Grant: CG: Moving Upstream - Structural Det. of Health - Health in HIV/AIDS and STBBI

Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit), Black (African and Caribbean), and other racialized communities in Manitoba face significant health disparities, particularly in relation to HIV and STBBIs, driven by structural racism and colonialism embedded in key institutions like healthcare, child welfare, criminal justice, and housing. These structural barriers limit healthcare access and contribute to higher rates of HIV/STBBIs, yet there is a critical gap in community-led interventions designed to dismantle these issues. This project aims to establish a regional leadership network of community members, Elders, healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers who will work together to examine how structural racism and colonialism within Manitoba's key institutions contribute to HIV/STBBI vulnerabilities. The project also focuses on co-creating and implementing community-led structural interventions to challenge and transform these structural barriers. The study has three main objectives: 1) Analyze how structural racism and colonialism in Manitoba's institutions exacerbate HIV/STBBI vulnerabilities. 2) Collaborate with communities to co-design interventions that address these structural and systemic issues. 3) Build capacity among Indigenous and Black scholars, community members, and service providers to sustain long-term efforts against structural racism and colonialism. Using qualitative (interviews, focus groups, sharing circles) and quantitative (survey) methods, the project will gather insights from community members and stakeholders to inform the development of culturally relevant, community-led solutions. The ultimate goal is to create transformative, anti-racist systems and structures that not only improve HIV/STBBI outcomes but also empower Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities in Manitoba to drive systemic change and achieve long-lasting equity.