A Community Dialogue on Key Populations: Who’s in.... Who’s out....and Why??

AIDS 2014 July 21, 2014

Melbourne, Australia

Doris Peltier – Aboriginal Women & Leadership Coordinator Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network

‘The essence of who we are is beautiful...’

(spirit, core, heart, real meaning, soul, quintessence, fundamental

nature)

N’ginaajiwimi

What are the indicators which reflect that Indigenous people in Canada are considered a key population?

COLONIZATION

Contact with Colonizers

• Changed everything for Indigenous peoples

• Epidemics caused severe social disorganization for indigenous societies

• Traditional social structures, alliances and kinship ties were disrupted

• Confidence in traditional leaders and healers were undermined

The “Disease Factor”

• Those left alive in the aftermath of war and disease lost hope

• Social disintegration followed

• The ‘disease factor’ differentiates the history of colonization of the Americas from other regions in the world

Most visible colonial legacy...

Kill the Indian...save the Man

How did Colonization Impact Aboriginal People

Historical Trauma - First stages

• Physical – introduction of infectious diseases that decimated

• Economic – violation of Native stewardship and forced removal of people from their natural habitat and life ways

Historical Trauma – Second Stages

• Cultural – Christian missionization to bring about religious transformation

• Social – Aboriginal displacement through colonial settlement

Historical Trauma – Third Stage

• Psychological – the marginalization of Aboriginal people, as their social selves became largely diminished and impoverished.

Dis-ease Trajectory to HIV and AIDS

Telling Our Stories....

• Validation• Making sense of the past• Releasing • Removing layer upon layer• Discovering strengths• Uncovering true essence and identity• Empowerment and healing

[A] healing ritual changes a person from an isolated (diseased) state to one of… transformation from one state to another, the prior state or condition must cease to exist. It must die (Allen, 1986:80).

The Dominant Story

Meequetch