This analysis of the situation of a group of Salvadoran refugees of rural origin is based essentially on a qualitative study carried out in 1988-89 with a group of 22 Salvadoran refugees who arrived in Canada between 1984 and 1989. In order to do an in-depth study of their life experiences, we analyzed the life stories of these individuals (11 men and 11 women) who have been in Canada for under five yr and who come from rural backgrounds. The group members had an average age of 23 and less than 11 yr of education. All held casual, low-income jobs. It should be noted that 40% of those participating in the study had resided in the US for at least a year, 33% had been in Mexico for a minimum of six months, while the others had come to Canada directly form El Salvador. In Canada, 13 are refugee claimants and five have already obtained refugee status. The aim of this study was to analyze the progress of these refugees throughout their adaptation process, which we have defined from a structural perspective, by making connections between various aspects of their lives. -from Author

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Canada urban area life history adaptation process rural background structural perspective ethnic identity Salvadoreans cultural geography Refugees Montreal