Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week 2013: Vancouver Workshop - December 6
Think Global - Act Local: Indigenous People and HIV & AIDS
Media Advisory
November 13, 2013
What: Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) invites local stakeholders to come together for presentations and discussions about international Indigenous HIV and AIDS issues as they relate to provincial, regional, and local realities.
Co-hosted by the Dr. Peter AIDS Centre, local practitioners will share insights in relation to the international context, and highlight First Nation, Metis, and other community perspectives. Trevor Stratton, Coordinator of International Indigenous Working Group on HIV and AIDS, will attend and share his experience working with Indigenous partners who are responding to HIV and AIDS in their own communities. This session is free and open to everyone; light refreshments served.
Key Note Speaker: Dr. Julio Montaner, Director of the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS; Director of IDC; and Physician Program Director for HIV/AIDS PHC.
Where: The Bill Reid Centre for Northwest Coast Art Studies
639 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC
When: Friday, December 6, 2013 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm PST
Contact: RSVP with Trevor Stratton by Nov 23, trevor@caan.ca 416.999.3250
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For Media Enquiries, contact:
Mediatonic PR Heather Oliver
778.737.6877
buzz@mediatonicpr.com
See press release below
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About CAAN . www.caan.ca
The Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) is a not-for-profit coalition of individuals and organizations which provides leadership, support and advocacy for Aboriginal individuals living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, regardless of where they reside. Their philosophy is that all Aboriginal Peoples deserve the right to protect themselves against infectious disease and thrives on providing the Aboriginal community with accurate and current information about HIV including risks of contracting the virus, issues of care and treatment, and support for families and those living with the disease.
National Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week 2013: Leaders unite in Halifax to take "Getting to Zero" to the next level
Halifax, NS (November 5, 2013) - The Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) and Healing
Our Nations will be co-hosting the Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week Launch Event on December 1, 2013 in Halifax, NS. National Aboriginal
leadership will be present to support the launch of Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week and will be followed by workshops across the
country (Montreal, Ottawa, Prince Albert, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Vancouver) to continue discussions on Aboriginal HIV and
AIDS issues in Canada Dec 1 - 6, 2013.
Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week 2013 will connect national Aboriginal organizations, government partners, health care providers,
and community leaders to focus on how Aboriginal people can continue to work together to reach the goal of: Getting to Zero.
Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS related deaths.
The significance of this year is that although Worlds AIDS Day will celebrate progress made in fighting this deadly disease and moving
towards zero, the improvements amongst Aboriginal communities are not significant enough. Aboriginal people (First Nations,
Métis, and Inuit) continue to respond to HIV and AIDS with community-based initiatives, but are still experiencing
epidemic proportions 3.5 times higher than other Canadians. An estimated 6,380 Aboriginal
persons were living with HIV/AIDS; 8.9% of all prevalent HIV infections and comprised about 12.2% of
all new HIV infections in Canada in 2011.
"Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week will focus on how to further reduce these numbers to zero by eliminating the stigma and
discrimination that increase risk for Aboriginal communities," stated CEO of CAAN, Ken Clement. "Our theme represents
goals to eliminate transmissions from mother to child, which means zero babies are born HIV positive in Canada; zero
tolerance of discrimination towards those living with HIV and AIDS, and zero barriers to treatment for all."
A convergence of culture, social, health, and political events during Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week is creating a climate for
important developments on the Aboriginal HIV and AIDS agenda in Canada. CAAN invites you to join us on our continued journey to
zero:
Where: The Westin Nova Scotian, 1181 Hollis St, Halifax, NS
When: December 1, 2013, 10:00 am AST
RSVP: By November 21, 2013 at http://www.bit.ly/aaaw2013launchrsvp
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About CAAN . www.caan.ca
The Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) is a not-for-profit coalition of individuals and organizations which provides leadership, support and advocacy for Aboriginal individuals living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, regardless of where they reside. Their philosophy is that all Aboriginal Peoples deserve the right to protect themselves against infectious disease and thrives on providing the Aboriginal community with accurate and current information about HIV including risks of contracting the virus, issues of care and treatment, and support for families and those living with the disease.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Dec 1 - Halifax, NS Westin Nova Scotian Hotel
Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week 2013 Launch Event
Dec 2 - Montreal, QC Kateri School, Kahnawake Mohawk Territory
A Rising Onkwehonwe Generation: No More Stigma, Shame and Discrimination!
Dec 3 - Ottawa, ON Parliamentary Hill
Parliamentary Breakfast
Dec 4 - Prince Albert, SK Prince Albert Métis Women's Association
Sharing Circle for Women: Beading Symbols of Hope for Our Community
Dec 4 - Winnipeg, MB Ka Ni Kanichihk
Women "Getting to Zero" Community Sharing Circle
Dec 5 - Toronto, ON Ramada Plaza Downtown Toronto
Think Global - Act Local: Indigenous people and HIV/AIDS
Dec 6 - Vancouver, BC Bill Reid Centre for Northwest Coast Art Studies at SFU
Human Rights, Global Lessons, Grass Roots Perspectives: Indigenous People and HIV/AIDS
For more information on these events visit : http://www.aboriginalaidsawareness.com
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"Reproduced with permission - "Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN)"
Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN)
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