A study of the origins, growth, and endurance of German communities across Saskatchewan. Anderson traces the establishment of these settlements following the opening of treaty lands, when German-speaking migrants—Catholic and Protestant alike—from South Russia (present-day Ukraine), Eastern Europe, and established Mennonite and Hutterite traditions, founded new communities on the prairies.
Some of these were large, carefully organized colonies modeled on long-standing German settlements of Eastern Europe, while others were smaller clusters of families or networks of Hutterite colonies spread throughout the province. Anderson examines how these communities adapted over time, exploring evolving ideas of ethnic and cultural identity, the shifting use of the German language, patterns of religious life, and intermarriage within and beyond the group.
The work also considers the persistence of German folk customs, the historical struggles over education, and the many organizations dedicated to preserving cultural heritage amid increasing urbanization and continued immigration.
Adapted from the publisher’s statement on the back cover.
