Grant: Dissemination Events - PA: First Nations, Inuit and Métis Health

The Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network holds Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week each year from December 1st-5th. This convergence of cultural, social, health and political events during Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week is a demonstration of the importance of dedicated attention to the Aboriginal HIV/AIDS agenda [1]. As a part of this week, we are hoping to hold 6 community events to showcase the work of Aboriginal Youth and their communities from the Taking Action: Art and Aboriginal Youth Leadership for HIV Prevention. In the last three years, the project has partnered with six different Aboriginal communities from all corners of the country (see map in appendix), hosting workshops facilitated and organized "by youth, for youth". Accordingly, the project has built a national network of young people who have begun taking action on HIV in their local communities. We have collected data from nearly 100 young people and have presented preliminary results at numerous conferences and community events. Youth Coordinators will be hired to plan a community HIV event for Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week between Dec 1st-5th. Health research information from a 3 year operating grant for Aboriginal youth and HIV will be shared through community events in 6 communities. This will catalyze conversations around the capacity of leadership for Aboriginal youth and HIV during Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week 2011. As a strategy we hope to continue the ongoing translation of knowledge through Aboriginal youth leadership into the next 3 years of Taking Action II.