We are thrilled to be partnering with the Canadian Association of Nurses in HIV/AIDS Care (CANAC) in presenting their 30th conference, Decolonize and Decriminalize, which will be delivered virtually. PAN is providing pre-conference programming on May 13th:
PAN Pre-conference day, Friday May 13:
8:45 AM Welcome and Opening – Valerie Nicholson
9:00 AM-10:30 AM – Indigenous Trauma & Equity Informed Practice
Presenter: Len Pierre, Len Pierre Consulting
This session aims to expand social perception on the missing context not usually covered in ‘trauma-informed care’ workshops. We will focus on centering Indigenous perspectives on the change needed and required to go beyond being “informed”. The session will explore the relationship between colonialism, state violence against Indigenous peoples, and Indigenous specific trauma today. We will talk about ways of weaving Indigenous resistance, resilience, resurgence, and equity-oriented approaches into professional practice.
10:30 AM-10:45 AM – Break
10:45 AM-12:00 PM – HIV Criminalization: What Do You Need to Know?
Presenter: Jennifer Evin Jones, Executive Director, PAN
People living with HIV are at risk of being charged and convicted of serious criminal offences and sentenced to years in prison for not disclosing their HIV status to their sexual partners, even if there is little chance of transmission. This session will look at how criminal justice addresses HIV, and how advocates are trying to change policing/charging practices and the Criminal Code to accurately reflect science and to protect the human rights of people living with HIV.
12:00 PM-12:30 PM – Break
12:30 PM-2:00 PM – Reducing the Harms of Colonialism
Presenter(s): Andrea Medley (Jaad ahl’ K_iigangaa), Indigenous Health and Public Health programming, policy and education and Amanda Tallio, Indigenous Harm Reduction Consultant
“Indigenous harm reduction is embedded within traditional knowledge systems that see the spiritual world, the natural world, and humanity as inter-related.” (Indigenous Harm Reduction = Reducing the Harms of Colonialism, CAAN & ICAD) This session will highlight the strands connecting harm reduction to colonization and share how Indigenous people are approaching substance use in their communities, whether urban or rural.
The balance of the conference is May 14th and 15th. The CANAC program features Garth Mullins from the Crackdown Podcast; Dr. Sean Hillier who will feature his work on Decolonizing HIV Care; and Chris Van Veen, a Senior Director at the BC Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions who will discuss Decriminalization.
You can register for PAN’s programming May 13th alone, or the conference in full.
See registration information. We hope we’ll see you there!
