The Doukhobors

The Doukhobors The Doukhobors lived communally, they shared large buildings with central kitchens and laundry areas. They were pacifists who recognized no other authority than god. They were vegetarians who originally settelled in Russia. They were persecuted continually in Russia so many came to Canada. However in order to secure their land they were required to sign an oath of allegance to the crown. Most refused to do that because they only wanted allegance to god. Many moved to B.C and became self sufficent. They kept their faith alive by passing down hymns which reflected their beleifs. The Doukhobors were at odds with mainstream Canadians because their beleifs were so different, they were pacifists in contrast to the Candians who celebrated individualism and competition . The church saw them as a threat because they didn't want to participate in any of the traditional practices of a church. The Doukhobors do follow a cheif whom they think of as a living christ. Peter Verigan was the Doukhobors most celebrated leader. Vergian persuaded his followers to register for land indvidually but they farmed all land as a group. This meant that some individual plots were not improved according to a new minister unimproved land would be confiscated and sold. The Doukhobors objected to B.C's school system because it taught militarism which caused young people to leave their faith and was not practical for farm workers. William Blake Moore made a report which was sympathetic to the plight of the Doukhobors. However when he said that exemption from military service should be dropped, the Doukhobors looked for a new country to live in. By the 1980's the Doukhobors had been finally made to live like everyone else, on their own plots of land, their children at school, and their births and deaths registered. Doukhobors remain an important part of the Kooteny land scape. They are a couragous group of people who strive to keep their idealism and traditional way of