TORONTO, July 11, 2012 – Art may be key to opening discussion among Aboriginal youth about their special vulnerability to HIV and AIDS, according to a project that has linked young Aboriginal people with their communities’ artists.
The “Taking Action” community based research project for HIV prevention used weekend workshops in six Aboriginal communities across Canada to help youth express their thoughts and feelings about HIV/AIDS through videos, photographs, paintings, plays, hip-hop and traditional art, such as Inuit throat-songs and carvings.
The findings from the project are detailed in a Taking Action report, which will be presented Thursday evening at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto.
Many of the young Aboriginal people who attended the workshops said they did not know much about HIV or the elevated rates of HIV in Aboriginal communities, but making art together opened up the discussion, says York University Faculty of Environmental Studies professor Sarah Flicker, who was principal investigator on the Canadian Institutes of Health Research funded project.
“They understand that the isolation, substance abuse and intergenerational trauma caused by colonization is linked to higher rates of HIV in their communities. But they are not content to sit back,” says Flicker. “They feel that reconnecting with their culture will help build stronger, healthier communities and lower their risk for HIV.”
Youth action on HIV is important for a couple of reasons, according to the “Taking Action” report. First, nearly half of the Aboriginal population in Canada is under 25. Second, the Public Health Agency of Canada estimates the new infection rate among Aboriginal people is about 3.6 times higher than the infection rate among non-Aboriginal people. Finally,, according to a UNAIDS report in 2010, young people are leading the HIV prevention revolution: the rate is falling among young people in 16 of the 21 countries most affected.
Six Aboriginal communities in Canada hosted the arts-related workshops designed by and for youth: the urban Aboriginal community in Toronto; Kettle and Stony Point First Nation & Aamjiwnaang First Nation in southwestern Ontario; Kahnawa:ke First Nation just outside of Montreal; Nak’azdli First Nation in northwestern B.C.; the urban and on-reserve youth around Charlottetown; and Puvirnituq in Nunavik. This project was done in partnership with the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network.
17 Aboriginal youth leaders from across Canada who are part of the next phase of the project will attend the Thursday evening event.
WHAT: Launch of “Taking Action” report
WHEN: Thursday, July 12, 2012, 6-7pm
WHERE: Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, 16 Spadina Road, Toronto, MAP
Information Taking Action report
Photo and interview opportunities: National Youth Coordinator Jessica Yee and other Aboriginal youth who have taken part in the workshops will be available at the event, along with Professor Sarah Flicker.
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Media Contact:
Janice Walls, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 2100 x22101 / wallsj@yorku.ca
