Journeys to home and liminal spaces among former refugees: exploring identity and belonging among Vietnamese-Canadians

Rites of passage are integral to the life course of human beings. They exist in societies as culturally appropriate means to help individuals transition into their new social role or status. The story and journey of the former Vietnamese refugees in Hamilton (Ontario), Canada is one that resonates with the literature on rites of passage. This process included an uprooting from home, which was followed by a crossing over into liminal space. After leaving Vietnam, these refugees were in limbo as a result of their circumstance. Rites of passage as a conceptual framework can help to explain the journey and settlement experience of these Vietnamese refugees. Their experience have shaped their understanding of home, identity and belonging as Vietnamese-Canadians. The following paper examines the Vietnamese refugees’ stories and their reflection on settlement and home, which suggest a process of continuous liminality that articulates the complexity of experience and sense making in the lives of migrants. In order to understand the sense of belonging of these former refugees, the authors examine their life, journey, and rites of passage from Vietnam to Canada.