National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD) is a national mobilization effort designed to encourage American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians across the United States and Territorial Areas to get educated, get tested, get involved in prevention and get treated for HIV.

NNHAAD was founded in 2007 by three collaborating agencies whom at the time were called the National Native Capacity Building Assistance (CBA) Network, which included Commitment to Action for 7th-Generation Awareness & Educations (CA7AE), Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA), and National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC)]. The three network agencies were funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide capacity building assistance to Native organizations, tribes, state health departments and any Native-serving organizations. Since the founding of NNHAAD, the collaborative partnership has grown to include Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board, Inc., Begaye Consulting, Center for Prevention and Wellness, Council Oaks Training and Evaluation, Inc., ETR’s Community Impact Solutions Project, Florida Department of Health – HIV Section, Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board, Northwest Portland Indian Health Board, and Indian Health Service National HIV/AIDS Program.

In support of NNHAAD, the National Native CBA Network presented resolution SAC-06-002 to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in October of 2006. The resolution was approved for support of the National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day held on March 21, 2007.

The first day of Spring was the chosen as the date to celebrate National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This day was chosen by individuals in the community who had participated in a national survey to determine what day would be most appropriate. It was acknowledged that in many Native cultures across the United States, the four seasons are highly respected because they closely represent the cycle of life. Spring also represents a time of equality and balance and is the only day when day and night are at equal lengths. It is considered a time of profound change, new beginnings and birth; A celebration of life for all people.

The cycle of life is defined by the change in seasons, and ceremonies are held to recognize the passing of one season and the beginning of another.

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) comprise 2% of the total U.S. population, yet ranked fourth in the rate of HIV diagnoses in 2016 among reported groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV has disproportionately affected AI/AN communities, evidenced by statistics such as:

• 54% increase in HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual AI/AN men from 2011 to 2015 — the highest increase in the country among reported groups.

• Roughly 31% of new HIV diagnoses among AI/AN women in 2016 had injection drug use as the mode of transmission, compared to 12% among all women.

• 19% of AI/ANs living with HIV in 2015 were undiagnosed, compared to 13% nationwide.

• AI/ANs have one of the lowest survival rates after an AIDS diagnosis among all groups, and one of the lowest rates of viral suppression in the country.

• Among the Indian Health Service user population, the average annual rate of new HIV diagnoses among AI/ANs from 2005 to 2014 was at 15.1 per 100,000
  

In observing National Native HIV + AIDS Awareness Day, we wanted to share this powerful video from Buffalo Nickel Creative that details the personal stories of 3 Long-term Survivors living with HIV in Native communities. Their stories remind us why it is critical to continue the work of expanding testing opportunities, fight back against stigma, and work collaboratively with communities to truly end HIV transmission.

About Cascade AIDS Project

CAP is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1985 as a grassroots response to the AIDS crisis. As the oldest and largest community-based HIV services provider in Oregon and southwest Washington, we seek to support and empower all people with or affected by HIV, reduce stigma, and provide the LGBTQ+ community with compassionate healthcare. We do so by helping to ensure the health and well-being of our program participants each year through health, housing, and other social services. When the need for affordable, accessible, and culturally affirming primary care services was identified as a community need, we responded by opening Prism Health in 2017.  More information can be found at www.capnw.org.