KAREN PEOPLE IN TASMANIA

The Karen people are indigenous to Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand. They are one of the main ethnic groups in Burma; in Thailand they are described as a hill tribe. Why is this the case? Probably, because although there are Karen people in Thailand and Burma who live simply in villages in the mountains, there are also many Karen people living in towns and cities in Burma. (It might also have something to do with the long-running war/insurgency the Karen have been involved in in Burma for 50+ years, but I’m not going to speak any more on that topic.) Karen people have a strong sense of history that they trace back over 2700 years. They speak several related languages which are quite different from other langauges in the region. They have their own distinctive culture, customs, traditions, and festivals.