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Aboriginal Concerns

HIV and AIDS have had a significant impact on Aboriginal people in Canada, including Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario.

  • Aboriginal persons are disproportionately affected by HIV infection.
  • Injecting drug use is the main exposure category among Aboriginal HIV/AIDS cases reported to CIDPC and account for an estimated two-thirds of new HIV infections in this population.
  • A high proportion of HIV-infected pregnant women are Aboriginal.
  • Compared to non-Aboriginal persons, Aboriginal persons with a positive HIV test report are more likely to be female, to be younger than 30 years of age and are more likely to become infected by injecting drug use.
    From the HIV/AIDS Epi Update "HIV/AIDS Among Aboriginal Persons in Canada: A Continuing Concern" April 2003 (Health Canada)

An important source of information is the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network(CAAN). A number of fact sheets and other resources can be found there.

For resources in Northwestern Ontario, try the following contacts:

On-Reserve
Union of Ontario Indians — 1-877-702-5200
Nishnawbe-Aski Nation — 1-807-623-8228
Treaty 3 —1-807-468-4533

Off Reserve/Urban:
Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy
Tony Nobis - Regional Outreach/Support Services
807-625-8571
tonyn@oahas.org
Collin Graham - Regional Outreach/Support Services
807-625-8570
Anishnawbe Mushkiki
Thunder Bay Aboriginal Community Health Centre
807-343-4843

Provincial
2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations —1-416-944-9300

National
Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network(CAAN) —1-888-285-2226

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