Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing conversations we have had in recent months with people from Indigenous communities about the impact of HIV criminalization.
In Canada, Indigenous people, especially women and youth, are disproportionately affected by HIV. Even though Indigenous people are only 5% of the total population, studies from 2020 that show Indigenous people represented over 18% of new HIV transmissions and 10% of all people living withHIV in Canada.
We know of at least 224 cases in which a person living withHIV has been criminally charged based on accusations that they did not disclose their HIV status to a sex partner. People are almost always charged with aggravated sexual assault, which is one the most serious criminal offences in Canada. We also know that at least 15 Indigenous people have been charged (and there may be more), and that of 19 women living with HIV have been prosecuted to date in Canada, at least five of whom were Indigenous.
Today we will be hearing from Margaret Kisikaw Piyesis, theOkimâw, (Chief Executive Officer), of CAAN Communities, Alliances & Networks, a Canadian non-profit organization focused on HIV/AIDS prevention and support within Indigenous communities. With a long history of leadership in Indigenous health advocacy, Margaret has dedicated her career to improving health outcomes for Indigenous peoples, especially those affected by HIV/AIDS. Drawing on her Cree heritage, she integrates traditional Indigenous knowledgewith modern health practices, ensuring culturally relevant approaches in all of CAAN’s initiatives. Margaret’s work is characterized by her commitment to empowering communities, fostering collaboration, and creating lasting change in Indigenous health services.
Check out CAAN here.
Find out what the Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization is doing to fight the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure here.