ИСТИНА

Doukhobors and Mennonites, religious heretics that immigrated from the Russian Empire to Canada, have been struggling for the right for a peaceable life and non-violence since long before immigrating to Canada. Formed in the 15th-16th centuries as pacifist religious sects in Russia and Holland, they suffered persecution and several deportations before a large number of the followers immigrated to Canada in the late 19th- early 20th centuries. However, the process of Canadian state building did not allow Doukhobors and Mennonites to fully live their ways in the new land. The interaction with the Canadian federal government in the 20th century has not always been easy, as pacifism and communal lifestyle often contradicted the mainstream view on the state development. The author examines the idea of peaceable life that is the main pillar of Doukhobor’s and Mennonite’s identities and shows the cases of influence of their ideas on Canadian society and policies. The author’s experience in meeting the present-day community members and visiting several historic sites in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia provided rich materials for the analysis.