Promiscuous men increase AIDS risk for many women

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A Seattle consultant on national AIDS prevention says it's time Indian women took control of their bodies until Indian men educate themselves on the wonders of family life.

Randy Lewis, a Native American, said women must "start fighting for control of their bodies" until men stop running around and begin to be honest with them.

"Honestly is what Indian people pride themselves on," he told a large delegation of women attending a national women and wellness conference in Saskatoon.

The Oct. 22-25 conference, which over 500 Native women attended, was based on mental, physical and spiritual wellness.

Lewis said women should be very concerned about AIDS, which he said is going to be the number one killer among Native people within two years.

He said statistics show AIDS is increasing among Indian people more than any other group of people.

"It is moving eight to 10 times as fast through us based on any other disease." Lewis said.

He said the deadly disease is moving rapidly through women and girls because of drug use and prostitution.

And he said AIDS kills Indian people a lot quicker than non-Natives.

"Most people show the effects of AIDS between two and a half years to five years. With Indian people it shows up between two and a half to six months. And Indian people succumb to the virus anywhere from six months to a year."

The reason behind such drastic statistics is because history records Indian people coming from a suppressed system, Lewis said.

"We were open to Western diseases years ago and had no resistance to them. Why? Because we lack the basic immunity against diseases the Western culture has historically built up for itself.

"We're the only people who are overweight and starving to death," Lewis said humorously.

He said the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in Canada is far too high and "it's quite scary.

"Of every 100,000 people, 350 people have contracted gonorrhea. Seven non-native people out of every 100,000 have syphilis. With Indian people the statistics are much higher, 100 of every 100,000 have syphilis," said Lewis.

Lewis said the statistics are far too staggering to ignore. He blames much of it on promiscuous men.

He told the delegates women are now at a great risk because of the spread of AIDS.

"Unless you know where your loved one was sleeping the night before, you tell him to sleep on the couch. What he may bring home to you now, may kill you tomorrow," Lewis said.

He said Native people in their communities must start talking more openly about AIDS.

"My tribe lost 11 people to AIDS. We're not immoral but my tribe waved its right to anonymity. If it's in the tribe, we have to know. We can't hide test results and we can't be afraid to be tested," Lewis said.

Lewis said to fight the spread of AIDS, partners must be faithful in relationships and open about sexuality.

He said parents are usually ashamed to talk about sex. "We're backwoods when dealing with our own personal hygiene and sexually transmitted diseases."

Lewis said people were taught by the church were taught by the church to not talk about those things, because "they're dirty."

He said it's amazing how adults can act so much like adolescents when dealing with sexuality. "Boys are taught such childish things like don't play with your oog oog."

"When they've grown to manhood, they refer to it as 'my little Willie' or 'I've to go water my duck.'

"It's small wonder that boys remain little boys locked in the Peter Pan syndrome," Lewis said.

He said girls grow up to be ladies and housewives and boys grow up to be boys.

"Men spend time in bars, at hockey games and rodeos, which are supposed to represent manliness. But it's just another form of boyishness and they continue to play as they grow older," Lewis said, while adding women must breakaway from what he called 'Momism.'

"Young girls eventually become mothers and usually find themselves raising children and the husband," he said.

"Love for family and India pride that is absolute and unconditional is what it's all about," Lewis said, adding it's not generally until late adulthood that a man finally realizes the beauty of the lady who has struck by him through thick and thin.

Stressing the importance of good relationships to combat sexually transmitted diseases, especially AIDS, Lewis said a lot falls on the women of the communities.

"Friends may come and friends may go but that motherly love is unconditional and men must come to realize it.

"So it's time for you ladies to kick a few butts," Lewis said over rounds of applause.