RED ROAD HIV/AIDS NETWORK SOCIETY JOIN PRESTIGIOUS EVENT
“AIDS Walk for Life 2008” Sunday, September 21, 2008

West Vancouver, BC, June 2, 2008– Red Road HIV/AIDS Network Society are pleased to announce our participation as a community partner in the prestigious 23rd Annual AIDS Walk for Life 2008. The event is hosted by the BC Persons with AIDS Society and will take place in Upper Ceperley Park in Stanley Park on Sunday, September 21, 2008.

THE RED ROAD HIV/AIDS NETWORK (RRHAN) is a provincial based Aboriginal Organization. Red Road's 125 plus membership capacity is comprised of Aboriginal AIDS Service Organizations (ASO), non-Aboriginal AIDS Service Organizations who have Aboriginal programs, Aboriginal Persons living with HIV/AIDS (APHA), and Aboriginal community-based organizations who have HIV/AIDS programs, located in urban & rural British Columbia. As a registered charity, our goals are to: reduce or prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, improve the health and wellness of Aboriginal people living with HIV/AIDS, increase awareness about HIV/AIDS, and establish a network which supports the development and delivery of culturally appropriate, innovative, coordinated, accessible, inclusive and accountable HIV/AIDS programs and services.

Our team’s target by participating in this endeavor is to increase and invite community awareness and raise much needed funds for people living with HIV and AIDS in our communities.

We are seeking team members for the 23rd Annual AIDS Walk for Life 2008. *Prizes will be provided to the top 3 team members who raise most funds.

Please consider making a profound difference in the lives of children, women, and men living with HIV and AIDS in British Columbia by committing to WALK and raise money for this year’s AIDS WALK for LIFE! Or pledge local team members and support their local fundraising efforts. With an estimated 55,000 Canadians infected with HIV - and 12,000 to 15,000 in BC alone - it is events like the AIDS WALK for LIFE that play a critical role in increasing community awareness and raising much needed funds for people living with HIV and AIDS in our communities. The AIDS WALK for LIFE is a tribute to over two decades of remarkable community involvement, care giving and support. The AIDS WALK continues to be both a celebration of LIFE and also a time of reflection, of tribute and hope for a future without HIV and AIDS.

For more information contact Kim Louie, Team Leader, Red Road HIV/AIDS Network, toll free: 1-866-913-3332 or klouie@red-road.org.

Positive Women's Network
Interested in Joining PWN Board of Directors?
To be considered for interview and election, your application must be received by Friday, May 16, 2008.

PWN is looking for applicants to be elected at the Annual General Meeting on July 10, 2008.

The Board, which meets monthly, supervises and supports the Executive Director, sets policy and strategic directions for PWN, and leads fundraising efforts. Board members also take legal and financial responsibility for the organization and monitor the annual budget.

For the upcoming year, the Board Development Committee is seeking women with the following skills, interests and experience:

• Legal, Financial, Public Relations, Policy Development, Humarn Resources, Media, Public Speaking, Systemic Advocacy/Government Relations, Conflict Resolution, Community Development, Public Health, Organizational Development, Business Adminstration, Experience in non-profit settings, Experience with consensus decision making, Interest in HIV/AIDS and women's health.

Qualities:

• Reliable, Diplomatic, Organized, Able to follow through with commmitments, Involved in local community, Possesses Integrity, Understands confidentiality, Respects diversity

Please contact PWN at 604.692.3000 if you wish to receive a Board application package.

Pivot Legal Society
Elections Act changes will prevent homeless from voting
For immediate release, May 9, 2008

Vancouver – Pivot Legal Society, VANDU, the BC Civil Liberties Association and the Impact on Communities Coalition are calling into question the constitutionality of new amendments to the Elections Act which will place greater restrictions on the right of homeless and low-income people to vote.

“These amendments create severe hardship for people to access the democratic process. Precisely when low-income people need greater access to the system, the government is changing the system to make it harder for people to vote. This is totally unjust, unfair and unconstitutional,” said David Eby, a lawyer with the Pivot Legal Society.

