‘Women are supposed to be the leaders’: intersections of gender, race and colonisation in HIV prevention with Indigenous young people

Abstract

Focusing on gender, race and colonialism, this paper foregrounds the voices of Indigenous young people, their histories of oppression, their legacies of resistance and the continuing strengths rooted in Indigenous peoples, their cultures and their communities. Exploring the relationship between gender and colonialism, the paper speaks to the lived realities of young people from Indigenous communities across Canada. Over 85 young people participated in six different Indigenous community workshops to create artistic pieces that explored the connections between HIV, individual risk and structural inequalities. In the course of the research, Indigenous young people, and young Indigenous women in particular, talked about how gender intersects with race and colonisation to create experiences that are, at times, especially difficult for them. In this paper, young people discuss the ways in which colonialism has demeaned women's roles and degraded women's sexuality, and how continuing cultural erasure and assimilationist policies impact on their lives and on their bodies.

Intersectional stigma among midlife and older Black women living with HIV

“…The nascent literature on intersectionality and HIV likewise has provided increased focus on HIV disparities and the development of culturally-relevant intervention strategies for vulnerable populations. For instance, researchers have argued for adequately addressing issues such as the cumulative effects of discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, immigration status, sexuality, and poverty within HIV research and resulting programmes so that this work is relevant to communities themselves (Bowleg et al 2013; Caiola et al 2014; Collins, von Unger, and Armbrister 2008; Logie et al 2011; Oliver et al 2015; Watkins-Hayes 2014). Those applying an intersectional approach to HIV research have also highlighted the need for research and policy to focus on issues of intersectional stigma and discrimination at the interpersonal, community, and structural levels (Logie et al 2011).…”

http://medcraveonline.com/SIJ/truka-girls-staging-a-history-of-resistance-and-struggle.html

“…"The indigenous women came to realize what was going on and decided to discuss and resolve their situation. We have always guided them… however, for the girls who did not belong to the movement, things have never really mattered to them… many became single mothers… some became HIV positive… and some others became drug users…" 20,21 Environmental justice: river waters, Truka blood…”

Taonsayontenhroseri:ye’ne: the power of art in Indigenous research with youth

“…In the Haudenosaunee original way of being, women also chose the leadership of the nation, allowed or disallowed the use of land, led international diplomacy, and acted as guides for the people (Delormier et al, 2017; Horn-Miller, 2005; Venables, 2010). For these same reasons, colonial leaders sought to undermine the power of Indigenous women, violently enforcing patriarchy instead (Anderson, 2016; Oliver et al, 2015; Simpson, 2014). As is clear when looking at the horrific number of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, Indigenous women’s bodies and roles have been systematically destroyed by colonization (Anderson, Campbell, & Belcourt, 2018; Razack, 2016).…”