Grant: Operating Grant - HIV/AIDS CBR Program - Indigenous

OBJECTIVES:(1) To understand what inspires some young people to become active around HIV prevention in their communities. (2) To explore digital storytelling as a strategy for increasing Aboriginal youth activism in HIV prevention. (3) To develop and disseminate community-specific "by youth for youth" HIV prevention and support materials. METHODS: Stage 1: We will invite Aboriginal youth from across Canada to apply to "tell their stories" about HIV leadership, activism and engagement. We will select youth (n=20; ages 16-25) to ensure representation from all regions of the country. These youth will be welcomed to a week-long workshop at which they will be taught digital story-telling skills and provided assistance to create short (3-5 minute) films that tell their unique stories (in their own words and languages) about how and why they became involved and engaged in HIV prevention. Following the creation of these stories, each youth will be interviewed about their film and why they became HIV leaders and activists. Stage 2: Each youth leader/film maker will be asked to organize a screening of their film in their own community with other youth, elders and community members. Following the film, a facilitated discussion will ensue about the impact of HIV on Aboriginal communities, why it is so difficult to talk about, and what might inspire others to become leaders. ANALYSIS: We will analyze all of the digital stories collected, and all of the interviews and facilitated discussions. DISSEMINATION: In addition to disseminating findings through traditional academic media, youth productions will also be shared online. We will create community-friendly packages with a copy of the DVD that has all the stories, a manual and a discussion guide for others seeking to screen the stories.