The Importance of Discussing Indigenous Issues in the Mennonite Community

When I started looking through the record of my genealogy, one of the first details I made note of was how my aunt is recorded. She is listed as my mother’s sister, the daughter of my grandparents – there is no indication of her adoption.

My aunt identifies as indigenous and has been part of my family since she was around one or two years old. Although I noticed how my aunt was our only family member with dark hair and tan skin, I felt an unspoken rule that kept me from asking questions. In our Mennonite community, no one talked about race or cultural differences, except in the context of “Jesus loves … all the children in the world.” For most of my childhood, I assumed my aunt’s skin was darker because she enjoyed spending hours under the summer sun. Even once I learned she was adopted, this remained my assumption for too long.

It wasn’t until adulthood and learning about indigenous issues in Canada that I began to understand the context of my aunt’s adoption. She and so many other children were removed from their original families and communities, often under the guise of child welfare, but ultimately to the detriment of those children and their communities. From residential schools, the 60s scoop, and continuing through the foster care system, indigenous families have been and continue to be harmed by these separations. Though my grandparents had the best intentions in adopting and caring for my aunt, it is important to acknowledge the pain that has been and continues to be caused.

Since learning about these social issues which directly impact me, my family, and my community, I have worked to educate myself further. There are indigenous communities today who never signed a treaty and who have been fighting to defend their rights to use and protect their land for generations. The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) is continuous, wide-spread, and absolutely devastating to families and communities. Indigenous knowledge, wisdom, and practices offer insight into issues the modern world refuses to address, from climate change to poverty, if we would only be willing to listen. I know now it is my responsibility to make an effort to educate myself, take appropriate actions, and work to educate others who share my background.

It has been difficult to bring these issues up with other white people, but most specifically with my family and others closely tied to the Mennonite community. Often I have been met with dismissal and defensiveness. A common response is to diminish the issues by claiming they are blown out of proportion. Another is to deflect by claiming the issues are irrelevant to them personally. Neither of these responses reflects the truth. The issues facing indigenous peoples in Canada today are beyond urgent and they are relevant to all who live here. As settlers and colonizers, it is our responsibility to listen and respond to the impacts of both the actions taken through settler colonizer history as well as our continued choices today.

I have also found it can be difficult to share indigenous joy with those who are religiously conservative; this includes many Mennonites, as well as some members of indigenous communities. Indigenous ceremony, dress, and traditions are generally unfamiliar to the religiously conservative, and in my own experience, can even be framed as occult or Satanic by leadership. However, the goals of these traditions are the same as those of a Christian lifestyle: to maintain balance in their spiritual lives, practice living out their values, and build a supportive and accountable community around them. Accepting and embracing the reemergence of indigenous culture and traditions is another way we can work towards taking responsibility for the impacts of our history, as well as to celebrate indigenous peoples in ways that are meaningful and appropriate.

I was excited to hear about the tipi which is planned to be erected at The Mennonite Heritage Village Museum. It appears to be a step towards these goals of embracing indigenous peoples and understanding our shared history. A change from focusing only on our own experiences to also including the impacts we have had is an important shift to make, both in the historical perspective and as individuals.

I am hopeful this addition to the Museum will offer more opportunities for Mennonites to learn about Indigenous issues and culture. Our Mennonite history as settlers and colonizers of this land directly intersects with the history of the original peoples of this land, and these impacts cannot be ignored or understated.

We must learn to joyfully embrace our differences and to listen deeply and compassionately to the pain we have neglected for so long, so we can do better.

[External links: https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/the_residential_school_system/, https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/sixties_scoop/, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sixties-scoop, https://native-land.ca/, https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/indigenous/mmiwg/, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/mmiwg-winnipeg-rally-national-emergency-1.6674143, https://steinbachonline.com/articles/a-tipi-will-be-added-in-spring-to-the-mennonite-heritage-village, https://steinbachonline.com/articles/tipi-at-mhv-sparks-conversation-of-mennonite-history-in-manitoba, https://steinbachonline.com/articles/terry-and-patty-doerksen-journey-across-the-southeast-on-a-red-river-ox-cart, https://steinbachonline.com/articles/mhv-offers-opportunities-to-learn-more-about-indigenous-culture, https://steinbachonline.com/articles/it-is-building-respectful-relationships---duo-from-blumenort-publish-book-in-cree]