Tag: Indigenous | CATIE Blog

The Kotawêw Indigenous HIV/STBBI Doula Project: How kinship has guided our research journey

February 18, 2025 • By Candace Neumann, Melissa Morris and Rusty Souleymanov

The Kotawêw Indigenous HIV/STBBI Doula Project is a community response to the disproportionate impact of HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) on Indigenous women and gender-diverse people. While our work is currently in the research phase, our goal is to co-create a curriculum to train Indigenous doulas who can support community members by fostering connections to HIV/STBBI prevention and treatment services through care grounded in kinship and traditional practices. Our core team is made up of Indigenous women and Two-Spirit researchers with lived experience, and allies. The project is co-led by two Elders/Knowledge Holders, Albert McLeod and...

Strong Medicine: Seven years later

November 13, 2024 • By Danita Wahpoosewyan and Trevor Stratton

In 2018, CATIE and CAAN (Communities, Alliances & Networks) released Strong Medicine, a film by and for Indigenous people living with HIV. The film weaves together Indigenous knowledges of culture and wellness with Western knowledge of HIV testing and treatment. By sharing their experiences with Indigenous and Western medicines, eight Indigenous activists teach us that HIV isn’t something to be feared and show us different ways to walk the healing path. Seven years after Strong Medicine was released, CATIE spoke with two of its stars, Danita Wahpoosewyan and Trevor Stratton, to reflect on what has changed, what has remained the...

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.