Chut-Sach in Laos

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

Introduction / History

Possibly as many as 1,100 Sach people live in a remote part of Khammouan Province in Laos. They inhabit high and isolated mountains in the Bouarapha District. The Sach are also located across the border in Vietnam, where they are officially considered part of the Chut minority group. Political borders mean little to the Sach. They freely wander between the two nations whenever it pleases them. Other ethnic groups closely related to the Sach in Laos include the Arem, May and Ruc.

The Sach were officially counted in the 1995 Lao census as having 2,745 people, under the name Xaek. This figure, however, includes people from the Arem, May and Ruc ethnic groups. The Sach are the largest of the Chut tribes in Laos, and so were probably given the honor of having the whole group officially named after them.

The Khammouan mountains where the Sach live are also home to exotic animals such as the elephant, giant muntjac, pygmy slow loris, two different species of langur, the Asiatic black bear, and the tiger. The Sach live in fear of the tiger, although their numbers are dwindling and the instances of people or livestock being attacked by tigers are much lower than a few decades ago.

The Sach are primarily engaged in agriculture. They grow rice, corn, vegetables, beans and tobacco. Accordingly, the Sach could be considered the most advanced of the different Chut groups. The other tribes rely on hunting, fishing and gathering food from the forest.

After a Sach woman gives birth she is required to live with her baby in a hut outside the house for two or three months. Only after going through complicated purification rites is she allowed to re-enter her home.

The religious ceremonies and rituals of the Sach are presided over by shamans, or spirit-priests, who are believed to possess special powers that enable them to communicate with the spirit-world. The shaman is often not only the priest, but also the village leader, counselor and physician of the community.

Locked away in almost inaccessible mountains, few Sach in Laos have ever been exposed to the Gospel.


Prayer Points

Pray for determined Christians to go to the Sach and find ways to share God's love with them.
Ask God to raise up laborers to plant churches among the Sach.
Pray that the Name of Jesus Christ would be glorified among the Sach, and His works would be on their lips.


Scripture Prayers for the Chut-Sach in Laos.


Profile Source:   Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest  Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Chut-Sach
People Name in Country Chut-Sach
Alternate Names Chut; Chứt; Sach; Xaek
Population this Country 300
Population all Countries 300
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 0  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 14629
ROP3 Code 108497
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
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.60 %)
2.60 %
Ethnic Religions
97.40 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Chut (300 speakers)
Language Code scb   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Sach
Dialect Code 8954   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Chut (300 speakers)
Language Code scb   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Sach
Dialect Code 8954   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Chut

Primary Language:  Chut

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 Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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