The proposed amendments require identification from voters, and where voters don’t have ID showing a fixed address, require a person to “vouch” for the voter. A vouching voter must be from that particular riding and may only vouch for one person, eliminating the possibility of social workers or advocates vouching for numerous homeless people they know.

The previous version of the Act permitted a person to swear a declaration that they were who they said they were, so long as they could satisfy the oath taker of their identity. Previous provincial and federal elections in the DTES have seen hundreds of people swear declarations so that they can participate.

“By taking this unnecessary action, the province is further disenfranchising people living in the margins of society. The system is being further reorganized to delegitimize the basic human rights of citizens. These amendments should not go forward,” said Ann Livingston, the Director of VANDU.

“The Election Act amendments are unique. Whereas the evolution of the franchise in Canada has been to continually expand the right to vote, with one small scribble of the legislator's pen, British Columbia would be taking a huge step backwards by effectively disenfranchising a variety of people. The provincial government should be ashamed,” said Murray Mollard, Executive Director of the BC Civil Liberties Association.

About Pivot Legal Society
Pivot’s mandate is to take a strategic approach to social change, using the law to address the root causes that undermine the quality of life of those most on the margins. We believe that everyone, regardless of income, benefits from a healthy and inclusive community where values such as opportunity, respect and equality are strongly rooted in the law.

Major Global Health Conference Set for Late May at Simon Fraser University
May 1, 2008

Vancouver - An international conference focusing on global health threats - held in Canada for the first time - will hear how gender inequality, disease, war and poverty are increasingly affecting global security and explore what might be done about it.

"We are seeing more and more of the main global health issues in the news and people feel increasingly unable to deal with situations," said Jocelyn Tomkinson, one of the international conference's organizers.

The conference, partially funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is set for May 23-25 at Simon Fraser University.

Tomkinson, who is working towards a master's degree in science at the university's health program, said the Western Regional International Health Conference brings well-known people in social and health fields "to try to identify the areas in which we should act first or where we need intervention the most."

"Global health issues are increasingly affecting global security," she said.

Dr. Julio Montaner, a world-renowned researcher on HIV/AIDS and the clinical director at the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, is one of the main speakers.

"HIV and AIDS on a global level represents one of the greatest threats to human development," said Montaner.

"The epidemic continues to grow at a rapid pace."

Montaner will speak about the challenges and rewards of combatting the human immunodeficiency virus.

The number of cases continues to expand rapidly while researchers appear to have reached an impasse on new technologies, he said.

"If we were truly commit to rolling out HIV treatment to the people we would see a dramatic change in the course of the epidemic," said Montaner.

Dr. Samantha Nutt, voted by Time magazine as one of Canada's top five activists and the founder of War Child Canada, will also be at the conference.

"The theme of my talk is how we might achieve more support for people living with war and displacement," said Nutt.

Nutt is convinced that conferences like this one can make a difference worldwide because they establish relationships . . . where people share their experiences and what they know works on the ground."

"We have found over the years that the best way often to affect people is that personal connection, when they see you and speak to you and they ask questions."

Colleen Phung, a researcher at Simon Fraser working on population and public health in the faculty of Health Sciences, will deliver findings on gender inequality and the effect on women's reproductive health.

Each year, she said, the World Bank produces a global gender gap index that measures differences between men and women in a number of factors, including politics, degree of participation in the economy and income.

She and others took the index and measured it against indicators that are related to reproductive health, such as maternal mortality rate, skilled attendance at delivery, fertility rates, contraceptive prevalence and HIV prevalence.

"They are all indicators of reproductive health - a woman's ability to control her reproduction," said Phung.

"We found that the higher the gender gap difference, the least likely a woman is able to control her reproductive health."

She said those findings are important because, since about half the population is female, "it comes down to the issue of empowerment, women not having control over their lives."

Improving the health of women can, in turn, improve the health of their children, said Phung.

"To change policy it takes attention and a cry from the public."

Tomkinson said many people living in wealthy countries want to alleviate others' suffering and "conferences like this allow us to advise major donors such as countries and non-profit organizations where the money could be put."

