| MukwaManitou |
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| Colleen Patterson |
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| Title and Organization: |
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Communications and Research, Red Road HIV/AIDS Network |
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Gender and Age: |
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Female, 30
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| Location: |
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Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Country of Residence: |
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 Canada |
| Country of Birth: |
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Canada |
| Nationalities: |
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Canadian
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| Languages: |
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English
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| Website: |
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 http://www.red-road.org |
| Instant Messaging: |
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 About Me |
Hello, my name is Colleen Patterson and I am excited to be chosen as the Chief Youth Rapporteur for XVI AIDS Conference 2006.
Both HIV/AIDS and youth issues are very important to me. I was 14 years old when I first learned what HIV was. I had the privilege of knowing an amazing individual who was HIV+. At the time, he was newly diagnosed and AIDS was relatively new to the world. I learned of not only the struggles and prejudices he faced but also what he was doing to stay healthy. He spoke to me about the importance of HIV education and prevention. This impacted me on a very personal level. I didn’t know at the time, those mornings we sat over breakfast and he told me about his life, that it would stay with me all these years. Those moments have become my foundation for the work I do in the HIV/AIDS community.
Over the years, I have met many people living with HIV/AIDS and they have become for me; the faces of HIV/AIDS. Throughout this time, I have also learned not all youth have the same access to education about HIV/AIDS as I did. Today, HIV/AIDS continues to be an important issue for me. I have many experiences and teachings that I bring with me to AIDS 2006 and I would like to share some of them with you.
First, I am committed to improving the quality of life and wellness in Aboriginal communities. HIV/AIDS in Aboriginal communities is not something that we can ignore. The Aboriginal population is highly over represented in the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Canada. Aboriginal people make up 3.3 percent of Canada’s population yet they constitute six to 12 percent of Canada’s new HIV infections. We are facing an epidemic. Due to a loss of cultural and political institutions, Aboriginal people have been faced with an ongoing sense of disempowerment and systemic poverty. Aboriginal people are among those experiencing the highest rates of unemployment and poverty in Canada.
Through my work at Red Road HIV/AIDS Network, I have the opportunity to fulfill my commitment to Aboriginal people’s health and wellness. The purpose of the Red Road HIV/AIDS Network is to reduce and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. I actively contribute to these objectives in the long hours I spent coordinating Red Road’s quarterly magazine Bloodlines.
Second, I spent four years as an apprentice to a Micmac Elder. Traditional teachings and interactions with Aboriginal Elders and Leaders have made me aware of my spiritual and cultural background, and of the political issues that Aboriginal people face. This journey led me to Trent University, where I enrolled in Native Studies, and then to Simon Fraser University, where I earned a degree in Communications and First Nations Studies. My commitment to Aboriginal communities exceeds my work at Red Road. I have also coordinated youth programs for Sunfire Aboriginal Youth Services, Helping Spirit Lodge Society and Niagara Regional Native Centre, among many other things.
Third, I am motivated by the youth’s strength and determination to have their voices heard. The youth I work with bare their souls to me, and I have a responsibility to advocate on their behalf.
Finally, as a Canadian Aboriginal youth who has been selected as the first ever Chief Youth Rapporteur, I know I have a great responsibility because I am a role model for younger Aboriginal youth. It is my hope while in Canada the world will gain a better understanding of the issues Aboriginal peoples face. I hope to empower Aboriginal youth to stand up and speak out for their people. I will do my best to acknowledge the work being done on behalf of not only Aboriginal peoples in North America but also Indigenous peoples from around the world.
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User is Offline.
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| User Joined: June 20, 2006 |
| Last Login: June 21, 2006
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 Active Rank: #26967 |
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