AIDS workers call for government support

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On Sept. 21, the 18th annual Vancouver AIDS Walk celebrated another record-breaking year. Following the Stanley Park walk, throngs of participants relaxed in the September sunshine enjoying a free concert by local legend, Nearly Neil. The awareness table belonging to Healing Our Spirit, the B.C. Aboriginal AIDS/HIV Society, nestled close to the stage, giving Society workers a great view of the action.

Geraldine Trimbel, Healing Our Spirit community development co-ordinator, took time away from the post-walk celebration to talk to Raven's Eye.

"Healing Our Spirit is here to give an Aboriginal voice to the AIDS walk," said Trimble. "Canada's Aboriginal population is over-represented in terms of AIDS and HIV, and it's because of social circumstances like poverty, lack of education, lack of social services, drug and mental health issues, and situations of abuse."

Healing Our Spirit has participated in the AIDS walk as a community partner for 10 years, raising money on its own account and for the B.C. Persons with AIDS Society. Pledge money goes to support and services for Aboriginal people living with HIV/AIDS, such as outreach work, housing subsidies, medical costs, nutrition and emergency expenses.

Healing Our Spirit raised morethan $6,000 in pledges in this year's walk, with about 50 walkers taking part.

"We really pushed hard this year," said Trimble, who collected more than $1,000 in pledges herself. This year, anyone pledging more than $50 was eligible for the "healing feather walk," where an AIDS walker would carry a feather bearing the name of the pledge.

Another big earner this year was Charlotte Brooks, who collected nearly $500 in pledges during her summer in Prince Rupert. Brooks, a mother of four sons, has been a member of Healing Our Spirit for several years, but this was her first AIDS walk. "I've really enjoyed it; it's been great. I can't wait to come back next year," said Brooks, who marks this as her twelfth year of living with HIV.

The AIDS walk is also an opportunity to remember Healing Our Spirit members who have passed on. This year was a memorial for Alex Archie, a tireless AIDS advocate and friend to many within the community. Members of Archie's family came from Canim Lake this year to walk on his behalf, wearing T-shirts bearing his image and a message of hope.

Trimble wore one of the shirts that afternoon and noted how difficult it is to lose your friends and advocates. "Quality of life may improve, life expectancy may improve, but if you stick around for a few years, you'll see the disease run its course," she said. "Our voices are passing away."

Trimble lamented the lack of government funding for people with AIDS and HIV within the Aboriginal community.

"Where is the money? We can do all the research to tell us that people are dying, that yes, Aboriginal women are the fastest growing demographic of HIV-positives, but where are the funds to help these people?" she asked.

"It's a difficult thing," Trimble continued. "We want to say to HIV-positive people 'This is okay, you can live a longer, productive life and don't be scared.' But the funders need to be reminded that this is a disease that's killing our people."

Ultimately though, the AIDS walk was a happy occasion for Healing Our Spirit. "It's an opportunity to come together to support the AIDS walk, honour Healing Our Spirit [friends] who've passed on, and celebrate our accomplishments over the last year."