Migration, resettlement and integration of survivors of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda in Canada: A community‐based study

Abstract

AbstractThis article describes the migration, resettlement and integration challenges and strengths of members of the African Diaspora in Canada who identify as survivors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi of Rwanda. Data were generated from semi‐structured interviews with 16 adult community members and a thematic analysis conducted inductively and collectively with the research team consisting of academics and representative community members. This article provides insights into the unique long‐term impacts of genocide on migration, resettlement and community‐level functioning for this group of African migrants living in a mid‐Western city in Canada. Results highlight how Canadian immigration policies limit migration options and prevent family reunification for migrants with none or few remaining family members and the associated resettlement challenges experienced by this group. Results also show the vital role the Rwandan Diaspora community, and particularly other survivors, play in supporting resettlement, integration and overall well‐being of genocide survivors.