“My body is in Canada, but my Heart Remains in Mexico”: Mexican Seasonal Farm Workers’ Perspectives on Well-Being

Authors

  • Maricruz Barba University of Alberta
  • Mary Beckie University of Alberta

Abstract

Reliance on foreign agricultural labourers is rapidly increasing in Canada. The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) is the major federal program coordinating these placements, and Mexico, which runs the matching Programa de Trabajadores Agrícolas Temporales (PTAT), is the leading partner country, currently accounting for 43.8% of migrant farm workers in Canada. With the growing reliance on migrant workers, there are increasing concerns about their living and working conditions and calls for program and policy changes to better serve their needs and rights. According to Loo (2014), listening to and understanding workers' perspectives is critical to creating effective reforms. Our research aligns with this perspective. Through a focused ethnography approach, we engaged with nine Mexican seasonal farm workers who have the experience of participating in the PTAT in the Province of Alberta, where there have been few such participatory studies conducted. Using a food justice theoretical lens, qualitative data were gathered through PhotoVoice and semi-structured interviews to explore the factors influencing the health and well-being of nine Mexican farm labourers who are or have worked in Alberta through the PTAT. Participants also provided insights into what it meant to work and live as migrant labourers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Life as divididos, a word in Spanish that means divided, captures their sentiments about life as foreign temporary workers. This research gives voice to these individuals’ experiences and needs and, as such, provides insights into ways to improve their living and working conditions.

Keywords: Mexican seasonal agriculture workers, health and well-being, food justice, Alberta, Canada

____________________________________ 

« Mon corps est au Canada, mais mon coeur reste au Mexique » : le point de vue des travailleurs agricoles saisonniers mexicains sur le bien-être

Résumé
Le recours aux travailleurs agricoles étrangers augmente rapidement au Canada. Le Programme des travailleurs agricoles saisonniers (PTAS) est le principal programme fédéral qui coordonne ces placements et le Mexique, qui gère le Programa de Trabajadores Agrícolas Temporales (PTAT) de jumelage, est le principal pays partenaire, représentant actuellement 43,8 % des travailleurs agricoles migrants au Canada. Avec le recours croissant aux travailleurs migrants, les inquiétudes concernant leurs conditions de vie et de travail augmentent et des appels à des changements de programmes et de politiques pour mieux répondre à leurs besoins et à leurs droits se font de plus en plus pressants. Selon Loo (2014), écouter et comprendre les points de vue des travailleurs sont essentiels pour créer des réformes efficaces. Notre recherche s'inscrit dans cette perspective. Grâce à une approche ethnographique ciblée, nous avons engagé un dialogue avec neuf travailleurs agricoles saisonniers mexicains qui ont l'expérience de participer au PTAT dans la province de l'Alberta, où peu d'études participatives de ce type ont été menées. En utilisant une perspective théorique sur la justice alimentaire, des données qualitatives ont été recueillies par PhotoVoice et par des entretiens semi-structurés pour explorer les facteurs influençant la santé et le bien-être de neuf ouvriers agricoles mexicains qui travaillent ou ont travaillé en Alberta par l’intermédiaire du PTAT. Les participants ont également donné un aperçu de ce que signifiait travailler et vivre en tant que travailleurs migrants pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. La vie en tant que divididos, un mot espagnol qui signifie divisé, capture leurs sentiments sur la vie en tant que travailleurs temporaires étrangers. Cette recherche donne une voix aux expériences et aux besoins de ces personnes et, ainsi, fournit des indications sur les moyens d’améliorer leurs conditions de vie et de travail.

Mots-clés : travailleurs agricoles saisonniers mexicains, santé et bien-être, justice alimentaire, Alberta, Canada

Author Biographies

Maricruz Barba, University of Alberta

Maricruz Barba is experienced in the public sector with a background in both research
and the practical application of sociological concepts. Her work mainly focuses on
promoting well-being and fostering environmental conservation practices. With over
ten years of professional practice, Maricruz earned a Master's degree in Community
Engagement from the University of Alberta, a Master's in Economic Development and
International Cooperation from the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, and
a Bachelor's in Communication from the Universidad Iberoamericana de Puebla; this
equips her with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of public policy and
community development.


She is skilled in bringing together diverse groups. Maricruz also has a talent for
evaluation and effective communication, ensuring that projects not only launch but
also achieve the intended impact.


Maricruz´'s commitment extends beyond her immediate professional duties.
She participates actively in local initiatives, embodying the spirit of community
involvement. Living in Edmonton, she remains a dedicated advocate for initiatives that
are inclusive, sustainable, and aimed at fostering collaborative practices.

Mary Beckie, University of Alberta

Dr. Mary Beckie is a Professor and Director of Community Engagement Studies in the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta.

She holds an interdisciplinary doctorate in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development from the University of Saskatchewan. Current teaching and research focuses on community engagement and sustainable community development, particularly as relates to regenerative, equitable and place-based agri-food systems. Mary’s research is predominantly community-engaged and in partnership with community, and has taken place in western Canada, Cuba, Sri Lanka, India, and the UK.

Mary’s work has been published in a variety of journals dealing with alternative agri-food systems, community development and engaged scholarship including: Agriculture and Human Values; Rural Sociology; Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development; Local Environment; Community Development; and Community Engagement and Scholarship. She is co-editor of Scaling Up: Convergence of Social Economy and Sustainability (2016; Athabasca U Press) and Sustainability Planning and Collaboration in Rural Canada: Taking the Next Steps (2016; U of Alberta Press).

Mary grew up on a farm in south central Saskatchewan. Her first career path focused on the natural sciences and following the completion of a BSc in Biology and a MSc in Molecular Genetics she was involved in teaching and agricultural biotechnology research in post-secondary and federal research institutions. Her interest in alternative agri-food systems and sustainable development led to a career change and her enrolment in the PhD program described above.

Digging in the dirt and growing food is one of Mary’s favorite past-times and when possible she tries to incorporate opportunities to do this while teaching and researching.

Downloads

Published

2024-09-18

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 3 (2024): General Issue

Section

Articles

License

Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. By virtue of their appearance in this open access journal, articles are free to use, with proper attribution, in educational and other non-commercial settings.