In March 2022, the federal government was anticipating a large influx of women and children through its Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), which offered temporary refuge for Ukrainians fleeing their homes after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Since then, more than 57,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Alberta, many of them mothers.

Understanding the experiences of these women – what it’s like to leave their home country and how that affects their interaction with their children –  is the goal of Mothering in Exile, a research project led by MacEwan Faculty of Nursing professors Dr. Elizabeth Burgess-Pinto and Dr. Bisi Oyelana, with Larysa Hayduk, director of the university’s Ukrainian Resource and Development Centre. 

The project, which uses narrative inquiry – a research method where sample sizes are typically small but offer detailed insight into participants' experiences – is based on the personal stories of Ukrainian mothers, providing a unique and intimate understanding of their challenges – and strengths. 

While their research is still in the early stages – they’ve completed and analyzed the first of five sets of data – several threads are emerging, including the impact of the tenuous nature of visa programs like CUAET, which has a three-year limit and no guarantee of permanent resident status. That can make looking to the future difficult, says Dr. Burgess-Pinto, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Nursing. 

“These mothers describe trying to look forward, and feeling very unsteady,” she explains. “What really stands out from this research, so far, is that CUAET gives people a chance to be safe and to have hope, but at the same time, there is uncertainty that means the question ‘Do we stay or do we go?’ is one that can’t be answered.” 

From dispossession and displacement to sustaining hope

Working closely with community organizations, the researchers invited Ukrainian mothers to share their stories. Beginning with a general question, like “What stories can you share about your relationship with your child since you've come to Canada?” or “What stories can you tell me about leaving Ukraine?” Hayduk, fluent in Ukrainian and English, starts the conversation, allowing participants to guide the way through their stories.  

It’s still early, but three threads are already emerging from the work. 

The first thread – dispossession and displacement – considers the circumstances under which the mothers had to leave Ukraine. In every case, participants decided to come to Canada because of their children, says Hayduk. “They talk a lot about loss – of everything from social connections to status – but they feel they must be strong for their children.”

The last thread – recomposing their lives and sustaining hope – is also challenging. “How do you compose your life, move forward or think about the future when you don’t know what’s happening or how long you will be in this position,” says Dr. Burgess-Pinto.

The researchers, who share an interest in migration and are all mothers and immigrants, will present their initial findings this month at the Association for the Study of Nationalities World Conference. After that, they will move into the next research stage and further interviews with their participants. 

The work also includes a collaboration with MacEwan’s first Gene Zwozdesky Artist in Residence. Ukrainian multidisciplinary artist Slinko, who was the artist in residence for 2023/24, plans to develop a poetic video interpretation of the research findings. 

Looking to the future

Hayduk says it’s essential to provide a platform for these mothers to share their stories because their struggles continue. “When you see them in your communities, you may not see that struggle – they are strong women – but the trauma and suffering is there,” she says. 

The overarching story of historical events can smother the individual stories of people, adds Dr. Burgess-Pinto. “I hope that creating an understanding of people's experiences might, somewhere down the road, influence policy, programs and supports for people who find themselves in these types of circumstances.”