Bridging Indigenous and Mennonite Histories

On Friday, September 6, as part of graduate orientation week, students in Conrad Grebel University College's Master of Theological Studies (MTS) and Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) programs took a field trip to Brubacher House museum and the Office of Indigenous Relations (OIR) at the University of Waterloo. The goal of the outing was “for graduate students to situate themselves historically and geographically, and to reflect on how the histories of colonization have shaped our current location and studies,” explained Reina Neufeldt, Chair of Peace and Conflict Studies. 

Starting at the OIR, the students were welcomed by Jean Becker, Associate Vice-President for Indigenous Relations. Becker, who is Inuk, explained that since its formation in 2020, the OIR has helped to guide Indigenization, decolonization and reconciliation on campus in many ways, including establishing an Indigenous Advisory Circle, providing a tuition waiver for Indigenous students, and creating an Indigenous outdoor gathering space at UWaterloo. 

From the OIR, students walked to Brubacher House for the next phase of their trip. Brubacher House, owned by the University of Waterloo and operated in partnership with Grebel, is a restored 1850s Pennsylvania German Mennonite farmstead. Students were treated to a history lesson on Mennonites in Waterloo Region, along with a tour by host Laura Enns. She explained how the first Mennonite settlers in Waterloo Region came from Pennsylvania seeking farmland, which they purchased from the Six Nations although the money they paid never reached the Six Nations people who owned the land. In fact, the Six Nations were promised 10 kilometers on each side of the Grand River which is collectively known as the the Haldimand Tract.                                                                                                                       

Reflecting on the experience, MPACS student Moin Uddin, who is new to Canada from Bangladesh, appreciated how “it brings an anthropological view to me in terms of the Canadian Mennonite community — how people came here, how they lived, and so on.” 

For many of these students, this field trip marked the beginning of their master’s degree, allowing the lessons learned — such as the struggle with understanding the history of settlement amid ongoing Indigenous claims to the land — to give precedence and context to their studies. For example, MTS student Devin Hogg commented, “I was left pondering the importance of preserving history to learn from the past and collaboratively construct a better present and future.”   

Carol Penner, Director of Theological Studies at Grebel commented, "This field trip sets the stage for the various ways our courses in the MTS program encourage students to engage with Indigenous ways of thinking theologically."  

The field trip encouraged reflection on shared responsibilities and commitments as members of the UWaterloo community and Conrad Grebel. This sentiment is also reflected in Grebel’s territorial Acknowledgement.  

“It’s so cool to learn the history of the area I’ve just come to,” added MPACS student Emilie Szekely as a final thought. “It makes me reflect on the history of this area and realize that I don’t know the history of where I come from.” 

By Tasbiha Ansari, Grebel Communications Co-op Student