Communal Anabaptist farming colonies (Bruderhöfe) holding all property in common, with a community of goods traditionally dated to 1528. They operate across the Canadian prairies and the northern United States.
Hutterites take their name from Jakob Hutter, burned as a heretic in 1536. They base their community of goods on Acts 2 and 4. Persecution drove them through Moravia, Hungary and Ukraine, and the community of goods lapsed around 1700 before being restored in Russia in the 19th century. Between 1874 and 1879 most migrated to Dakota Territory; Bon Homme, founded in 1874 on the Missouri River, was the first North American colony. Three branches (Schmiedeleut, Dariusleut, Lehrerleut) descend from the colonists, and many colonies moved to Canada after World War I. Members receive no wages; necessities are provided. A colony elects its minister and manager and takes major decisions by a council and then a vote of married men. When a colony grows, it founds a daughter colony.
The communal way of life has persisted since the 16th century through repeated migrations and one long lapse. Colonies run commercial farms and other enterprises in North America today.
Hutterites hold property in common on the model of Acts 2 and 4: members receive no wages, necessities are provided, and houses, vehicles, barns and machinery are jointly owned, while members keep personal effects.[1][2]
Bon Homme Colony, founded in 1874 in what is now South Dakota under Michael Waldner, was the first Hutterite colony in North America and is still inhabited; it did not move to Canada after World War I.[1][2][3]
Colony decisions are generally taken in two tiers: a council of senior men decides first, and significant decisions go to a vote of the married male members; practice varies between branches.[1][2]
In Hofer v. Hofer (1970) the Supreme Court of Canada held that, under Hutterite religious tenets, members hold no individual property, so expelled members of Interlake Colony were not entitled to a share of colony property.[1]