This document provides background information on Tibetan history and the Dalai Lama, and profiles four Tibetan individuals who resettled in Utah as part of a special visa program in 1992. It describes how China claimed Tibet in 1949 and the Dalai Lama's 1959 exile. The profiles detail each person's experience fleeing Tibet and adjusting to life in Utah with support from refugee resettlement organizations and community sponsors.

1. ASIAN AMERICANS IN UTAH:
A LIVING HISTORY
Compiled by: John H. Yang
Authors:
Pema Chagzoetsang & Howard Berkes

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
 Tibetan History
 The Dalai Lama
 Specific People from Tibet in Utah
 Pema Chagzoetsang
 Tenzin Wangdu Samdup Phodang
 Tsering Dhondup
 Tsewang Ngodup
 Applications

4. TIBETAN HISTORY
 1949 China claimed Tibet
 10 years of protests by Tibetans
 The Dalai Lama negotiated peaceful autonomy
with China
 March 10th 1959 in Lhasa the biggest
demonstration against the Chinese
 80,000 people died
 Dalai Lama fled into exile
 1.5 million Tibetans have died under the Chinese
rule
 1990 U.S authorized 1000 visas for Tibetans
 $2,000 per family member. Including at least 2 years
of paper work.

5. THE DALAI LAMA

6. THE DALAI LAMA
 Means ‘ocean of wisdom’. Lama (holy man)
 Won the Nobel Peace Prize in December 1992
 The political and spiritual leader of Tibetan
Buddhists
 Tenzin Gyatso is believed to be the 14 reincarnated
version of “His Holiness”
 Pema Chagzoetsang explains:
 “His Holiness is the manifestation of universal compassion.
He is a powerful force, even in exile, keeping Tibetans
united, motivated and tolerant. He preaches an practices
peaceful resistance to a violent invader. He encourages us
to be open-minded and progressive, to learn from the
modern world. He counsels us not to hate our enemies.
And he inspires us to fight peacefully for a free Tibet and
for human rights.”

7. PEMA CHAGZOETSANG
 The only Tibetan women in Utah for 8 Years
 Her two sons were the first Tibetans born in
Utah
 She helped organize The Salt Lake Area Tibetan
Resettlement Project
 The Resettlement project worked with IHC
providing housing for the 8 Tibetans for 3 years
rent free.
 She also organized the Utah Tibetan Association

8. P.C CONTINUED
 It operates under the guidelines of the U.S. office
of Tibet in N.Y.
 During the next 2 years the population of
Tibetans grew to 75
 The LDS church aided by providing donated
clothing, food, and appliances.
 Jobs were arranged in advance
 Sponsors also showed them how to ride the bus to
and from work.

9. TENZIN WANGDU SAMDUP PHODANG
 Born in Tibet in 1957
 Father served as the Commander of the Army of
Tibet from 1954-1958
 2 years old when China invaded Tibet
 Father was imprisoned by Chinese
 At age 11 began working to help mother support
family
 Father released from Chinese prison in 1980

10. TENZIN WANGDU SAMDUP PHODANG
 Family went to visit grandparents in India, had
to stay behind to ensure their return.
 Family decided to stay in India
 1985 fled to India with new bride to reunite with
family
 Came to U.S. in 1992 along with 1000 other
Tibetans that were granted special visas
 Landed in N.Y.C. but was uneasy about big city
 Relocated to S.L.C. in Nov. 1992

11. TSERING DHONDUP
 Born 1955 Kongpo Province in Tibet
 Grew up in poor living conditions with a large
family
 China invaded his village when he was 5
 Family made it to India as a refugee but was safe
 First generation of his family to receive modern
education
 1978 graduated with a degree in Political Science
form the University of Delhi
 1981 elected for Joint secretary committee of
Tibetan Youth Congress

12. T.D. CONTINUED
 Peoples Representative of the 10th Assembly of
Tibetan Peoples Deputies
 U.S allowed 1,000 visas for Tibetans-he applied
and got chosen out of the 4,000 applicants from
India and Nepal.
 Chosen to come to Salt Lake City June 1992
 Set up with the Wayne Johnson family
 With in his first week here he received a SSN, free housing,
and a full-time job at Parsons Behle and Latimer
 Would like to go back to his homeland one day

13. TSEWANG NGODUP
 Born 1959 in Phari, Tibet. Family fled the
Chinese invasion
 Received a B.A in Political Science and public
administration form Punjab University
 Founded the Tibetan Educational Alliance for
Higher learning
 Came to Utah in 1992
 Attended Hunter College in NY
 1994 elected President of the Utah Tibetan
Association
 Currently works for Abbott Critical Care Systems
and Matrixx Marketing, Inc.

14. APPLICATIONS
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