VIRTUAL – 8th International Indigenous Pre-conference on HIV & AIDS
Opening sessions, July 3 & 5, 2020
+ additional online workshops in July
Online virtual conference
In consideration of the current global COVID-19 pandemic, the 8th International Indigenous Pre-conference on HIV & AIDS will become our very first virtual edition.
We will continue the theme for this year’s Pre-conference – “Weaving Indigenous Stories of Experience and Resilience: Our Vision for Indigenous Health”. We believe this theme remains appropriate as we face the global public health challenges ahead. It is also our intention to honour the unceded land of the Indigenous Peoples of Yelamu (San Francisco) and Huichin (Oakland) – the Ramaytush Ohlone and the Confederated Villages of the Lisjan Ohlone Peoples, neighboured by the Muwekma Ohlone, Costanoan-Esselen, Rumsen, Mutsun Ohlone.
The 8th International Indigenous VIRTUAL Pre-conference on HIV & AIDS will be an online forum where Indigenous and non-Indigenous delegates alike have the opportunity to share action and research that is transforming Indigenous health from local to global perspectives.
The Pre-conference will open on July 3 with an opening ceremony and keynote speakers and will continue as a series of weekly sessions throughout the month of July. With the Pre-conference Planning Committee (PPC), the International Indigenous Working Group on HIV & AIDS (IIWGHA), the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) and the International Indigenous HIV & AIDS Community (IIHAC) as partners, we worked together to determine the online format of the Pre-conference.
Pre-conference Webinar Schedule: Pacific time zone (UTC/GMT -8 hours)
I. Fri Jul 3: 9am to 1pm
II. Sun Jul 5: 9am to 11am
III. Sat Jul 11: 9am to 11am
IV. Tue Jul 14: 9am to 11am
V. Thu Jul 16: 9am to 11am
VI. Sat Jul 18: 9am to 11am
VII. Tue Jul 21: 9am to 11am
VIII. Thu Jul 23: 9am to 11am
IX. Sat Jul 25: 9am to 11am
X. Tue Jul 28: 9am to 11am
XI. Thu Jul 30: 9am to 11am
Our Pre-conference will provide time and space to consider Indigenous relationships and approaches to land, water, people, systems, and policies impacting our experience addressing HIV and AIDS. We intend to consider how the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and global targets for HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis, are implemented for Indigenous Peoples. Grounded in the experience of Indigenous Peoples, we will celebrate resilience and resistance necessary to improve holistic social and cultural determinants of health.
This decision was taken to protect the health and safety of our Indigenous communities and individuals. The World Health Organization, UNAIDS and governments and health authorities at various levels in the USA all advise physical distancing and the cancellation of large gatherings of people. We are also keen to protect and reduce any potential risk to the HIV community, especially since there is so much not known yet about COVID-19.
Registration
Registration will now be free for the online Pre-conference. Details to be shared in the coming weeks.
Download Pre-conference Poster
> Pre-conference Poster 3 MB PDF
8th IIPCHA Abstract Submissions
The call for abstracts is now closed. Thank you to all who submitted. We will be in contact soon.
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8th International Indigenous Pre-conference on HIV & AIDS
Weaving
Indigenous
Stories of
Experience and
Resilience (WISER)
#WISER2020 – Our vision for Indigenous Health 8th International Indigenous Pre-conference on HIV & AIDS
Hosted by the International Indigenous Working Group on HIV & AIDS (IIWGHA), the International Indigenous HIV & AIDS Community (IIHAC), our local Indigenous partners and the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN), we invite you to attend and contribute to the 8th International Indigenous Pre-conference on HIV and AIDS. This is an opportunity to share action and research that is transforming Indigenous health from local to global perspectives.
Overall Goal
Recognizing that we work within colonial contexts, our Pre-conference will provide time and space to consider Indigenous relationships and approaches to land, water, people, systems, and policies impacting our experience addressing HIV and AIDS. We intend to consider how the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and global targets for HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis, are implemented for Indigenous Peoples. Grounded in the experience of Indigenous peoples, we will celebrate resilience and resistance necessary to improve holistic social and cultural determinants of health.
Conference Objectives (intentions):
- Strengthen our relationships
- Improve awareness, understanding, and accountability
- Articulate, translate, interpret, and achieve targets
- Share promising (wise) practices, strategies, and approaches
Setting a Clear Vision (#WISER2020) by weaving experience, theory, and practice in HIV and AIDS… recognize and strengthen sovereign Indigenous, peer-led, wellness (trauma) informed, distinctions based, culturally safe, strength-based, solution focused, decolonizing strategies and tactics that are required for success.
