Tag: Indigenous | CATIE Blog

Visual voice: Incorporating story with wellness

August 15, 2023 • By Kate Dunn

“We know the hepatitis C virus is a silent, often sneaky virus that wreaks havoc in the liver, is detectable through screening and is cured through oral medication in a matter of weeks. But our rates are rising because there is no personal engagement. We need culturally connected awareness resources to make an impact.” -Indigenous Knowledge Keeper While collaborating with an Indigenous community in Alberta to streamline hepatitis C pathways to care, I had the opportunity to take part in the co-creation of a culturally connected liver health awareness film. I was inspired to action when this resource was...

The Waniska Gathering

July 31, 2023 • By Alexandra King and Saydi Harlton

On June 6 and 7, 2023, an empowering event took place on Treaty 6 and Homeland of the Métis at Wanuskewin, a sacred site and gathering place located in what has become known as Saskatoon. It left a lasting impact on participants and nurtured hope for Indigenous health. The Waniska Gathering was a two-day event addressing crucial issues such as Indigenous health, HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI). It was organized by Waniska, an Indigenous-led research centre focused on Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Before the event started, an opening feast was held with community and guests....

Building Indigenous harm reduction responses

June 12, 2023 • By Denise Baldwin

How did you get involved in harm reduction? I first got involved in harm reduction when I was living on a reserve on Manitoulin Island and working at a youth centre there doing a lot of health promotion type work. I remember discussing HIV, hepatitis C and safer substance use with the youth – letting them know about not sharing straws to snort and things like that. But my experience in Toronto working with Oahas was what most informed my current work. My mentor in harm reduction work was LaVerne Monette, who was a Two-Spirit leader and activist who worked...

Communities start to envision rollout of long-acting PrEP

May 12, 2022 • By Mik Vattiata

You may have heard about The Future of PrEP is Now, a research project aimed at understanding the needs and preferences of Two-Spirit, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (2SGBTQ) men and non-binary folks in regards to long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery. Despite the fact that oral PrEP is very effective at preventing HIV, it remains underprescribed to many equity-seeking communities.

The waniska Centre: Strengthening land- and culture-based research

June 21, 2021 • By Sarah MacDonald, Rebecca Zagozewski and Dr. Alexandra King

The waniska Indigenous Centre for HIV, hepatitis C (HCV) and sexually transmitted blood-borne illness (STBBI), funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and based at the University of Saskatchewan, is going to undertake research in a new way. It will engage Indigenous communities and people in research that is focused on Indigenous knowledge and the land to develop, explore and scale up promising and wise practices using both an Indigenous and Western lens.

Indigenous responses to COVID-19 and hepatitis: A conference report back

January 28, 2021 • By Dr. Alexandra King and Sarah MacDonald

Viral hepatitis impacts Indigenous peoples around the world at much higher than average rates, harming their physical, spiritual, emotional, social and economic health. This is the result of historic and ongoing colonialism, and includes significantly worse health determinants, inadequate access to immunization and treatment, and inadequacies in the provision of culturally safe and responsive healthcare to Indigenous people. COVID-19 has further impacted Indigenous peoples, but many communities and healthcare practitioners are finding innovative ways of responding to the pandemic, while simultaneously trying to continue providing hepatitis care. Many of these responses were shared in a virtual mini-conference hosted by the...