During their stay in the Dakotas, Americans barely noticed the Hutterites, that is, until World War I broke out in 1914. But then they were viewed as foreigners because they spoke German and refused to participate in the war. Nor did they contribute any money towards the financing of the war. Of course, this did not go over well with the English-speaking neighbors, who raided the colonies and stole livestock and supplies to help finance the war.

Since it was compulsory, Hutterites sent their young men to military camps, but they didn’t all....

(The following article is rather interesting and thought provoking, it is based on remarks presented by an Amish Minister, a former teacher, at the fourth annual Indiana Amish parochial teachers’ class held in Parke County, Indiana, on July 13, 2000.)

INTRODUCTION

Though most teachers’ dream-come-true would be a classroom filled with respectful, well disciplined students, who are eagerly responsive to their teacher’s leading, there is a wide ....

Hutterites speak a Carintian German dialect, originating from the province of Carinthia in Austria, which we fondly call Hutterisch. This language is spoken on a daily basis. However, it’s unfortunately generously sprinkled with English words as well. Some of this cannot be altered as there are numerous things for which we have no Hutterisch word. These include, farm equipment, mechanical parts, cooking ingredients, medicines, and some kitchen utensils.

All Hutterites speak Hutterisch, although....

  “Trucks are waiting! Everybody welcome. Thank you!” The crisp message rings from the public address system, inviting colony members to a shift of picking weeds and lumps of dirt out of newly-harvested potatoes, traveling by conveyor into the shed.

 “This is a recorded announcement!” One young woman deadpans. Grabbing gloves and a jacket she heads for the potato shed.

Every autumn brings the exciting racket of tractors, trucks and potato diggers rattling and rumbling their way to t....

We are deeply disappointed with the National Geographic Channel’s depiction of the Hutterite people in their so called reality series, American Family: Meet The Hutterites, filmed at the King Ranch Hutterite Colony in Montana. It’s unfortunate that Jeff Collin’s and his production team chose to come through the back door rather than the proper channels to receive permission to film our people.

What was promised by the producers to be a “factual documentary” is in fact a distorted and exploitative version of Hutterite Life that pain....