Indigenous Peoples have diverse identities. As a Priority Population within the global HIV/AIDS movement, participants will explore how identity shapes roles, responsibilities, and experience as HIV shifts from a terminal condition to a chronic one, for those with access to life saving medications. Gender, sexual orientation, location, position, age, class, race all add up to multiple social identities that intersect and affect Indigenous health and wellbeing.
Expanded Objectives:
- Strengthen our relationships
To strengthen and engender partnerships and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples and communities, civil society, NGOs, UN agencies, governments, policy makers, AIDS service organizations, academics, researchers and others through highlighting coherent policies, an enabling environment for sustainable development at all levels and by all actors and a reinvigorated Global Partnership for addressing Indigenous Peoples and HIV, TB, STIs and viral hepatitis. - Improve awareness, understanding, and accountability
To facilitate Indigenous Peoples solidarity to strengthen the Indigenous-led response in North America and globally by providing a reliable, culturally safe and appropriate venue for dialogue about barriers, lessons learned, research & evaluation, Indigenous realities and wise practices leading to the sharing of effective strategies and tactics such as approaches to mobilization, advocacy and activism. - Articulate, translate, interpret, and achieve targets
To review and analyse indicators for the measurement of progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development from the perspective of indigenous peoples especially global targets for HIV, TB, STIs and viral hepatitis. Global, regional and national strategies will also be analysed to discuss the roles of Indigenous Peoples and their allies on the creation of epidemiological and other data to strengthen an evidence-based response - Share promising (wise) practices, strategies, and approaches
To increase community dialogue and sharing of experiences of Indigenous prevention, care, treatment and support including harm reduction strategies and engaging with Key Affected Populations (KAPs) using interventions that are community-based, peer-led, trauma-informed, distinctions-based and culturally-safe.
AIDS 2020
Of course, Indigenous Peoples will be active during the International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020: Virtual) as well! Once again, we will be hosting another Indigenous Peoples Networking Zone in the Global Village of AIDS 2020: Virtual.
www.aids2020.org
The International AIDS Conference is the premier global platform to advance the HIV response. As the world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS, it sits uniquely at the intersection of science, advocacy and human rights, bringing together scientists, policy makers, healthcare professionals, people living with HIV, funders, media and community. Since its start in 1985, the conference has served as an opportunity to strengthen policies and programmes that ensure an evidence-based response to HIV and related epidemics.
The selection of two host cities is unprecedented. Through the unique partnership of Oakland and San Francisco, we can examine two very different epidemics. This is the first time in history that an International AIDS Conference is being hosted by two cities.
The Global Village
As always, Indigenous people have submitted abstracts to deliver presentations during the AIDS 2020: Virtual scientific program and we hope to see even more this time than in years past. If the scientific program is the brain of AIDS 2020, the Global Village is the heart.
The Global Village is a diverse and vibrant space where communities from all over the world gather to meet, share and learn from each other. It intersects the main conference programme, blending scientific sessions with cultural activities, live performances, networking zones, NGO booths, marketplace booths and art exhibits. Here, communities can demonstrate the application of science and good leadership, and conference participants are invited to see how science translates into community action and intervention.
The Global Village is open to the general public and conference delegates, and admission is free.
Indigenous Peoples Networking Zone
IPNZ
Networking zones are spaces where local and international groups can meet and focus on thematic areas. In these zones, groups can conduct their own activities and engage delegates and the public visiting the Global Village. The IPNZ will showcase Indigenous cultures, issues and aspirations to raise awareness of the International Indigenous HIV & AIDS Community (IIHAC) and the International Indigenous Working Group on HIV & AIDS (IIWGHA), their missions, goals and objectives and to show others how they can become more involved.
The IPNZ will showcase the work that Indigenous individuals, communities and organizations have done including TB, HIV and HCV research and programing from a strengths-based approach and how partners work with Indigenous Peoples, communities and organizations showcasing successful models where these alliances exist around the world.
Our networking zone provides a safe and comforting space where Indigenous people and their allies can gather and interact with a focus on “culture as healing”.
NGO Community Booth
Once again, the International Indigenous HIV & AIDS Community will be hosting an NGO Booth in the Global Village of AIDS 2020: Virtual.
Objectives:
- To share Indigenous worldviews through the words of our Elders and Ancestors about ways of knowing and doing employed by this mostly hidden population
- To demystify romantic notions and perceived superstitions of Indigenous spirituality and ritual practices and show the commonalities of Indigenous laws and their application. Providing an insight into Indigenous world views and cultures.
- To show Indigenous populations’ collective and individual learning through investigation throughout the ages
- To showcase educational on Indigenous approaches to addressing determinants of health related to HIV, TB and HCV leading to a better understanding of Indigenous peoples
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8TH INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS PRE-CONFERENCE (WISER2020) AND AIDS 2020