“A Perspective of HIV/AIDS Among

Aboriginal Communities in Central Alberta”

Voices from the Fire: Vision in Truth

19th Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research

May 13-16, 2010/ TCU Place, Saskatoon, SK

Courtney Boniface RDC Student Researcher

Warren Faye President, Métis Local 845

Taryn Hutchins RDC Student Researcher

Jimmie Keller Member at Large

Erin Konsmo RDC Student Researcher

Tracy Lee Aboriginal Health Lead, Alberta

Health Services

Quinn Nniuq Member at Large

Dr. Scott Oddie RDC Rural Health Research Chair,

Dr. Krista Robson RDC Sociology Instructor,

Raye St. Denys Executive Director, Shining

Mountains Living Community

Services

Johana Stark RDC Student Researcher,

Jennifer Vanderschaeghe Executive Director, Central

Alberta AIDS Network

Society

Jill Lanz Health Promotion, Central

Alberta AIDS Network

The Objectives of Our Journey

1) Develop a community-based

perspective of HIV/AIDS to inform

education, prevention and/or

support strategies and ultimately

reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in

Aboriginal communities;

2) Build evidence-informed decision

capacity within individuals and

communities; and

3) Build a foundation for respectful

and sustainable research

partnerships.

The Journey since March 2009

“Walking

together in a

good way”

• Sharing Circles 20

• Ceremonies 15

• Conversations 30

• Knowledge Café 1

• SMLCS Conference 1

• Field Researcher Summit 1

• Involved Over 50 People

Barriers • Knowledge Transfer

• Problem identification

• Shared/common

language

• Trust

• Ownership

• CAG Membership

• Collaboration Charter

• Sharing Circles

• Reflection

• Social Capital

• Diversity

• Creating Common

Knowledge

Solutions

Research Methods

Community-Based Participatory Research

• Participants in this project will be located primarily within

the central Alberta area. They will include;

• Métis, First Nations

• APHA

• IDU

• Two-spirited, Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender,

transsexual and intersexed Aboriginal People, straight

• Elders, families, youth, men and women

Narrative and CoP Stream

Narratives

•Community

•Empowerment

•Identify Strengths

•Rich contextual information

Community of Practice

(CoP)

•Identify field researchers

•Support for APHA

•Normalize subject matter

•Knowledge transfer

“Stories come

from the heart and

spiritually allow us

to keep the fire

burning.”

“Stories seek

to connect,

heal, honour,

teach, and

share the truth

of experiences,

history,

memories, both

good and bad.”

Research Methods

• Storytelling workshop December 4th, 2009

at POSITIVE CHANGES: 2009 Central Alberta

Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Conference

• May 6-8, 2010

Aboriginal Field Researcher Summit – 12

members

• Collection of 30 narratives

• Future 2nd Field Researcher Summit

• SMLCS Conference

• “Emotional wellness is a very key component to

that programming and getting them moving

forward. Honour the culture, honour the spirits,

honour the physical, mental and spiritual, but

you also have to help out with the emotional

part.”

• Field Researcher Summit

• “Incidences aren’t communities, stories are

communities”

Messages Heard

Sacred Circle of Life – HIV/AIDS

Advisory Group

Community Advisory Group

(CAG)

Community-Based Research

Team (Core)

Community-Based Research

Team (Extended)

Knowledge Transfer Advisory

Group (KTAG)

Community Membership

For more info contact:

Raye St. Deny`s

elk@telusplanet.net

Erin Konsmo

erin.konsmo@rdc.ab.ca

Questions?

Comments?