Awareness needed to battle HIV and Hep C

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The concern that HIV and AIDS hold in the Aboriginal community is evidenced by two health conferences that will be held at the end of this month at both ends of the province.

Lethbridge will play host to its First Aboriginal Conference of Southern Alberta on HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and Harm Reduction, Feb. 27 and 28, while the Eighth Annual Health and Healing Conference will take place in Fort Chipewyan from Feb. 25 to 27.

The Lethbridge conference is the joint effort of four partners: the Lethbridge HIV Connection, Sik-Ooh-Kotoki Friendship Society, Peigan Health Services and the Blood Tribe Department of Health.

"The issue (of AIDS and HIV) isn't really addressed in southern Alberta a lot," said co-ordinator Ellie Beebe. "There's a lack of understanding and a lack of awareness."

But the diagnosis of HIV positive is striking harder and harder at both the Aboriginal community and drug users said Ken Ward, who is one keynote speaker at the Lethbridge conference.

Twelve years ago, Ward, a member of the Enoch Cree Nation who now resides in Edmonton, was diagnosed as HIV positive.

That was also the time he decided to go on the road and tell his story.

"I'm an old pioneer," he said. "I want to increase the awareness, strengthen the awareness."

Ward said people still want to hear his story. So he tells them about the "bad choices, bad behavior" on his part which sent him down this road.

Not only through his own story, but also the life stories of others he encounters through work with the Native friendship centres in Alberta and outreach work in Edmonton, Ward is aware of the high numbers of Native people who are contracting HIV and AIDS.

"I chose to go public because I was aware of the increase in numbers," he said.

Ward said he in turn has heard many stories of how his testimonial has changed the lives of others.

Beebe said there is a need for a conference like this in the south.

"We have two of the largest reserves in Canada in southern Alberta and there's a problem here that needs to be addressed," she said.

Across the province in Fort Chipewyan, about 280 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, the Eighth Annual Health and Healing Conference is being held.

While recognizing that HIV and AIDS is a concern among the Native population, Donna Cyprien, manager for Wellness and Special Projects for the Nunee Health Authority, said that topic will only be part of what is discussed at the northern conference.

"If we had a workshop just on that we'd only get one or two people," she said. "I think it's because we've done a lot of promotion (on the subject) in the last five years or so."

Instead, HIV and AIDS discussions will be included as part of some workshops on the schedule, including those on relationships and co-dependency.

"It is a big issue in Fort Chipewyan, but we work more on prevention and education and awareness," said Cyprien.

Among the workshops to be included in the upcoming conference are some on fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects; parenting skills; and cultural teaching through awareness wheels and medicine wheels.

"It piques the curiosity of people and they ask for more things during the year and we offer more workshops then," said Cyprien.

Conferences in both parts of the province are aimed at professionals as well as the members of the communities.