A Community Dialogue on Key Populations: Who’s in.... Who’s out....and Why?? AIDS 2014 July 21, 2014 Melbourne, Australia Doris Peltier – Aboriginal Women & Leadership Coordinator Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network
‘The essence of who we are is beautiful...’ (spirit, core, heart, real meaning, soul, quintessence, fundamental nature) N’ginaajiwimi
What are the indicators which reflect that Indigenous people in Canada are considered a key population?
COLONIZATION
Contact with Colonizers Changed everything for Indigenous peoples Epidemics caused severe social disorganization for indigenous societies Traditional social structures, alliances and kinship ties were disrupted Confidence in traditional leaders and healers were undermined
The “Disease Factor” Those left alive in the aftermath of war and disease lost hope Social disintegration followed The ‘disease factor’ differentiates the history of colonization of the Americas from other regions in the world
Most visible colonial legacy...
Kill the Indian...save the Man
How did Colonization Impact Aboriginal People
Historical Trauma - First stages Physical – introduction of infectious diseases that decimated Economic – violation of Native stewardship and forced removal of people from their natural habitat and life ways
Historical Trauma – Second Stages Cultural – Christian missionization to bring about religious transformation Social – Aboriginal displacement through colonial settlement
Historical Trauma – Third Stage Psychological – the marginalization of Aboriginal people, as their social selves became largely diminished and impoverished.
Dis-ease Trajectory to HIV and AIDS
Telling Our Stories.... Validation Making sense of the past Releasing Removing layer upon layer Discovering strengths Uncovering true essence and identity Empowerment and healing
[A] healing ritual changes a person from an isolated (diseased) state to one of … transformation from one state to another, the prior state or condition must cease to exist. It must die (Allen, 1986:80).
The Dominant Story
Meequetch