Forty years after immigrating to the United States from Southeast Asia, Hmong people celebrated with the opening of a major multi-media exhibition documenting their history, and an academic triumph that will help preserve their culture. Fresno State University announced this week the creation of a Hmong minor in the Linguistics Department. It’s being hailed as an important step in the study and furtherance of Hmong language and culture. Hmong people, an ethnic minority living in northern Laos, aided the US military and CIA in the Secret War waged against the Communist government. After the war, they were forced to flee to refugee camps set up in Thailand, where they lived until they be repatriated to a host country. Many thousands landed in Central Valley where they created a new life. Pacifica’s Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.