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Christa Neuenhofer | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> The Kreung Minority in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

The Kreung Minority in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia

Ratanakiri is sparsely populated; its 150,000 residents make up just over 1% of the country's total population. Residents generally live in villages of 20 to 60 families and engage in subsistence shifting agriculture. Ratanakiri is among the least developed provinces of Cambodia. Its infrastructure is poor, and the local government is weak. Health indicators in Ratanakiri are extremely poor, and almost one in four children die before reaching the age of five. Education levels are also low; three quarters of the population is illiterate.
Though the official language of Ratanakiri (like all of Cambodia) is Khmer, each indigenous group speaks its own language. Less than 10% of Ratanakiri's indigenous population can speak Khmer fluently. The Kreung minority makes up 16.3% of Ratanakiri`s population. (source: Wikipedia)
The following pictures were taken in the Kreung hill tribe villages Kameng, Poy, Krase and Nong Leg.
In Kameng people were just celebrating the beginning of the rice harvest. Women were dancing and singing and men were playing the gongs. After that every family brought a big jar of rice wine to the community house. One member was sitting behind each jar and said a short prayer by touching the mouth of the jar with a small stick. Then the villagers went from jar to jar, sipped some rice wine and told the owners whether they liked or disliked their rice wine.
Kreung women sing and dance. A celebration at the beginning of the harvest season.
Kreung women sing and dance. A celebration at the beginning of the harvest season.
Kameng harvest celebretion.
Kameng harvest celebretion.
Man playing the biggest gong in Kameng, Cambodi.a.
Man playing the biggest gong in Kameng, Cambodi.a.
Kreung men playing the gongs. Beginning of harvest celebration in Kameng, Cambodia.
Kreung men playing the gongs. Beginning of harvest celebration in Kameng, Cambodia.
Before the rice wine is tasted, the Kreung people speak a short prayer. Kameng, Cambodia.
Before the rice wine is tasted, the Kreung people speak a short prayer. Kameng, Cambodia.
Jars of rice wine, Kameng, Cambodia.
Jars of rice wine, Kameng, Cambodia.
Happy Kreung lady during the pre-harvest celebration.
Happy Kreung lady during the pre-harvest celebration.
Kreung community house with sacred banana plant in Kameng, Cambodia.
Kreung community house with sacred banana plant in Kameng, Cambodia.
Sacrificial place for the animist Kreung in Kameng village, Cambodia.
Sacrificial place for the animist Kreung in Kameng village, Cambodia.
Such a small basket belongs to every sacrificial place of the animist Kreung.
Such a small "basket" belongs to every sacrificial place of the animist Kreung.
In Kameng village in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia.
In Kameng village in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia.
Kreung house in Kameng village, Cambodia.
Kreung house in Kameng village, Cambodia.
Inside a Kreung house in Kameng village, Cambodia.
Inside a Kreung house in Kameng village, Cambodia.
Kitchen inside a Kreung house in Kameng village, Cambodia.
Kitchen inside a Kreung house in Kameng village, Cambodia.
Modern times have also reached small Kreung villages in Cambodia.
Modern times have also reached small Kreung villages in Cambodia.
Kreung woman in Kameng village.
Kreung woman in Kameng village.
Old Kreung lady in Krase, Cambodia.
Old Kreung lady in Krase, Cambodia.
Old Kreung lady in her house in Krase, Cambodia.
Old Kreung lady in her house in Krase, Cambodia.
Girls` house in Kameng village, Cambodia.
Girls` house in Kameng village, Cambodia.
Boys` house in Nong Leg village.Cambodia.
Boys` house in Nong Leg village.Cambodia.
Community house in Nong Leg village, Cambodia.
Community house in Nong Leg village, Cambodia.
Woman with traditional basket in Nong Leg village, Cambodia.
Woman with traditional basket in Nong Leg village, Cambodia.
Old Kreung man from Nong Leg village, Cambodia
Old Kreung man from Nong Leg village, Cambodia
A small Kreung orphan, weaving to support her grandmother in Krase, Cambodia.
A small Kreung orphan, weaving to support her grandmother in Krase, Cambodia.
Kreung ladies in Banlung market, Cambodia.
Kreung ladies in Banlung market, Cambodia.