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December 1 is World AIDS Day
Photo by Steven Lindsay
I am the face of AIDS
“I have known a lot of people who have passed on from AIDS. Each one left behind encouragement to beat the disease,” said Art Zoccole, Executive Director of 2- Spirited People of the 1st Nations. Art is HIV-positive. He knows the daily struggles of this disease. Indigenous people in Canada have suffered from the ongoing effects of cultural denigration, racism, and colonialism. The legacy of this experience is evident in the statistics for incarceration, suicide, drug use, family violence and poverty. All of these factors limit the potential impact of prevention measures and increase the risk for HIV infection. According to Health Canada, an estimated 250-450 Indigenous people are infected with HIV daily. Through its Canadian Development Program, PWRDF partners with 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations to promote community awareness and education in Indigenous communities, including prevention tailored to Indigenous women at risk and youth peer education training.
