It was probably the CTMS conference that first sparked my intrigue for exploring whatever Mennonites are, do, and have done. (All of this is up for debate as far as I can tell, by the way — anyone who is really firm on a single answer probably hasn’t learned much about Mennonites at all. How’s that for a hot take? Ha.) I love the way academic papers and creative works are shared and explored at this conference.
For those who do not know, CTMS stands for Centre for Transnational Mennonite Studies. It is based at the University of Winnipeg, and every October CTMS hosts a conference, and following the conference, the Journal of Mennonite Studies is published — filled to the brim with fascinating articles, papers, and reviews.
SO. This year’s conference topic was Subjects, Settlers, Citizens: The 1870s Mennonites in Historical Context. It was held October 4-5 in Wesley Hall (or as I call it, “the castle”). You need to see the artwork for this year:
This was drawn by Jonathan Dyck. This year the conference featured The Secret Treaty: A Lost Story of Ojibwe and Mennonite Neighbours, a book created by Jonathan Dyck together with Elder Dave Scott. (If you haven’t heard of this yet, I’d encourage you to try to make it out to The Secret Treaty book launch at the Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach on November 17, at 2pm. Elder Dave Scott and Jonathan Dyck have been touring together launching this book in many places and I think this might be the last stop on their launch tour. Tickets are $10, available HERE.)
So often I’d been told that Mennonite arrival (my own ancestors’ arrival in North America) was just a long time ago and there weren’t great records of whatever happened. Thankfully many smart people have been researching all of this, and are presenting their findings with unblinking honesty. I especially appreciate the historical context aspect — what was here before Mennonites arrived? What circumstances facilitated their arrival? What happened with the people who were already here? What were the governments up to? (Both Russian and Canadian. And American, for that matter.) What happened once the Mennonites got here? Were there any cultural exchanges or communications between the people who were here, and those who were arriving? (Answer: yes.)
I’m just going to tell you what a failure I am at properly attending this conference. Do I want to be there? Yes. Can I do it well? Apparently no. I brought my feeling with overwhelm with me. I was unable to take notes for the first day. I also was way late. I tiptoed onto the creaking balcony in time to hear Patricia Harms’ concluding remarks, and witness the ensuing Q&A, just before lunch. I think I was more focused on not creating a ruckus with my chaotic and very late arrival, than on the subject at hand.
I joined the crowd in the new cafeteria (is that what it’s called at the U of W? just cafeteria?) and my mindless order of chicken fingers and two Pepsis gives you an idea of where my brain was unfortunately at. (But it was good and the company was even better. What a sparkling array of Mennonite thinkers and writers and academics and researchers and historians and creators!)
That feeling continued throughout the afternoon. I could tell you all the titles of the presentations I missed, but instead I’ll just let you subscribe to the JMS and in the meantime I’ll put this picture of cake here:
To me, this picture represents still more overwhelm. Just me trying to regulate so I could take in something from the day. But to all of us, this cake represented celebrating 20 years of the D.F. Plett Historical Research Foundation. (Just gonna put this here in case someone’s reading this who does not know: you can apply for grants to fund your research. More here.)
After cake, we all walked over to the university’s EG Hall for the first ever screening of the new film Where the Cottonwoods Grow.
It was during this presentation that I realized I had caught some kind of cold. Nothing like being ensconced in the seat farthest from the aisle, in a very quiet theatre where you could hear a pin drop (or me, fumbling for Fisherman’s Friend in my purse, argh!). But just a note, in case you missed all of the packed-out showings of this film during the weekend of the conference, you can still see it on Sunday, December 1st, at 2:30pm — at the Christian Mennonite Church in Steinbach. Details here.
So. I was determined to do the next day right. I was going to arrive in time, and so I did. But trying my best to sit very far away from everyone. The morning kicked off at 9:00 with keynote address from Elder Dave Scott on “Oral Histories of Indigenous-Mennonite Encounters”.
Yeah. Fascinating! I endeavored to take notes. Here, you can peer over my shoulder at some of my scrawls:
“Dave Scott knows things about Mennonite history that Mennonites do not know.” – Will Braun (in introduction)
Dave Scott spoke on a large part of Canadian history that has not been told. He said:
- Colonialism has deep and stubborn roots.
- Work together to develop understanding, trust, and respect.
- Working past assumptions, willing to listen and discuss with open minds.
- The Secret Treaty is a great step. It tells the story of the breakdown of our relationship.
- People ask him “how can we co-exist?”
- There is inherent conflict between our ways of life.
- “Do not assume that our willingness to accommodate you is a sign of weakness.” – Chief Yellow Quill (I think)
- The system prevented communication between us. Newcomers were shamed if they spoke with indigenous people.
- The little stories tell a big story.
- The grid system destroyed wetlands, a source of food and medicines.
- The powers of government were pervasive in our lives.
- Ojibwe were looked at as pagan devil worshippers.
- Western society was taught to be afraid of us.
- We were not human beings, legally. If you wanted to become a human being, you had to become a Christian. And then were on probation for five years.
- Displacement was a large part of breaking down identity.
- We could recognize that the language being spoken was not that of British people.
- The Ojibwe learned that the Mennonites would not raise an army against us.
- Knowledge-sharing was a large part of this (secret) treaty.
- There’s still shame out there to engage in conversation with my people.
- We are all human beings. We have passions, fears, feelings… most of all, heart. And have compassion for those who have come and ask that we are treated the same way.
- The inherent rights that we all have.
- There are a lot of similarities if you remove the land question.
- Could not leave the reservation without permission from the Indian Agent. They would write a return time and it was so tight it was impossible to make it back (from visiting relatives at a different reservation) in time and so would be arrested.
- These things must be discussed openly in our communities.
Then Dave Scott’s son Finn shared his experience living with Ojibwe as someone from Mennonite background. His story began with being conservative, very far right. Then did the Blanket Exercise. (Erin’s note: I have done this, at the MHV. It is an important, gentle, powerful exercise in empathy together with education.)
- Dave said everything is rooted in history, without blame. Curious about Dave’s stories on Mennonite history, experienced true acceptance with Dave’s family and was traditionally adopted. Healing journey. Learned to see people as human beings first.
- Living as part of the environment, rather than separate from it.
- Now is the time to ask questions, and listen. Challenge your biases.
During the Q&A, someone asked Dave Scott, “Why are you not consumed by anger?” He replied:
- For me to be burdened by that, no thank you.
- I have a rule of not taking people’s burdens. I won’t take that responsibility away from those people.
- We all belong here.
- Forgive yourselves. That’s your responsibility.
- Becoming better settler neighbours.
- What has been done in this country… it is not an easy thing to overcome.
- I’ve always had a passion for oral history, collecting stories. Treasures. It is crucial that I save the stories that I have.
From Jonathan Dyck:
- I’m hoping our views of the landscape will begin to change.
- The grid… already on my mind when I was working on Shelterbelts.
- The land is full of stories.
- This story is where past and present converge. What kinds of stories are prevented by those lines on the ground?
At coffee break, The Secret Treaty was shown on the screens in Wesley Hall. I still haven’t really told you what this is. I just think you should see it for yourself. Also I am super aware that I have never written about my experience with Shelterbelts either. Or with my conclusion to the Mennonite Train last year for that matter. (Yes it relates.)
I think this is a good place to pause for now. Part two is upcoming. Possibly a part three as well!