Pa Thao moved to the Eau Claire area with her mother, Maiv Xee Xiong, and several siblings in December 1994. And then immigrating here, that sense of belonging was never there for our people when it comes to land,” Thao said. “Wisconsin Today” also asked Xee Xiong how it feels for her family to finally have a piece of land to call their own. “She says she’s very happy to have her own piece of land that belongs in our family,” Thao said. But to have your own land, your own little piece of land — she’s very happy that she’s able to have that.”