6,000 Canadians Became Mexican Citizens a Century Ago

In the 1920s, approximately 6,000 Mennonites emigrated from Canada to Mexico, seeking religious freedom and exemption from military service. Canada’s decision to enforce English-only schooling after promising religious communities autonomy prompted the mass relocation.

President Álvaro Obregón granted the Mennonites significant privileges, including control over their schools and land in Chihuahua, through a document known as the “Privilegium.” The community established settlements in the Bustillos Valley and Nuevo Ideal, Durango, maintaining their traditions and language, Plautdietsch, while integrating into Mexican life. They also introduced Queso Menonita, a cheese now widely popular throughout Mexico.

President Lázaro Cárdenas later reinforced their protections in the 1930s, solidifying their commitment to Mexico. Today, around 74,000 Mennonites reside in Mexico, continuing their agricultural practices and collaborating with Indigenous communities like the Tarahumara.