I Am Hutterite

by Mary-Ann Kirkby

the fascinating true story of one

woman’s journey to reclaim her heritage

In 1969, Mary-Ann Kirkby’s parents did the unthinkable. They left a Hutterite colony near Portage

la Prairie, Manitoba with seven children and little else, to start a new life. Overnight, the family

was thrust into a society they did not understand and which knew little of their unique culture. The

transition was overwhelming.

More than 40,000 Hutterites live on 400 colonies throughout Canada's prairie provinces and the

United States. Spiritual cousins to the Mennonites and the Amish, this five hundred year old

culture with European roots has been in North America since the late 1800s, yet few outsiders

know anything about its customs or traditions.

I Am Hutterite takes us inside Fairholme Colony where the author spent the first ten years of her

life. Her detailed portrait of Hutterian people opens a window on a closed community and reveals

a way of life that seems extraordinary to the outside world.

When Mary-Ann leaves Fairholme, she embarks on a mission to reinvent herself. She is put in

the awkward position of denying her heritage in order to fit in with her peers. Her book details her

painful and often humourous attempts to adapt to popular culture as she comes to terms with the

heart-breaking circumstances that led her family to leave community life.

As a television reporter, Mary-Ann Kirkby spent years telling the stories of others. Now she is

ready to share her own. I Am Hutterite layers the rich traditions of colony life with the stark

realities of intolerance and mistrust, weaving a gripping tale that tests the power of forgiveness.

Mary-Ann Kirkby is an award winning and best selling author, singer and journalist whose first book, I Am Hutterite chronicles her childhood experiences of life on a Hutterite colony and the aftermath of leaving community life.

She began her career in journalism in Dauphin, Manitoba as a news anchor and reporter and later was appointed senior reporter responsible for aboriginal issues at CTV in Prince Albert. From 1993-1996, she worked in Ottawa as a freelance journalist and served as Media Relations Consultant for the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

She is the recipient of two Can-Pro Awards for political reporting and for hosting a children's program.

Mary-Ann lives in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan with her husband, Gordon, and their son, Levi. She and her musical partner Lisa Olsen are a popular jazz and easy listening duo at private and corporate events, fundraisers, resorts and other venues.