AIDS prevention still a health concern

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"Being diagnosed with HIV is not a death sentence -it's a lifestyle change."

That was the message delivered by Derrick Maier to a group of delegates during HIV/AIDS 101, one of the workshops held during the HIV/AIDS conference in Chilliwack March 16 to 19. The seventh annual conference, which was hosted this year at the Rhombus Hotel and Resort, was titled Aboriginal Voices and Visions: Our Ancestors Speak, and was presented by Healing Our Spirit B.C. Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Society (HOS) and co-hosted by the Stol:lo Nation.

Maier, an educator with HOS, said it's helpful to educate the people around you in order to take away the mystery of HIV/AIDS. "I know a lot of people that lead bright and wonderful lives that I envy, and HIV doesn't change that," said Maier.

More than 400 delegates attended workshops, which spanned topics from childhood sexual abuse, prostitution and addiction, to holistic healing, healthy sexuality for men and the medicine wheel concept. Al Arsenault and Toby Hinton, from Odd Squad Productions, a non-profit organization consisting of Vancouver City Police, presented documentaries that captured the harsh realities of drugs, prostitution and HIV/AIDS in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Arguably, the most emotional film was Happy Tears, the memorial video of April Lynn Reoch of the Squamish Nation, who lost her life at 25. Said Hinton, "April lives on-she leaves behind a living legacy on film. Hopefully her work will keep kids off drugs."

Ken Clement, the executive director of HOS, said the conference was highly successful.

"We had representation from all over Canada and the United States," said Clement, adding, "One of the presenters came from Albuquerque, New Mexico."

He said that the response to the conference reinforced the need to continue to educate and support Aboriginal people living with HIV/AIDS. While each of the workshops was well received, he noted that the most popular workshops seemed to be the ones dealing with people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as those catering to youth.

Anna Morigeau, a youth from the Ktunaxa Indian Nation, explained that she had lost an uncle to AIDS. She said, "I came to learn more about AIDS...and to bring it back to the people in my community."

In addition to the many workshops, a youth celebration was held on the second evening, with traditional story-telling and a dance. The following night there was a cultural celebration held at the Stol:lo Nation's Tzeachten Hall, where 300 delegates enjoyed dinner, cultural sharing, a silent art auction, and were entertained by Gerald Charlie & the Black Owl Blues.

Said Clement, "We have to continue spreading the word to ensure the message gets out there. The rate of infection in Aboriginal people is growing-it continues to be a health concern."

Clement said the HIV/AIDS conference would definitely be held again next year, although the venue hasn't been decided. "We need to provide as much information as possible to our people," said Clement. "We need to look after people who are HIV positive."