The Canadian Press

National Aboriginal Health Organization
April 9, 2008
For Immediate Release

Health Canada and NAHO Launch Innovative Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Web Site

OTTAWA, ON - Today, the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, was joined by the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) CEO Dr. Paulette Tremblay to unveil a new Web site to help combat suicide among Aboriginal youth. Called the Honouring Life Network, the site is targeted at both Aboriginal youth and suicide prevention workers in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

Health Minister Tony Clement, Minister Strahl, and NAHO CEO Dr. Paulette Tremblay presented the site to media and guests at a lunch hour press conference in the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Ottawa.

"Suicide among Aboriginal youth is an urgent matter," stated Minister Clement. "I am very proud that the Government of Canada has funded this innovative tool that will help First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth rediscover the joy of life, and let them know that there are resources available to help them through difficult times," added the Minister.

Health Canada provided funding for the Honouring Life Network Web site under the National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy, a five-year $65 million strategy that seeks to increase protective factors and reduce risk factors associated with suicide through community-based programming.

"Suicide is a grave problem in our communities, one that affects our youth at vastly disproportionate rates from the rest of Canada," said Paulette Tremblay, CEO of NAHO. "We believe that the Honouring Life Network will be an invaluable tool for those working to prevent suicides in our communities."

Available in English, French and Inuktitut, the site contains resources for youth and youth workers, including a Youth Worker's Forum where youth workers from across the country can connect to discuss and share suicide prevention resources and strategies. Personal stories and fact sheets are also available for youth to read about specific issues that they, or their friends, might be facing. The site’s comprehensive directory of suicide prevention resources is updated regularly to help youth workers in Aboriginal communities find the most relevant and up-to-date information and material.

The Web site stemmed from a joint working group of the Indian Health Service in the United States and the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada.

For more information, please visit the Honouring Life Network Web site.

The National Aboriginal Health Organization is an Aboriginal-designed and -controlled body committed to influencing and advancing the health and well-being of Aboriginal Peoples through knowledge-based strategies.

Media Enquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

Laryssa Waler
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

Mark Buell
Manager, Communications and Research, NAHO
Toll-free: 1-877-602-4445 ext. 228
Direct: (613) 237-9462 ext. 228
E-mail: mbuell@naho.ca

Public Enquiries:
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709

Human Resources and Social Development Canada
New Horizons for Seniors Program
Call for Applications

The Government of Canada is accepting applicaitons for Community Participation and Leadership funding under the New Horizons for Seniors Program.

What is the New Horizons for Seniors Program?
Across Canada, the New Horizons for Seniors Program helps to ensure that seniors are able to benefit from and contribute to the quality of life in their communities through social participation and active living.

New Horizons for Seniors has three types of funding:
Community Participation and Leadership Funding provides grant funding up to $25,000 to non-profit organizations for projects that encourage seniors to contribute to their communities by sharing their skills, wisdom and experience and helping to reduce isolation.

Capital Assistance Funding provides grant funding of up to $25,000 to non-profit organizations for upgrading community facilities and equipment related to existing programs and activities for seniors.

Elder Abuse Awareness Funding provides contribution funding up to $250,000 to non-profit organizations for national or regional projects that raise awareness of the abuse of older adults.

A grant is a transfer payment that is not subject to audit or review. You must indicate in your application what the money will be used for. Community Participation and Leadership projects and Capital Assistance projects are funded with a grant.

A contribution is a conditional transfer payment. If you are offered a contribution, a contribution agreement between your group and Human Resources and Social Development Canada will be drawn up. This agreement will include the conditions your group will have to meet to receive funds. In addition, your project could be subject to an audit and review. Elder Abuse Awareness projects are funded with a contribution.

How can an organization get New Horizons for Seniors funding?
Through Calls for Applications and Calls for Proposals, Human Resources and Social Development Canada invites non-profit organizations to apply for funding once or twice a year.

