AIDS educator symbolizes genuinely positive attitude

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For 30-year-old Duane Morrisseau-Beck, speaking at conferences is not always easy. Morrisseau-Beck, who is Metis, was diagnosed with HIV at the age of 22. He continues his battle with the disease while advocating for people living with HIV/AIDS.

"When going to conferences and speaking about living with HIV/AIDS it always brings me back to day one when I first found out," said Morrisseau-Beck. "I was diagnosed with the disease in the early 90s; there was not much information on HIV/AIDS back then. The profile on the disease was really negative then," he said.

Finding out left him in a place with a lot of uncertainty. A lot of unanswered questions, frustration and confusion.

"You knew then if you contracted HIV you basically had five to seven years to live. So I was in a state of panic and I went through tough periods and growing times while going through that process. I was pretty shocked," he said.

Born in St. Rose du Lac in Manitoba, Morrisseau-Beck was adopted and raised by a non-Aboriginal family. Three years ago he found his biological family.

"When I found out I gave my adopted family a call to let them know what had happened. I then searched for my biological family and three years ago I found them. My biological family is quite aware of my situation: my grandparents, my mother, my father, everybody knows, and they are very supportive," he said.

Two of the workshops that Morrisseau does are AIDS 101 and Living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS 101 is a visual presentation tool he uses to describe the progression of the disease. In Living with HIV/AIDS, he uses his personal account of the events that led to his contracting HIV.

"We all have a journey to go on. We are all doing something with our lives to make a difference in other people's lives," said Morrisseau-Beck. "Now when I go back to that place when I first found out about my illness I try look at it in a positive way. My life did change, but it changed for the better. It may sound very hazy as to what I'm saying but believe me, it is much better now than it was before. I've got a greater peace of mind and a clearer picture as to where I want to go. I want to save lives. In doing that it helps me," he said.

His roster of educational activities and speaking engagements has included: AIDS Community Care of Montreal; The Manitoba Aboriginal AIDS Task Force, the 1996 International AIDS Conference in Vancouver; the1998 Metis Federation Health Portfolio; Manitoba/Saskatchewan Skills Building Forum,1999; Volunteer and HIV/AIDS Educator; and the Volunteer Co-ordinator for AIDS Walk, Ottawa '99.

Morrisseau-Beck says that he has a lot of people to thank - people that were there for him.

"Albert McCleod is a leader, as far as I'm concerned, in issues affecting Aboriginal people with HIV/AIDS. He's worked with First Nations people and Metis people. That is his line of work. I got a lot of experience and information from him. He connected me into the Aboriginal communities, looking into the sweat lodges and ceremonies and just being Aboriginal," he said.

Educating youth and the public on HIV/AIDS has brought him a greater understanding of the disease. A better grip on it. He has investigated drug therapies, holistic medicine and western medicine. His only problem was the money to pay for his medication. Morrisseau takes 30 pills a day.

"If you do not have the money for the medication, as far as Metis people go, you go on welfare. I wanted to go to work, but I couldn't because of my illness," said Morrisseau-Beck. "Knowing that there was no drug plan for me, that there was no medical services available for me as a Metis person, I felt like I was the only Metis person on the planet who had HIV," he said.

Morrisseau-Beck is now working on a HIV portfolio with the Metis National Council in Ottawa.

I have a portfolio that is quite extensive. I have a better understanding as to what is pending, what is important and what seems to be the issues out there. I'm now able toformulate ideas as to what needs to be done," he said.

Morriseau-Beck's words of wisdom for youth is to look within yourself before you go forward and always get grounded and get rooted to your family.

"We are at the beginning of this particular epidemic. For the future I want to work on a national level, working with all Aboriginal groups," said Morrisseau-Beck. "My plan is to be a voice. To bring understanding and education and whatever I could do to save people's lives. It is the people within my community and my family that keep me going," he said.