COLLAGE

PHOTO-VOICE

BACKGROUND

OBJECTIVES

METHODS

MEET OUR PLAYWRIGHT

HIV/AIDS AND ABORIGINAL YOUTH: AN ARTS-BASED KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION STRATEGY FOR HIV PREVENTION

EDUCATION

This project is a partnership with

Native Child & Family Services of Toronto (NC&FS)York University, OISE/UT, McGill University

Aboriginal youth are over represented in the Aboriginal youth are over represented in the Canadian HIV epidemic. Canadian HIV epidemic. Currently, 30% of Currently, 30% of Aboriginal HIV infections are among youth Aboriginal HIV infections are among youth between 20-29 years old, compared to 20% in between 20-29 years old, compared to 20% in the non-Aboriginal population (CIDPC, 2003).the non-Aboriginal population (CIDPC, 2003).

However, being Aboriginal is not what putsHowever, being Aboriginal is not what putsyouth at risk of HIV infection. Unlike theyouth at risk of HIV infection. Unlike themajority of non-Aboriginal youth, Aboriginalmajority of non-Aboriginal youth, Aboriginalyouth must deal with a number ofyouth must deal with a number ofsocioeconomic and systemic factors thatsocioeconomic and systemic factors thatincrease their vulnerability to HIV (CIHI, 2004). increase their vulnerability to HIV (CIHI, 2004). HIV prevention messages need to address the HIV prevention messages need to address the unique risk factors faced by Aboriginal youth.unique risk factors faced by Aboriginal youth.

In this project we developed creative strategies for In this project we developed creative strategies for disseminating data collected in a study on HIV risk disseminating data collected in a study on HIV risk and Aboriginal youth (Larkin et al., 2007).and Aboriginal youth (Larkin et al., 2007).

1) To use data from the report to develop innovative 1) To use data from the report to develop innovative prevention strategies that work for Aboriginal prevention strategies that work for Aboriginal populationspopulations

2) To ensure the voices of Aboriginal youth are 2) To ensure the voices of Aboriginal youth are used in HIV prevention programmingused in HIV prevention programming

3) To use youth created messages for prevention 3) To use youth created messages for prevention for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoplefor both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people

We hired actor, Herbie Barnes, to work with Aboriginal We hired actor, Herbie Barnes, to work with Aboriginal youth to develop a DVD with scripts based on six youth to develop a DVD with scripts based on six themes from the themes from the HIV Risk, Systemic Inequalities and HIV Risk, Systemic Inequalities and Aboriginal Youth: Widening the Circle for Prevention Aboriginal Youth: Widening the Circle for Prevention ProgrammingProgramming report. This report came out of a study report. This report came out of a study conducted with Aboriginal youth in six on reserve and conducted with Aboriginal youth in six on reserve and urban locations in Ontario and Quebec. The “Youth urban locations in Ontario and Quebec. The “Youth Warriors” (the name the youth chose for their group), Warriors” (the name the youth chose for their group), also created Photo-voice and Collage creations which also created Photo-voice and Collage creations which will be exhibited at our DVD Launch in Toronto, June will be exhibited at our DVD Launch in Toronto, June 2009. The DVD and artistic creations will be available 2009. The DVD and artistic creations will be available through the GAAP website at: www.utgaap.infothrough the GAAP website at: www.utgaap.info

ARTS-BASED METHODS USED:ARTS-BASED METHODS USED:

• DVDDVD

• PHOTO-VOICEPHOTO-VOICE

• COLLAGECOLLAGE

• SPOKEN WORDSPOKEN WORD

Six Themes From the Report Were Used For Six Themes From the Report Were Used For Developing Arts-based Prevention MessagesDeveloping Arts-based Prevention Messages::

1)1) ColonialismColonialism

2) Attitudes towards traditions and Elders2) Attitudes towards traditions and Elders

3) Condom use3) Condom use

4) “Othering” of people with HIV/AIDS4) “Othering” of people with HIV/AIDS

5) Stigma around HIV/AIDS5) Stigma around HIV/AIDS

6) Youth based prevention strategies6) Youth based prevention strategies

Funding for this project is gratefully acknowledged Funding for this project is gratefully acknowledged from the Canadian AIDS Foundation for Research from the Canadian AIDS Foundation for Research and the Centre for Urban Initiatives, University of and the Centre for Urban Initiatives, University of TorontoToronto

As an actor Herbie Barnes has As an actor Herbie Barnes has

worked on many stages across worked on many stages across

Canada, in such plays as: Canada, in such plays as:

Toronto At Dreamers RockToronto At Dreamers Rock, , The The

GapGap, and , and The HobbitThe Hobbit as well as as well as

acting in such films as: acting in such films as: Hidden in Hidden in

AmericaAmerica, , Dance Me OutsideDance Me Outside, ,

Spirit RiderSpirit Rider and the series, and the series, Due Due

SouthSouth and and The RezThe Rez. .

YOUTH WARRIORSYOUTH WARRIORS

Authors: Christine Smillie-Adjarkwa, UofT; June Larkin, UofT; Tiffany Nelson, NC&FS, Toronto; Herbie Barnes; Sarah Flicker, York University; Jean-Paul Restoule, OISE/UT; Charlene Avalos, NC&FS, Toronto; Tara Goldstein, OISE/UT; Claudia Mitchell, McGill; with the Youth Warriors, NC&FS, Toronto

For more information contact: christine_smillie@yahoo.ca