Grant: Catalyst Grant: HIV/AIDS Community Based Research Program - Indigenous Stream

Kw'makw'um S'uli works with Elders to learn the content and applicability of Traditional Cultural Knowledge (TCK). Our objectives are two pronged. Our team will develop Elders' capacity through education on the social and clinical aspects of HIV/AIDS, including the need for early testing and adherence to treatment; Secondly, once Elders are familiar with the issues, they will share advice about feelings of loss, fear, stigma and addiction. The last decade has seen a dramatic increase in research finding the benefit and need for the inclusion of TCK into Aboriginal intervention programs. But, What is TCK, and does it have the capacity to discuss contemporary issues of sex, intravenous drugs and HIV/AIDS? Our research has found that Elders' advice is rich with suggested applications of TCK for intervention programming. It is also rich with specific coping mechanisms for stigma, fear and despair; optimistic perspectives on an individual's responsibility to the self and community, prayers and personal stories of overcoming addiction and trauma. Very often, the advice comes in the Hul'q'umi'num', Coast Salish language. These quotes will be translated to English, and included in a booklet with accompanying CD. These will be a useful tools for future intervention program development, such as would bring youth together with Elders. The audio and textual materials can be used to expand the capacity of a further pool of Elders. As critical as these materials will be to future intervention programmers, much will also be learned from the process of KT from Western clinical paradigms into traditional ones. Subsequent translation of traditional advice into relevant information for the research community will be published in journals for this purpose.