In 1874, thousands of Mennonites fled Russia to save their faith. In 2012, eleven Mennonites from Chihuahua traveled to Russia seeking land for their grandchildren. What is happening to a community that for a hundred years was synonymous with work, tradition, and stability in Mexico?
In this documentary, we tell you the four reasons why thousands of Mennonite families are leaving the homes where they were born: the land that is no longer enough, the water that is running out, fear, and something that almost no one expects. We trace their history from the Netherlands to Russia, from Canada to Chihuahua, and the new map of their migration through Campeche, Bolivia, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and Canada.
And in the end, you will discover that there isn't just one Mennonite exodus, but two. One is visible on the highways. The other is happening silently, within the colonies themselves.
💬 Tell us in the comments what country and city you are watching from, and if there is a Mennonite colony near you. And tell us what story you want to see in the next video. The topic with the most comments will be the next one.
🔔 Subscribe for more documentaries about Mennonites, communities, and towns in Latin America that are rarely explained properly.
SOURCES AND REFERENCES:
– Martí Noticias / AP (2012). “Mennonites: Emigrating from Chihuahua to Tatarstan.”
– Protestante Digital (2012). “Large Mennonite Community in Mexico Considers Emigrating to Russia.”
– Wikipedia (Spanish). “Mennonites of Russia,” “Mennonite Immigration to Paraguay,” “Mennonites in Argentina,” and “Mennonites in Bolivia.”
– Historia Mexicana / SciELO. “Mennonite Migrations to Northern Mexico between 1922 and 1940.”
– Government of the State of Chihuahua (2022). Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Arrival of the Mennonites.
– Kehler, W. (2022). Demographic study of the Mennonite colonies of Bolivia.
– El Universal, Informador, and Reuters (2018 and 2020). Reports on the El Sabinal colony.
– El Universal / AFP (2022). “Mennonites celebrate 100 years in Mexico amid TikTok, no television, and conservatives.”
– La Jornada (2022–2026). Complaints from El Barzón and data on wells and water in Chihuahua.
– Expansión and El Heraldo de Chihuahua (2025). Coverage of the drought and the new General Water Law.
– El Financiero / Bloomberg Businessweek. Mennonites in Campeche.
– Mongabay Latam (2025 and 2026). Mennonite colonies in the Peruvian Amazon.
NOTICE:
This video is an educational documentary created for informational purposes, based on journalistic reports, historical research, and public data. Some scenes, such as the final scene in the Tatarstan camp, are dramatized recreations of real events reported by the press and do not reproduce exact moments. Mennonite population figures vary depending on the source and year: in Mexico, estimates range from approximately 74,000 (2022 census) to over 100,000. The accusations regarding wells and deforestation correspond to ongoing complaints and legal proceedings, not necessarily final judgments, and do not involve the entire Mennonite community. This channel does not seek to judge or stereotype the Mennonite faith or way of life.
#Mennonites #Chihuahua #Migration #Russia #Bolivia #Campeche #Mexico #Documentary
Mennonites, Mennonites leaving their homes, why do Mennonites leave, Mennonites Chihuahua, Mennonites Mexico, Mennonites Russia, Mennonites Tatarstan, Mennonite history, Mennonites Cuauhtémoc, El Sabinal Mennonites, Mennonites Campeche, Mennonites Bolivia, Mennonites Argentina, Mennonites Colombia, Mennonites Peru, Mennonite migration, modern Mennonites, conservative Mennonites, Mennonite documentary, how do Mennonites live
In 1874, thousands of Mennonites fled Russia to save their faith. In 2012, eleven Mennonites from Chihuahua traveled to Russia seeking land for their grandchildren. What is happening to a community that for a hundred years was synonymous with work, tradition, and stability in Mexico?
In this documentary, we tell you the four reasons why thousands of Mennonite families are leaving the homes where they were born: the land that is no longer enough, the water that is running out, fear, and something that almost no one expects. We trace their history from the Netherlands to Russia, from Canada to Chihuahua, and the new map of their migration through Campeche, Bolivia, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and Canada.
And in the end, you will discover that there isn't just one Mennonite exodus, but two. One is visible on the highways. The other is happening silently, within the colonies themselves.
💬 Tell us in the comments what country and city you are watching from, and if there is a Mennonite colony near you. And tell us what story you want to see in the next video. The topic with the most comments will be the next one.
🔔 Subscribe for more documentaries about Mennonites, communities, and towns in Latin America that are rarely explained properly.
SOURCES AND REFERENCES:
– Martí Noticias / AP (2012). “Mennonites: Emigrating from Chihuahua to Tatarstan.”
– Protestante Digital (2012). “Large Mennonite Community in Mexico Considers Emigrating to Russia.”
– Wikipedia (Spanish). “Mennonites of Russia,” “Mennonite Immigration to Paraguay,” “Mennonites in Argentina,” and “Mennonites in Bolivia.”
– Historia Mexicana / SciELO. “Mennonite Migrations to Northern Mexico between 1922 and 1940.”
– Government of the State of Chihuahua (2022). Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Arrival of the Mennonites.
– Kehler, W. (2022). Demographic study of the Mennonite colonies of Bolivia.
– El Universal, Informador, and Reuters (2018 and 2020). Reports on the El Sabinal colony.
– El Universal / AFP (2022). “Mennonites celebrate 100 years in Mexico amid TikTok, no television, and conservatives.”
– La Jornada (2022–2026). Complaints from El Barzón and data on wells and water in Chihuahua.
– Expansión and El Heraldo de Chihuahua (2025). Coverage of the drought and the new General Water Law.
– El Financiero / Bloomberg Businessweek. Mennonites in Campeche.
– Mongabay Latam (2025 and 2026). Mennonite colonies in the Peruvian Amazon.
NOTICE:
This video is an educational documentary created for informational purposes, based on journalistic reports, historical research, and public data. Some scenes, such as the final scene in the Tatarstan camp, are dramatized recreations of real events reported by the press and do not reproduce exact moments. Mennonite population figures vary depending on the source and year: in Mexico, estimates range from approximately 74,000 (2022 census) to over 100,000. The accusations regarding wells and deforestation correspond to ongoing complaints and legal proceedings, not necessarily final judgments, and do not involve the entire Mennonite community. This channel does not seek to judge or stereotype the Mennonite faith or way of life.
#Mennonites #Chihuahua #Migration #Russia #Bolivia #Campeche #Mexico #Documentary
Mennonites, Mennonites leaving their homes, why do Mennonites leave, Mennonites Chihuahua, Mennonites Mexico, Mennonites Russia, Mennonites Tatarstan, Mennonite history, Mennonites Cuauhtémoc, El Sabinal Mennonites, Mennonites Campeche, Mennonites Bolivia, Mennonites Argentina, Mennonites Colombia, Mennonites Peru, Mennonite migration, modern Mennonites, conservative Mennonites, Mennonite documentary, how do Mennonites live