The 1981 Language Atlas of the Pacific Area listed a combined population of 10,000 speakers of the Ir and Tong languages in Laos. We believe Tong to be the larger of the two groups, and estimate there to be approximately 4,000 Ir people in Laos today.
Ir and Tong are closely related groups. The Tong mostly live in areas north of Saravan City, while the Ir are primarily distributed to the east of the city, in Saravan Province of southern Laos.
The Ir language is part of the Katuic branch of the Mon-Khmer family. It is related in a larger sense to the Ta Oi language spoken in both Laos and Vietnam.
The various Mon-Khmer tribes are said to have been the original occupants of southern Laos, but they were forced off the most fertile land around 1,000 years ago by the Lao and Tai groups. Ever since then most Mon-Khmer groups have remained in the safety of the mountains. Those groups who have moved down to the plains have invariably been assimilated to Lao culture and language.
In the past both Ir men and women practiced the custom of tattooing their bodies and faces. When a female missionary passed through the area in the late 1800's, she was appalled by this "heathen" practice: "Tattooing is a custom that savors strongly of the barbarous, but one which is a badge of respectability and manhood among the people. Nearly every man has his body tattooed from the waist line to the knee or a little above or below the knee: or in a very few localities from the neck to the ankle.... The origin of this custom is unknown, though many believe it to have been a kind of charm to make their bodies invulnerable." Today, only elderly Ir people over the age of 60 can be seen with facial tattoos.
The Ir are animists, having largely rejected Buddhist principles, they continue to worship and placate the spirits just as their forefathers have done for thousands of years.
There are no known Christians among the Ir, although pre-1975 missionaries helped produce a Gospel recording in the Ir language. Most Ir have no comprehension of the Gospel, and have never been given an opportunity to accept Christ's offer of eternal life.
Pray the Ir would hunger to know the True and Living God. Pray their hearts would not rest until they do.
Ask God to send His ambassadors to reach the Ir people of Laos.
Pray for a spiritual breakthrough that will sweep many Ir into the Kingdom of God.