A national review of HIV prevention programming targeted to Aboriginal youth reveals significant gaps in services, capacity, and prevention resources. Nevertheless, our research shows that when given the opportunity, Aboriginal youth across Canada have a lot to say about preventing HIV; they have a sophisticated understanding about how structural inequalities and colonization have led to creating conditions of risk, and are dedicated to reversing these trends.
Goals: The goals of this study are: (1) to explore Aboriginal youth leadership in HIV prevention; and, (2) to foster new youth leadership in HIV prevention. The assembled multi-stakeholder team of community leaders and academic researchers has expertise in community-based research, community-based Aboriginal health programming, adolescent HIV prevention, health promotion, and arts-based approaches to research. The objectives of this study are (1) To understand what inspires young people to become active around HIV prevention in their communities; (2) To explore digital storytelling as a strategy for increasing Aboriginal youth activism in HIV prevention; (3) To develop and disseminate community-specific “by youth for youth” HIV prevention and support materials. We will invite Aboriginal youth from across Canada to apply to “tell their stories” about HIV leadership, activism, and engagement.
This project is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Research Team: Co-Principal Investigators: Sarah Flicker (Faculty of Environmental Studies and/or York Health Research) & Jessica Yee (Native Youth Sexual Health Network) Co-Investigators: Claudia Mitchell (McGill University); Jean-Paul Restoule (University of Toronto); June Larkin (University of Toronto); Vanessa Oliver (Mount Allison University); Tracey Prentice (University of Ottawa)
This research project is organized through the Participatory Cultures Lab (PCL). The PCL was established in 2010 by Claudia Mitchell, a James McGill Professor in the Department of Integrated Studies in the Faculty of Education of McGill University, Montreal, Canada. The PCL brings Master’s and Doctoral students together around the study and use of visual tools as digital storytelling, photovoice, participatory video, participatory archiving, cellphilms, objects and things, collage, and other arts-based approaches in the process of collecting, analyzing, and working with research data. The PCL is located on the top floor of the Coach House at McGill University, 3715 Peel.
Contact:
Claudia Mitchell, PhD
(514) 398-4527 Ext. 09990
Department of Integrated Studies in Education
3700 McTavish, Room 244
McGill University
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1Y2
