1. The Indigenous HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Are We Invisible?
LaVerne Monette, Canada
International AIDS Conference
Mexico City, August ,2008

2. The Aboriginal Epidemic: What DO We Know
From the Risk Assessment Division of the Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, PHAC: Reported in 2006

3.
Aboriginal peoples are over-represented in the HIV epidemic in Canada
Aboriginal peoples make up a growing percentage of positive HIV reports and reported AIDS cases
Injecting drug use continues to be a key mode of HIV transmission in Aboriginal communities

4. 1998-2005 HIV has a significant impact on Aboriginal women
A higher percentage of Aboriginal peoples test positive for HIV at a younger age when compared to non-Aboriginal persons (also true of a reported AIDS diagnosis)
Between 200 and 400 Aboriginal people were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2005

5.
Aboriginal peoples represent 22.7% of HIV positive test reports
Aboriginal peoples represent 6% of the population of the provinces which report ethnic information (3% Canada-wide)
58.9% of the Aboriginal HIV positive test reports were among injecting drug users

6.
Aboriginal women represented 47.3% of positive HIV test reports among Aboriginal peoples
Aboriginal women represent 38.9% of reported AIDS cases
Youth made up 41.2% of HIV positive test reports among Aboriginal peoples

7. What We THINK We Know: Research Studies
Heterosexual HIV transmission is rapidly taking over injecting drug use as a mode of transmission
There is an alarming increase in the numbers of new HIV positive test reports in the over 40 age group
The numbers of Aboriginal women who are living with HIV/AIDS is under-represented

8. What We THINK We Know
There are a significant number of Two Spirit women living with HIV/AIDS
Aboriginal peoples living with HIV/AIDS in Toronto are younger than elsewhere in Ontario
Substance use in and of itself is a risk factor in Aboriginal communities

9. Common Indigenous Risk Factors for HIV/AIDS
Displacement from traditional lands
Loss of culture
Residential Schools/Removal of children from communities
Poverty
Poor Health and inaccessible health care

10. Common Risk Factors Unemployment Lack of formal schooling
Gender based violence
Homophobia
Substance use

11. Governmental response
Fund short time limited projects with no sustainability
Funding cuts
Send funds outside of Canada
Ignore good science—refuse to implement harm reduction measures

12. Suggested Priorities
Local, regional, national and international Indigenous partnerships
Bottom-line policy statements and leadership engagement
Nothing about us without us