The deadline for applications is June 13, 2008

For more information, please contact:
Toll Free: 1.800.277.9914
TTY: 1.800.225.4786
www.hrsdc.gc.ca

Announcement - Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange

Major Milestone in Achieving CATIE's Enhanced Role as HIV/AIDS Knowledge Exchange Broker

Expanded Distribution of HIV/AIDS Information
For the past few months, CATIE has been keeping our stakeholders informed of our plans and progress toward achieving our new enhanced role as HIV/AIDS Knowledge Exchange (KE) Broker of information for the prevention, treatment, care and support for people living with and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. April 1st will be an important milestone toward fulfilling our new role when CATIE assumes responsibility for the distribution of HIV/AIDS information formerly provided by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre (CHIC) with a special focus on HIV prevention.

As of April 1st, CATIE will be providing the following additional services in both English and French:

• Online and telephone ordering of HIV/AIDS materials formerly housed by CHIC
• New section on CATIE Web site for downloadable HIV prevention resources and links to HIV-related organizations across Canada
• Expanded 1-800 and e-mail information services covering HIV prevention

You will be able to access these new services through our Web site www.catie.ca, by e-mailing us at info@catie.ca or by calling us at 1-800 263-1638.

About our New Role

To achieve our new role, CATIE will focus more on supporting the work of front line organizations and sharing knowledge among experts and organizations across the country. We will also be forging new partnerships with front-line agencies that serve populations at risk and pursuing new collaborations with existing partners. In so doing, people living with HIV/AIDS will continue to be central to the development and delivery our services and activities.

As we go forward, CATIE will continue to apply the collaborative approaches that we have successfully used in the past for HIV/AIDS treatment information, including:

• Supporting local, regional and national agencies working in HIV/AIDS;
• Brokering information between the community and researchers;
• Transferring front-line insights and community experience related to needs, issues, barriers and best practices to the research sector;
• Exchanging current research information with community workers; and
• Exchanging best practices information between regions and communities.

Upcoming Milestones

April 1st marks a major step in a process that will continue over the next several years as CATIE fully evolves into its enhanced role as KE Broker. Later this year, CATIE will complete an ongoing series of consultations with national, regional and front-line HIV/AIDS organizations. The consultations began last fall and are helping identify KE needs, gaps, priorities, best practices and possible partnership models. A new Strategic Plan that will guide our overall activities is being developed and will be presented to our members at our Annual General Meeting in October 2008.

Moving Forward

We are looking forward to serving new stakeholders in HIV prevention and continuing to meet the needs of our existing stakeholders as we move toward our ultimate goal of creating a national network for excellence in HIV/AIDS knowledge exchange. CATIE is committed to enhancing the quality and accessibility of programs and services for people living with and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS by supporting and connecting individuals and organizations to develop, synthesize, share and apply HIV/AIDS knowledge.

Further e-bulletins will alert you about upcoming milestones. A questionnaire about HIV/AIDS information needs, priorities and KE best practices will soon be available on www.catie.ca. Please also check our Web site for updates on our progress, the latest consultation schedule and other opportunities to provide input. In the meantime, if you have any questions or feedback we encourage you to contact us at info@catie.ca.

Thank you for your continued support and interest in the services and programs provided by CATIE.

BC Centre for Disease Control Communications
For Immediate Release March 12, 2008 Poison Prevention Week: March 16-22, 2008

Children act fast… So does poison. Call your Poison Control Centre

Vancouver, BC – Unintentional poisonings in BC are all too common, affecting more than 20,000 people each year, with half of those cases in children under 6 years of age.

These alarming statistics make this year’s Poison Prevention Week (March 16 – 22) campaign all the more important. The campaign -- “Children act fast...so do poisons. Call your Poison Control Centre” -- is aimed at creating greater community awareness and providing education to prevent poisonings, as well as offering first aid steps to take in the event of an emergency.

“Poisoning in young children is usually unintentional and education needs to be delivered to all caregivers including parents, grandparents, and babysitters,” explains Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall. “Many of these poisonings can be prevented by understanding how they occur, who is most at risk, and ensuring hazardous substances are safely stored and out of reach of young children. As well, in the event of a poisoning, caregivers need to be aware of the services of the BC Poison Control Centre – an essential component of public health services in our province.”

