According to the 1995 Atlas des Ethnies et des Sous-Ethnies du Laos (The Atlas of Ethnic and Sub-Ethnic Groups in Laos), a small ethnic group called Kate live at the juncture of three districts (Pathoumphon, Pake and Pakxong) in Champasak Province of southern Laos. Although no specific population is given, the Kate are mentioned as living in "less than five villages."
The Kate have never previously appeared in any other ethno-linguistic research from Laos, although they are briefly mentioned in a travel guide of the area. The Kate language is part of the Mon-Khmer family.
Because Champasak was formerly ruled by a king, the Communist authorities seem to have been particularly harsh against any demon-strations of support for the former monarchy or any religious devotion in Champasak that may contribute to a separatist atmosphere. For example, a statue of the former king of Bassac, Khamsouk (1863-1900), was smashed by Pathet Lao soldiers. The statue had resided in a Buddhist temple, giving the impression that when people prayed to Buddha, they were also praying to the former king.
Since 1975, the Lao government has even banned most religious celebrations in Champasak Province.
Grant Evans, recognized as an expert on post-1975 Laos, has written, "New Year in Champasak has been atomized, and celebrations, if any, occur only at the level of the respective baan [village] and most commonly in individual households. The moh tiam ritual has been revived, and the spirits from across the city of Champasak are called, as are the spirits of past princes. But for the people at the ceremony I attended, these princes were non-specific, and people were content to say that many princes comeÊ. Older people in Champasak are quick to remember these grand parades, but younger people have no memory of them at all."
The Kate, who practice a form of animism/spirit-worship, are an unreached people group with very little awareness of the existence of Christianity.
The whole of Champasak Province has a few Catholic churches in the main towns, but little else.
Pray for the Kate
Pray more specific information will come to light about the Kate people of Champasak Province.
Ask God to put the Kate on the hearts of church planters and evangelists.
Pray the whole of Champasak would be impacted by the revival that is presently going on in nearby Cambodia.