Two-Spirited People of the First Nations

ONTARIO ABORIGINAL HIV/AIDS STRATEGY

(by Nancy Sagmeister)

"Getting people to open up and talk about sex, homophobia and AIDS phobia are some of the biggest obstacles to dealing with this issue," says LaVerne Monette. "That, and the tendency to blame victims rather than trying to help them or giving people the information they need to keep them healthy". LaVerne is the provincial coordinator of the Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy and a board member of Two-Spirited People of the First Nations.

"The fears and intolerance that many Aboriginal people with HIV/AIDS experience in their communities means that many leave home and come to large communities like Toronto, Sudbury or Thunder Bay to get help or simply some understanding," says LaVerne. "Homophobia doesn�t belong to First Nations people. Before Europeans arrived, gays or two-spirited people as they are known in the Aboriginal community, were accepted and respected. The spirit of tolerance that existed was lost as foreign values were imposed on children and their families."

Much of the work that goes on under the Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy involves outreach and education to change biases and attitudes in the community, and providing an opportunity where people can begin to talk about it in a spirit of acceptance and openness.

The Strategy was developed because of the lack of culturally appropriate and culturally accessible HIV/AIDS programs and services for Aboriginal people. It is based on the wholistic approach to health, which includes the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals, families and communities living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

http://www.ahwsontario.ca/publications/Vol1-No6.htm