Kri in Laos

The Kri have only been reported in Laos
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Kri, also called Toong Luang by the Laotian majority, are remarkably the third smallest ethnic group officially recognized in Laos. Despite the lack of transparency regarding the ethnographic methodologies employed by Laotian officials and their exclusion of recognizing other small ethnic groups, the nation's government formally identifies the Kri as an indigenous group. With some of their families having migrated from Ta-Oy in Salavan, the Kri presently inhabit Laos' Bouarapha District of Khammouan Province.

Records detailing the Kri's day-to-day lives are limited. Traditionally, the majority maintained a nomadic outdoor lifestyle, inhabiting trees and caves until 1993, when local authorities compelled almost all the Kri to abandon their customary living practices and adopt more sedentary living arrangements.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Thriving by harvesting fruit and foraging for food within the forests, the Kri has maintained a lifestyle that involves periodically relocating in alignment with available food sources in their remote region. Due to the presence of tigers in the region, instilling a pervasive sense of fear within the community, the Kri employed protective measures to diminish the potential dangers posed by these predators.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kri have practiced inherited spiritual beliefs from their ancestors over many generations. Given geographic, cultural, and linguistic barriers, they have had minimal gospel influence throughout their history. Neither the presence of churches nor any instances of Kri individuals professing faith in Christ have been documented in the region.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kri people need gospel workers who will not only be ambassadors for Christ, but also their advocates in a hostile world. They will need people to offer medical services and education so they will be ready to adjust to modern Laos.


Prayer Points

Pray God would reveal his power and glory to the Kri, surpassing all obstacles that hinder them from knowing him intimately.
Pray Jesus Christ would be lifted up above the Kri community, igniting an unstoppable movement towards Christ among them.
Pray for Kri hearts to be ready and willing to accept the good seed of the gospel.


Scripture Prayers for the Kri in Laos.


References

“Khammouane Ethnic Diversity.” WeAreLao. Accessed 2024. https://wearelao.com/standard-page/khammouane-ethnic-diversity/


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kri
People Name in Country Kri
Alternate Names Kree; Salang Kri; Toong Luang
Population this Country 1,200
Population all Countries 1,200
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 11241
ROP3 Code 105307
Country Laos
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 21  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Khammouan province, Bouarapha district   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999
Country Laos
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 21  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Khammouan province, Bouarapha district.   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999
Map of Kri in Laos Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.63 %)
0.63 %
Ethnic Religions
99.37 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Language unknown (1,200 speakers)
Language Code xxx   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Language unknown (1,200 speakers)
Language Code xxx   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Language unknown

Primary Language:  Language unknown

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: SIL / WLMS. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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