March 20th marks the annual observance of National Native HIV & AIDS Awareness Day, a day to address the impact of HIV on Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. NNHAAD was created to encourage HIV testing, prevention, and treatment in these impacted communities. The date of NNHAAD also marks the Spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, which was chosen by community members to represent life, equality and balance. To learn more about how some Indigenous cultures celebrate and honor this time of year, check out our 2022 NHAAD article. 

Lack of research has been a barrier for Indigenous people living with and affected by the virus since the start of the epidemic. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, “National surveillance data for HIV infection in American Indians/Alaska Natives subgroups is limited.” POZ reports that Native Americans, as well as AAPI individuals, were simply categorized as “other” when HIV and AIDS data was first collected. Now, the Centers for Disease Control report data specifically on HIV and AIDS in Native communities. While the rate of HIV among all people in the United States decreased 7% from 2014 to 2018, the rate among American Indians and Alaska Natives increased 11% from 2018 to 2019, according to the CDC. Notably, Native women in these groups saw a 50% increase from 2018 to 2019. 

From the start of the epidemic to today, Indigenous activists have worked to support those in Native communities who are living with and affected by HIV. One such individual was Carole LaFavor (1942–2011). Carole LaFavor was an Ojibwe two-spirit lesbian, activist, novelist, and nurse. She was diagnosed with HIV in 1986 and cofounded Positively Native, an organization that supports Native American people with HIV/AIDS. Some of her work included serving on the Minnesota American Indian AIDS Task Force and as a member of the President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS from 1995–1997, where she was the only Native American member. LaFavor advocated for the use of traditional medicine as well as culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS support, especially for Native women. You can learn more about LaFavor and her experiences in the film Her Giveaway, a Spiritual Journey with AIDS. 

In honor of NNHAAD, as well as the legacy of activists like Carole LaFavor, we would like to share this short documentary about HIV and AIDS in Native communities. Shana Cozad, member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, shares: “It’s important the new generation of people who are being diagnosed with this to understand that there is 30-plus years of experience, and that there are elders, there are other Native people, that are available to talk to you about this.” 

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.