In BC, poisoning ranks third among the top 10 causes of death from injury, and it has been estimated that unintentional poisonings cost British Columbians $216 million annually in both direct and indirect costs.

“We receive over 70 calls a day,” explains Debra Kent, Supervisor for the Poison Control Centre at BC’s Drug and Poison Information Centre. “Many of these poisonings can be managed at home with the advice of the Poison Control Centre, so we want to remind parents, caregivers and friends to call the BC Poison Control Centre which is available anywhere in BC, 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and staffed by specially trained nurses and pharmacists.”

The most common “poisons” affecting children are cough/cold medicines, pain and fever medicine, plants and cleaners. Statistics also show that the vast majority of poisonings occur just before lunch or dinner when children are hungry and often least supervised. “It is extremely important to remember that “childproof” caps can be opened by children and are actually only ‘child-resistant’”, adds Kent. “We would like to remind parents to ensure that medicines and chemicals are returned to a safe place, out of the reach of children after they have been used.”

For more information on the BC Poison Control Centre, please visit www.dpic.org. The Centre’s “Poison Awareness and First Aid” pamphlets are now available in Chinese, English, French, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Other materials include a “Plant Awareness” pamphlet, a series of informative posters, and phone stickers and magnets with numbers for the BC Poison Centre’s hotline. Materials are free of charge for BC residents and can be obtained from www.dpic.org, by emailing info@dpic.ca, or by calling 1-800-567-8911.

The Poison Control Centre at BC’s Drug and Poison Information Centre (DPIC) is a division of the BC Centre for Disease Control, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority. The Centre offers British Columbians a 24-hour telephone support and advice line, which is staffed by pharmacists and nurses. Your call will be answered by experts who will provide you with treatment advice on chemical or drug poisonings and overdoses. If your child swallows or handles a potentially dangerous product, immediately call the poison center hotline at 1-800-567-8911. “Don’t’ Guess…Be Sure…Phone the Poison Control Centre.”

Media Contact:
Ritinder Harry, BCCDC Communications
BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority that has responsibility to support a comprehensive program of communicable disease and environmental health prevention and control for the province of British Columbia.
Email: ritinder.harry@bccdc.ca
Phone: 604-660-4922

Mobilizing on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Aboriginal Communities
For Immediate Release
February 25, 2008

Prince George, BC – HIV/AIDS is a growing problem in British Columbia’s First Nations communities. In 2006, there were a total of 54 new Aboriginal HIV cases reported. This averages to more than one Aboriginal person testing positive for HIV every week in BC.

To help combat this growing problem, the BC Centre for Disease Control’s Chee Mamuk Aboriginal HIV/STI Program has designed an innovative and informative course to help equip health professionals working with Aboriginal communities with the resources needed to mobilize HIV/AIDS and sexual health programming in their communities.

"Government is committed to revitalizing and strengthening First Nations, their communities and families," said Shirley Bond, MLA for Prince George-Mount Robson. “We believe that the best way to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS is through education, prevention programs and appropriate care and treatment. This innovative program will make a difference."

"Education is the best weapon we have at our disposal to combat HIV/AIDS," added Prince George-Omineca MLA John Rustad. "This is a tremendous course that will help reduce the number of First Nations people contracting this terrible disease."

This five day course, developed and facilitated by Chee Mamuk and BCCDC’s STI/HIV Outreach Program will help bring about greater sustainability and community-based solutions to the growing problem of HIV/AIDS and build new networks among participants. Project partners include the Northern Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Task Force, and Northern Health which has provided funding for this training opportunity.

“The burden of HIV disease has been extremely high for the Aboriginal population in BC,” explained Melanie Rivers, Acting Manager of Chee Mamuk. “Although Aboriginal people only represent about five percent of the total BC population, they represented just over 15 percent of all new HIV infections in 2006, with this over-representation being more pronounced for Aboriginal women who accounted for 37 percent of the new cases.”

