View From the Legislature

The Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) has long been a landmark institution for the preservation and remembrance of the history of the early Mennonite settlers in Manitoba. That history is well displayed through the recreating of a Mennonite street village from early settlers, along with many other displays and artifacts that are found on the 40 acre site.

The MHV shows the humble beginning of those early Mennonite settlers to Manitoba. It displays how they struggled and in many cases became very successful following their arrival to our province. Of course, the history of the Mennonites is also about the desire to maintain freedoms, including freedom of religion. That desire resulted in many Mennonites leaving their former homes and coming to Canada.

During the 1870’s, Mennonites by the thousands fled Russia as they felt their religious beliefs being oppressed and compromised. About 7,000 came to Manitoba with the offer of land and cultural and educational autonomy. Among that group was my great, great, great grandfather and grandmother.

In the 1920’s, about 24,000 Mennonites fled Russia during the Russian revolution where they were subjected to violence and the theft of their businesses and possessions. Many had only a handful of possessions as they left Russia by train for Latvia on the long journey that would ultimately end in Canada and for many in Manitoba. They came to Canada with their families in search of a new life sure in the belief that a poor life financially was better than what they were fleeing in Russia.

This latter group of Mennonites from the 1920’s are know as the Russlanders.

To help preserve and share the story of the Russlanders, the Mennonite Heritage Village opened a new exhibit this past weekend. I was pleased to be able to attend to view the gallery and to attend the fundraising banquet that was held after the opening of the gallery. It was moving to see common possessions and pictures of this group of Mennonites and to try to understand the fear they must have felt fleeing Russia and the challenges of beginning a new life in a new country. MHV Curator Andrea Dyck and Assistant Curator Jenna Klassen have done a wonderful job of telling a difficult story.

The story of the Russlander Mennonites is one of perseverance and the determination to protect one’s faith despite many hardships. It is a story worth learning and remembering as it is still a reality in many places in the world today where freedom of religion is being oppressed.

Thank you to the MHV staff and volunteers for the continued work you do in sharing and preserving history.