Mediating Communities and Cultures: A Case Study of Informal Helpers in an Old Order Mennonite Community

Abstract

This paper reports on a qualitative case study exploring the significance of informal helpers in a closed, traditional ethno-religious Old Order Mennonite community in rural Ontario. Three key points are discussed. First, respondents expressed that a person's ability, wisdom, and usefulness to the community must be earned rather than assumed on the basis of credentials or professional status. Second, the role of informal helpers is honored by community members, regardless of whether it is recognized by the world around them. And finally, the function of informal helpers as cultural brokers is vital to the preservation of the community. When outside professional intervention is considered necessary, respect for established traditions requires primary engagement and negotiation with informal helpers.