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CMU remembers the legacy of Menno Wiebe

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 @ 1:36 PM

After years of health struggles, Menno Wiebe died on January 5 at the age of 88 surrounded by family and loved ones. Wiebe, a family man, anthropologist, justice advocate, poet, gardener, and founder of what is now called Indigenous-Settlers Relations, was an important figure in the history of the CMU community.

Graduating from CMBC in 1961, Wiebe went on to eventually teach Introduction to Native Studies and Introduction to Anthropology part-time at CMBC in the following years. Andrew Dyck, Assistant Professor of Christian Spirituality and Pastoral Ministry at CMU, remembers taking classes with Menno and how Menno would inspire and recruit students to volunteer and garden on Indigenous reserves. "Menno had a way of capturing the imagination of college and university students with the work he was doing to build relationships with Indigenous communities," says Dyck, "I grew up with all the normal white stereotypes about Indigenous people, Menno helped break these down. He had a vision that Mennonites could do better."