2 Saskatchewan Indigenous Strategy on HIV and AIDS 2014 - 2019 |
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Table of Contents Background ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Vision Statement ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Mission Statement ........................................................................................................................................ 5 1. Indigenous People in Saskatchewan ..................................................................................................... 6 2. Language and Indigenous peoples ........................................................................................................ 9 3. Indigenous People and HIV and AIDS Statistics in Canada and Saskatchewan ................................... 10 a) People who inject drugs ............................................................................................................. 11 b) Heterosexual .............................................................................................................................. 12 c) 2-Spirited People /MSM (men who have sex with men) ........................................................... 12 4. Why a Saskatchewan Indigenous Strategy on HIV and AIDS? ............................................................. 12 5. SWOT Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 14 6. Where we’ve been in terms of HIV and AIDS in Saskatchewan .......................................................... 16 7. Where we are now in terms of HIV and AIDS in Saskatchewan .......................................................... 17 8. Where we want to be in terms of HIV and AIDS in Saskatchewan ..................................................... 17 9. SISHA Key Strategic Areas .................................................................................................................... 18 10. Strategic Area A: Indigenous knowledge, language, culture and ceremony .................................... 19 11. Strategic Area B: Capacity Building .................................................................................................. 20 12. Strategic Area C: Prevention Education and Awareness of HIV ....................................................... 21 13. Strategic Area D: Partnerships, Collaboration and Sustainability .................................................... 22 14. Strategic Area E: Ensure APHA access to wholistic continuum of care, treatment and support ..... 23 15. Strategic Area F: Harm Reduction ..................................................................................................... 24 16. Strategic Area G: Indigenous HIV and AIDS Research ...................................................................... 25 17. Outcomes .......................................................................................................................................... 25 18. Evaluation .......................................................................................................................................... 26 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 26 2 Saskatchewan Indigenous Strategy on HIV and AIDS 2014 - 2019 | Acknowledgements A special thank you goes to the Saskatchewan Indigenous Council on HIV and AIDS who oversaw the development of the Saskatchewan Indigenous Strategy on HIV and AIDS (SISHA). Thank you for your guidance and support. The Council includes the following members: Ms. Margaret Poitras, All Nations Hope; Donna Lerat who first represented Prince Albert Metis Women’s Association; Shavonne Custer, (PA Grand Council); Norma Rabbitskin, Sturgeon Lake First Nations; Ron Horsefall; Jose Pruden; Samantha Racette; Reggie Newkirk; Jacqueline Anaquod; Nicole Burns; Vince Smith; Wendy Lavallee; Lana Holinaty, All Nations Hope; Leona Quewezance, All Nations Hope; Pam Rockthunder and Patti Tait, Saskatoon Indian and Metis Friendship Centre. Thank you to the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada for their support to this initiative. Thank you to All Nations Hope Network for hosting the Council. Thank you to Joe Perez, Marlene Laroque, and Susanne Nasewich for providing comments feedbacks and edits to the many drafts of the strategy. Written by: Merv Thomas, Cree, Pelican Lake First Nation 3 Saskatchewan Indigenous Strategy on HIV and AIDS 2014 - 2019 | Background In 2013, discussions of developing a specific Indigenous Strategy on HIV and AIDS led by All Nations Hope Network were held. Several groups including the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, Prince Albert Grand Council, PA Metis Women’s Association, and other interested stakeholders met at the All Nations Hope Network offices to discuss the strategy. It was agreed that Indigenous people within Saskatchewan are experiencing higher rates of HIV and AIDS than the rest of the country and that current strategies are not enough to combat this alarming epidemic. It was decided that specific targeted prevention, education, and culturally appropriate programs and services, are needed, and to that end the Saskatchewan Indigenous Strategy for HIV and AIDS (SISHA) was conceived. In December 2013, following traditional and cultural protocols, a Pipe Ceremony was held and prayers were said by Elders, asking Creator, Grandfathers and Grandmothers, to bless the development and implementation of SISHA. Following the Pipe Ceremony that evening, a Round Dance and Giveaway was held in Regina, Saskatchewan. This was the first time that a Round Dance was held for those who had made their journey to the Spirit World by AIDS. The elders spoke of the significance of the Round dance to the participants. Indigenous Throughout this and other document(s) the term Indigenous refers to the people who have historical ties to the land and defined by language, customs, and ceremonies. This term includes First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Non-status people within this territory. Indigenous people(s) have always had a close relationship with the Creator and the land. “The Land is Life – Askiy Pimatisiwin” Saskatchewan Indigenous Council on HIV and AIDS Early January 2014, the Saskatchewan Indigenous Council on HIV and AIDS was formed. In 2013 All Nations Hope Network received funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada to conduct the development and the implementation of a Saskatchewan Indigenous Strategy on HIV and AIDS (SISHA). Stakeholders within Saskatchewan who work within the field of HIV and AIDS, including Aboriginal people living with HIV and leaders in the HIV movement were invited to sit as Saskatchewan Indigenous Council of HIV and AIDS (SICHA) members to oversee, direct, and control the development and ultimately the implementation of the SISHA. There were several meetings held to discuss the Council’s roles and responsibilities during the months of January and up to March, 2014 with SICHA members being presented with draft Terms of References that they discussed, revised, and adopted in June 2014. 4 Saskatchewan Indigenous Strategy on HIV and AIDS 2014 - 2019 | A face to face meeting was held in Prince Albert at the end of March, 2014. At the face to face meeting, the Council members worked on the Vision and Mission Statements of the SICHA, discussed the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, and also did an exercise of Where We’ve Been in Terms of HIV in Saskatchewan, Where we are Now, and Where we want to be. They also prepared the framework, which set out the seven strategic priorities for SISHA. Several drafts were presented over the summer; further feedback was obtained in August from community members and incorporated into the document. SISHA will be released on December 1st, 2014 at the national launch of Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week in Regina, Saskatchewan. This day also coincides with World AIDS day. Vision Statement The Saskatchewan Indigenous Council on HIV and AIDS (SICHA) envisions Indigenous people(s) exercising their inherent right to determine their wholistic health. Mission Statement The SICHA mission is to develop, promote, and implement action for prevention, care, treatment, and support to lower the impact of HIV and AIDS, and other related issues such as Hepatitis C, sexually transmitted infections, mental health, co-morbidities, and HIV and aging experienced by Indigenous People. We value adaptability, functionality, and sustainability as a way of life and being. 5 Saskatchewan Indigenous Strategy on HIV and AIDS 2014 - 2019 | 1. Indigenous People in Saskatchewan Pre –contact - Indigenous Peoples of Saskatchewan have inhabited this region for approximately 11,000 years, during which time they established self-sustaining societies.1 The five main Indigenous nations that lived within Saskatchewan during that time were the Nêhiyawak (Plains Cree), Nahkawininiwak (Saulteaux), Nakota (Assiniboine), Dakota and Lakota (Sioux), and Denesuline (Dene/Chipewyan). Each of these nations had their own cultural and traditional ceremonies which they practised and lived. These included some of the following ceremonies: Smudging, Prayer and Pipe Ceremonies, a strong belief in the Creator and Mother Earth, Sweat Lodge Ceremonies for cleansing, Healing ceremonies, Sundance Ceremonies, Fasting, Medicine, and access to traditional