Mika Sperling

Brothers and Sisters Allgemein This triple book was handbound in 2015 by various bookbinders and myself. There are three copies in total. It consists of three parts which divide the Russian Mennonite Community into the locations I followed them to: Russia, Germany and Canada. My own roots lie in the German villages in Siberia where both of my parents were born and raised during their early childhood. I myself grew up in Germany and had heard of families who would move further to Canada after coming to Germany from Russia like once my family did. It includes anonymes interviews from all ages translated from Low German, German, Russian or English into German and English.

Sister, 36 years old

I think most of the people moved to Canada because of their children, so that the government or the youth welfare would not get involved in their parenting. They want to have more freedom or a different life. [...] An extended family could for example fear to have their children been taken from them and put in other families, foster families or in a children’s home or I don’t know where. Reasons could be for example when they argue with their kids or punish them. Well, some parents might be a little stricter than here. In Canada, but also in Germany some do not want to be photographed because they fear that if the picture is released somewhere, the Antichrist knows who the Christians are.

Allgemein · Single

Brothers and Sisters