Hutterites fear stigma could resurface as Manitoba COVID-19 cases rise, province offers more detail on cases

Manitoba Hutterites are concerned the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the province, coupled with the more geographically specific information the province is now releasing, could lead to more scrutiny, oreven discriminationagainst specific colonies or Hutterites generally.

Kenny Wollmann, who sits on theHutterian Safety Council'sCOVID-19 task force, says there was an uptick in stigma against the religious minorityin Manitoba last month, when the province informed the public about outbreaks in communities in the Interlake.

There were reports of Hutterite people being refused service at retail stores and at physical and massage therapy clinics, andbeing confronted by people on the street, according to theHutterian Safety Council, whichdevelops safety programs in Hutterite communities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Afterthe province stopped noting whennew cases were in Hutterite colonies,much of the stigma subsided, says Wollmann, who isfrom Baker Colony, about 25 kilometres southwest of Portage la Prairie.

However, now that case numbers in Manitobaare rising again, and the province is providing moredetailed information online about which specific health districtshave active cases, he fears things could change.

"[A Hutterite] was spat on in Saskatchewan" a few weeks ago, Wollmannsaid. "And maybe that's going to come to Manitoba as our numbers become more like Alberta and Saskatchewan."

Until recently, Manitoba health officials onlyidentified which of the province's five large health regions COVID-19 cases were in.

However, officials did in some cases note when cases were linked to Hutterite colonies. That led to a minister at one Manitoba colony threateningto pursue a human rights complaint.

Shortly after, health officials announced they would only saycases are connected with a Hutterite colony if there isa risk to public health.

But the more location-specific information the province started providing as of last weekcould be enough for people to draw connections.

Last month, Dr. Brent Roussin, the province'schief public health officer, urged Manitobans not to discriminate against people who have COVID-19.

"At first, we saw a lot of stigma against Asian Canadians," Roussin said in July. "Now, we see stigma against Hutterites for this. And it's not useful, it's not appropriate and it actually hinders public health's ability to control this virus."

Premier Brian Pallisterhas also spoken out in support of Hutterites.

"People who react just because they see a Hutterite person as a consequence of knowing that there have been a number of cases on Hutterite colonies should be reminded that these are folks who have been there for [other Manitobans]on many many occasions," including after disaster situations,Pallister said at a news conference last month.

'Widespread' work to address COVID

Wollmann says many Hutterite communities in Manitoba are going to great lengthsto prevent the spread of COVID-19, even forgoing traditions that are deeply ingrained in their way of life.

Some communities have restricted non-essential travel in and out of colonies. There has been colony-wide testing in some communities, and others have stopped communal meals, he said.

The uptake of these measures has been "widespread" across the province, he says, but that comes at a price.

"Hutterites are feeling the crunch in this. We're having to dig deep to find the mental, emotional and spiritual resources to respond well."

To not be able to gather three times a day, it takes a particular toll on older people whoneed that connection.- Kenny Wollmann

Hutterite colony members eat, work, and worship together in community settings and sharepossessions. The pandemic is forcing some of those things to change.

"Our life is a shared life," Wollmann said.

"To not all of a sudden be able to gather three times a day, it takes a particular toll on older people whoneed that connection," he said.

"In my community,we have some older widows, and it is very important, these community gatherings for them."

While mitigating the risks of the pandemic is different on colonies thanin cities or even other rural areas because of the Hutterite way of life, Wollmann says the Hutterite Safety Council is working closely with provincial public health officials to ensure colonies are doing everything they can.

But, like other Manitobans, there's a range in how seriously the pandemic is taken.

"Hutterites experience the same diversity of emotions and feelings as everybody else. We've got our anti-maskers and we've got our people who'd wear two masks if they felt it were good for everybody."

But above all, Wollmann wants Manitobans to know Hutterites are also, just like other Manitobans, doing what they can to curb the spread of COVID-19.

"We are doing the best we can with the resources at our disposal," he said.