Hutterite Visit

Even though my visit to the nearby Hutterite colony was about 10 days ago, it's safe to say that not much would have changed there! Each year a bus load of us 'BATUS tourists' are allowed to visit the colony under strict rules - no photos and no questions about religion or thier personal lives but it was a truly fascinating day. As I said in my last blog, the Hutterites' resemble the Amish in thier dress but are more progressive than the Amish in that they use 4x4's rather than horse and cart and are often seen in Walmart!

The Hutterites' originate from Europe and Sects can be traced back to the 1500's. Persecuted out of Europe they settled in the USA, but moved to Canada after thier German language and refusal to help with the war effort made then look like enemy agents! Since then colonies have sprung up througout North America & Canada. The colony we visited were about 120 strong and when the colony number grows to about 160, the group splits to form a new colony. It is up to the Elders and Church leaders to decide who stays and who goes.

We were shown around the colony by some of the Hutterite children who got a rare day off from school & chores. We saw the school house, kitchens, living accomodation, dining hall, and all the barns and outhouses and slaughterhouse (not my favourite bit!). The children start school at 7.30am and finish at 5.30pm. In the summer months they don't have as much schooling as they are out weeding the fields. All the children leave school at 15 and work for the colony. No-one has thier own money and they are pretty much self sufficient. They all eat together at set times; the food prepared in the huge kitchens. They sit at long lables, the men and boys on one side and the women and children on the other. Thier homes are identical and sparsely furnished - upright chairs, no T.V, radio - not even a kitchen as everything is communal. And when they are not at school or working, then it's Church, Church, Church! They sing Hymns but without an organ or piano as that is not permitted. Nor are cameras as they are not allowed to be photographed, so there are no family photos around the houses. The children don't have toys (they wouldn't have time to play with them anyway!), they don't play sport and they have never seen films. Each year a family might receive $100 for new shoes; they only get new clothes when there is enough material for everyone to have something. No holidays, not even Sundays, and the only socialising they can do is with other colonies. Everywhere is immaculately clean - almost clinical.


Inspite of all that, they are such a happy lot of people. The children were amazing; so well spoken and confident, and all with great sense of humour's. Some colonies are more progressive than others - the photos with this blog I took at the Heritage Park last week. They are very rare indeed... I don't think it is very often that you will get a photo of a Hutterite on a Ferris Wheel!