Akha Tribe Of Thailand

Akha is a tribal group that originated from southwest China. Besides north Thailand, this tribe is also found in China, Laos and Burma. Today there are approximately 20,000 Akha living in northern Thailand in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in the higher altitudes.There are four main groups in this tribe viz the U Law, Law Mi, Pa Mi, and A Keu. All four groups speak the Akha language besides their own dialect. The dialect spoken by the U Law, the Law Mi and the Pa Mi is very similar; however, the A Keu speak a very unique dialect.The Akha live in homes made from bamboo. They use cogon grass to build roofs of their homes. They built their homes on stilts. Akha villages are in general large in size comprising of thirty
houses. Their houses are built on hill tops, as an try to avoid the diseases and outbreaks. The most important leader in an Akha village is the Spiritual Leader or the Shaman. Akha are animists and they live their lives according to their beliefs. If a member of the tribe becomes a non-believer, he / she usually leaves the village for good.The Akha lifestyle is based on their rustic system. They work very hard in the fields, spending more time there than with their families. They chang to rice and a variety of vegetables on mountainsides. They also nurse cash crops like chilies, soybeans, cabbages, and tomatoes. The Akha women are noted for their expertise in weaving. They sell cloth, clothes, ornamental items made up of bamboo, wood and rattan to extra charge to their meager income.