchea during Khmer Rouge rule from 1975 to 1979. The mass killings were part of the broad, state-sponsored Cambodian genocide.
The Cambodian journalist Dith Pran coined the term “killing fields” after his escape from the regime, and his journey was chronicled in the 1984 movie “The Killing Fields.“
The Khmer Rouge government targeted artists and intellectuals, destroying their books, closing schools and banning religion, according to Borderless Magazine.
Healing and Reflection at the Museum
In a recent article on Borderless, Museum Board President Laura Ouk expressed the hope that exhibits like “the Killing Fields” serve as a reminder to “never forget the past” and help reshape perceptions of the Cambodian community.
“When there is information about us, people just only think of us, you know, in relation to the genocide. But we’re so much more than just the genocide,” Ouk said.
The museum mission is to cultivate culture and reunite people with their roots through the arts, events and youth leadership development activities.
In 2004, the Cambodian American Heritage Museum & the Killing Fields Memorial was established under the auspice of CAI.
Today
According to Borderless, around the museum’s walls are quotes by survivors who share their struggles, stating, “The key to survival was hard work and silence.”
EveryApril, the Museumhosts an annual Day of Remembrance
The museum, in collaboration with multidisciplinary professionals, employs a holistic approach to address these complex challenges that survivors and their families face.
The museum provides various pathways that community members can use to explore the process of healing—with a special focus on arts and creative engagements, including dance, music, spoken words, photographs, creative writing, drawing, sculpture, and other various forms of creative expression.
Arts Programming
Dance, music and art are key to keeping Cambodian culture alive in the United States. Saturdays, the Museum hosts cultural performances and teaches music and art classes. As reported by WTTW, Punisa Pov, who teaches the music classes at the Museum, has seen how traditional Cambodian music and dance can bridge a traumatic generational divide.
“Culture can be a way for the generations to connect,” she told WTTW, telling the story of a performance through CAI where two girls danced to music that included the singing of both their mother and grandmother—three generations joining together through art.
“The survivors [of the genocide] want their family to understand, so this is a way to provide comfort.”
Youth Leadership & Mentorship
Every Thursday from 6pm to 7:30pm, youth and young adults between the age of 15-34 are invited to take part in activities to educate youth and young adults about the Cambodian culture while capturing the experiences of Cambodian-Americans. The programs range from civic engagement to field trips to guest speakers and beyond.
All members of the Cambodian and Chicago communities are welcome to participate in these classes and events.
Killing Fields Memorial
Utilizing the calming, reflective elements of glass, stone, water, and light effects, the museum’s memorial was designed for quiet contemplation and includes the individual names of thousands of relatives lost by Cambodians.
A video collection of photos and biographies of lost loved ones from surviving family members allows visitors to view the faces and better understand the lives behind the names.
The Wall of Remembrance promotes the healing of the survivors and poignantly illustrates the unfathomable loss for those who did not experience it, as their website notes. The museum invites others to share their memories and add their own loved ones names.
The museum is open Tuesday – Friday from 10am–4pm by appointment only, and Saturday from 11am-3pm by appointment only. For more information, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
