Doukhobor ‘freedom seeker’ nudism: Exploring the sociocultural roots

Abstract

This article explores the reasons behind nude protests among some groups of Canadian Doukhobors in the early twentieth century. Nude protests had never been practised by the Doukhobors until their arrival in Canada, and the reasons for this form of protest have not been sufficiently clarified in research. The author suggests that the choice of nudism as a form of protest by some Canadian Doukhobors (‘freedom seekers’) could be triggered by a combination of cultural clashes in the first years of the Doukhobor settlement in Canada, the Orthodox tradition of Holy Fools and Quaker influences. The article provides an overview of the consequences of the nude protest for the community and reports some contemporary attitudes of some Saskatchewan Doukhobors to these historical controversial protests.