The course will debut in Prince George, February 25-29th, with two additional sessions planned in the coming months. This location is very significant as statistics in Northern BC indicate that Aboriginal people represent about 17 percent of the population and over 78 percent of all new HIV infections.

“Aboriginal communities are at different levels of readiness to deal with HIV and there is still a lot of fear, misinformation, and stigma around this illness,” explained Emma Palmantier, Chair of Northern B.C. Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Task Force. “Our hopes are that that as a result of this course, communities will prepare for dealing with HIV through education and prevention programs such as increasing access to HIV testing, condom distribution and access to clean needles, as well as proper care, treatment and support for affected individuals and their families.”

“Aboriginal people are very vulnerable to this illness because of high levels of poverty, unemployment, and isolation found in our communities, as well as the high percentage of alcohol and drug addictions, poor access to health care, discrimination, and residential school effects/cycles,” said Chief Ron Mitchell, Moricetown. “It is important that we build capacity and skills in the communities on how to mobilize on HIV/AIDS, and fight this epidemic.”

The Chee Mamuk program is a renowned success story of the BCCDC, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority. Chee Mamuk provides culturally appropriate, on-site community based HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease education and training to Aboriginal communities, organizations, and professionals within BC.

For more information, please visit: www.bccdc.org.

Media Contact:
Ritinder Harry, BCCDC Communications
Email: ritinder.harry@bccdc.ca
Phone: 604-660-4922

BC Centre for Disease Control
For Immediate Release
January 30, 2008
Local youth challenge peers to ‘Step Up’ in the fight against HIV/AIDS

Chemainus, BC – An innovative public health campaign aimed at Aboriginal youth is launching its latest multimedia educational offering today, encouraging young people who are sexually active to get tested for sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

Step Up, comprising of a short film, promotional materials and an accompanying website, is produced by the Chee Mamuk program at the STI/HIV Division of the BC Centre for Disease Control, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority.

Step Up advocates for the prevention of HIV/AIDS through testing and sexual health awareness. The film was written, filmed and produced by Halalt, Malahat, and Chemainus youth, with resources, training and assistance provided by project partners including Chee Mamuk, Vancouver-based Good Company Communications, the H'ulh-etun Health Society and AIDS Vancouver Island.

The Step Up DVD is the second installment in Star in Your Own Stories, Chee Mamuk’s creative and engaging sexual health awareness project that provides Aboriginal youth, ranging from grades 8 through 12, with resources to create their own film and promotional campaign.

“The sobering reality is that HIV continues to rise in Aboriginal communities, along with other STIs,” explains Melanie Rivers, Acting Manager of Chee Mamuk. “This project allows teenagers and young adults to learn about sexual health and create positive messages for their peers in a creative and fun environment. The Step Up team wanted to encourage other youth to go for regular STI and HIV testing if they are sexually active, by creating an environment that’s nurturing and non-threatening.”

“We trained the youth on how to use cameras and other film making equipment, and encouraged them to write their own script,” explains Katherine Dodds, Creative Director for Good Company Communications, which provided assistance with direction of the DVD and promotional materials, as well as the creation of the website YouthHaveThePower.com which chronicles the project. “This creative, hands-on approach attracts youth to the project, and helps them own their ideas and learn in a fun way.”

Such interactive prevention and awareness programs are incredibly important to help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, especially among young people. “Unfortunately, youth are among those at the highest risk for HIV and STIs in Canada, and it can be very challenging to change such trends,” says Heidi Exner, Manager of Health Promotion and Community Development at AIDS Vancouver Island. “When we train youth to be leaders in their own health, we see them start to create change in a way that means something to them – in a way that’s really effective. It’s wonderful to see, and yet not surprising: research says such projects can often be more successful for youth than adult-led programs.”

Last year, the Star in Your Own Stories project worked with Haisla youth in Kitamaat, whose award-winning film “Stand True” addressed the negative impacts created by rumours and innuendo, emphasizing that just as rumours can spread quickly, so can STIs and HIV. The Haisla youth involved in Stand True have since been educating their peers in Kitimaat and across in BC, and many of them say their participation in that campaign has already impacted their lives. Both Step Up and Stand True can be ordered online at www.YouthHaveThePower.com

Chee Mamuk is a particularly renowned success story of the BCCDC and its STI/HIV Division. Besides Star in Your Own Stories, Chee Mamuk programs and projects include “Around the Kitchen Table”, which focuses on Aboriginal women’s health issues, and “The Gathering Tree,” an award-winning children’s book about HIV/AIDS awareness that is being used by health and education programs in several countries around the world.

For more information, please visit:
Star in Your Own Stories (including Step Up and Stand True): www.youthhavethepower.com.
Chee Mamuk and the BCCDC: www.bccdc.org.
AIDS Vancouver Island: www.avi.org

Media Contact:
BCCDC Communications:
Ritinder Harry
Email: ritinder.harry@bccdc.ca
Phone: 604-812-6750

Pacific Association of First Nations’ Women & United Native Nations hosts BC Aboriginal Women's Forums
An Invitation to all interested Aboriginal Women

The Pacific Association of First Nations Women and United Native Nations will be co-hosting two forums to discuss the composition, mandate and terms of reference for a BC Aboriginal Women’s Council. These forums are open to all Aboriginal women in these regions. There were two previous forums held in Prince George and Kamloops.

Forum One – Vancouver
Venue: Century Plaza Hotel
Date: February 16 & 17, 2007
Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm and
8:00 am – noon
Registration: No later than Fri., February 8 Forum Two – Victoria
Venue: Coast Victoria Harbourside
Date: March 8 & 9, 2008
Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm and
8:00 am – noon

Registration: No later than Fri., February 29

Background
In April 2007, UNN in partnership with the Pacific Native Women’s Association, received funding from the Ministry of Community Services to organise four regional roundtables on Aboriginal women’s issues. The information gathered from the roundtables and surveys was put into a Final Report, which Premier Campbell used for informational purposes at the National Aboriginal Women’s Summit held in June 2007 in Corner Brook, Nfld/ Labrador. 

A key recommendation stemming from the resulting Final Report stressed the need for a BC Aboriginal Women’s Council to ensure that Aboriginal women’s issues are effectively communicated to all levels of government.

The Council will be inclusive of all Aboriginal women regardless of status and ancestry. We feel it’s important to be inclusive in order to reflect the differing community needs across BC. The Council will inform the federal and provincial governments on policy development in relation to women’s issues and generate funding opportunities for specific initiatives to address violence against women, socioeconomic issues including education, employment, health and wellness, safety, housing and justice.

IMPORTANT: In order to secure your seat (and lunch) at one of these meetings, please complete the attached registration form and send it to Sandra Greene or Donna Cole by no later than Friday, February 8 (Vancouver) and Friday, February 29 (Victoria).

PLEASE NOTE: We have secured funds to cover the costs of travel and accommodation (only for those not living within a reasonable distance of the venue). Should you require any financial assistance, a “Request for Financial Assistance” section is included on the Registration Form for you to complete. 

**We look forward to your participation in this most important initiative**
#200 – 678 East Hastings, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1R1

phone: 604-688-1821 fax: 604-872-1845

CAS National Speakers Bureau

The Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) is creating a national speakers bureau on the topic of HIV/AIDS. By building a comprehensive catalogue of relevant and knowledgeable speakers, CAS will be bridging the gap currently existing between the Canadian media and the resourceful individuals who are motivated to speak on any number of key HIV/AIDS issues in eminent to Canada today.

Joining CAS’ National Speakers Bureau will give speakers the platform to showcase their work in the AIDS movement and to take a positive step towards representing the face of HIV/AIDS in Canada. Not only will access to the media promote discussion on the numerous pertinent issues surrounding HIV/AIDS in Canada, it will also allow speakers the opportunity to promote their own AIDS-related projects and endeavours.

For more information about the Speakers Bureau, or to join become a speaker, please contact:
Henry Lau
Communications Consultant, Canadian AIDS Society
(613) 230-3580 ext. 130 / 1(800) 499-1986 ext. 130
henryl@cdnaids.ca / www.cdnaids.ca