Sharing Our Stories

Project Activities, Results and Lessons Learned from the Non-Reserve First Nations, Inuit and Métis Communities

HIV/AIDS Project Fund
Fiscal Years 2000-2001 & 2001-2002

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Contents

Introduction
Project Summaries
	Atlantic Region
		Healing Our Nations: Community Outreach and Communication Project
		HIV/AIDS Labrador Project
	Quebec
		Urban Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Support Service
	Ontario
		Mino Tibadjumowin ("Spreading A Good Message")
		HIV/AIDS Training Project
	Manitoba and Saskatchewan
		Northern Aboriginal Links for AIDS
		Four Doorways Project: Phase II
		Red Prairie HIV/AIDS Project
		2-Spirit Circle of Friends
	Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut
		Me and HIV
		HIV/AIDS Training and Resources for Addictions and Community Workers
		Wiya Wapaki
		HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention for High-Risk Aboriginal Target Groups in the Northwest Territories
		Iqaluit Community HIV/AIDS Fair
	British Columbia and Yukon
		Red Road Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Education Standardization Project
		Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Prevention Curriculum and Manual Project
	National
		LinkUp: An Aboriginal On-Line Information Network and Exchange
		Canadian Inuit HIV/AIDS Network
Lessons Learned
Conclusions

Introduction

The Non-Reserve First Nations, Inuit and Métis Communities HIV/AIDS Project Fund is an important component of the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS (CSHA). Created in 1998 following extensive consultations with Aboriginal people, the Fund's objectives are to:

• enhance the capacity of Aboriginal communities to address HIV/AIDS
• enhance sustainability
• encourage integration of HIV/AIDS work in Aboriginal communities

The Fund supports time-limited projects in non-reserve Aboriginal communities, in both urban and rural settings. It is managed by the HIV/AIDS Policy, Coordination and Programs Division of Health Canada and has an annual budget of $1.2 million.

Sponsoring agencies, which must be Aboriginal organizations, are encouraged to develop approaches that are culturally relevant to First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis people when applying for funding. To be eligible for funding, projects must benefit a non-reserve Aboriginal community or communities in at least one of the following ways:

• increase community willingness to respond to HIV/AIDS
• target HIV/AIDS prevention to at-risk populations
• use a harm-reduction approach to prevent the spread of HIV
• help Aboriginal people living with HIV/AIDS (APHAs) improve and/or sustain their health
• improve access to existing HIV/AIDS services and programs and related health services
• develop partnerships, networks or coalitions to respond to HIV/AIDS
• reduce or eliminate discrimination related to HIV/AIDS
• increase the skills and capabilities of an Aboriginal AIDS service organization
• provide training at the community level in the areas of evaluation, program development, social marketing and fund raising

The first Request for Proposals for the Non-Reserve First Nations, Inuit and Métis Communities HIV/AIDS Project Fund was issued in the fall of 1999. A total of 41 project proposals were received, 18 of which were accepted following a review by program consultants in the HIV/AIDS Policy, Coordination and Programs Division and a national committee of Aboriginal reviewers. Implementation of the projects was undertaken in the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 fiscal years.

This report summarizes each of the 18 projects, discusses some of the common "lessons learned" and analyses the overall success of this round of projects in meeting the Fund's objectives. While this document should not be construed as an in-depth evaluation of the Fund, its content is important in carrying forward the stories of each of the funded projects and in sharing their lessons learned.
. Project Summaries

The 18 projects funded from the 1999 request for proposals were undertaken by Aboriginal organizations across Canada, with a regional breakdown as follows:

• Atlantic Region – 2 projects
• Quebec – 1 project
• Ontario – 2 projects
• Manitoba and Saskatchewan – 4 projects
• Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut – 5 projects
• British Columbia and Yukon – 2 projects
• National – 2 projects

The project summaries have been provided according to this regional breakdown.

Atlantic Region

Healing Our Nations: Community Outreach and Communication Project
Healing Our Nations, Atlantic First Nations AIDS Network (www.healingournations.ca)

This project was designed to provide outreach to First Nations people throughout Atlantic Canada and to communicate effectively with health service providers and community members living with HIV/AIDS, as well as those affected by or interested in HIV/AIDS and related issues. Healing Our Nations developed standardized training materials and provided up-to-date HIV/AIDS workshops in First Nations communities throughout the region. A sub-office was established in New Brunswick which employed a community health educator to focus on New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Cross-cultural training was delivered to agencies and individuals who serve First Nations people living with HIV/AIDS. The Network also developed a strategic plan to respond to HIV/AIDS among First Nations people in Atlantic Canada. This project has increased the level of involvement with Healing Our Nations, increased the Network's capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS, and increased awareness of HIV/AIDS and related issues.

HIV/AIDS Labrador Project
Labrador Friendship Centre hiv-aidslabradorproject@superweb.ca)

The objective of this project was to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS among Aboriginal people in Labrador. A project office was established within the Labrador Friendship Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and an advisory committee was formed to oversee the project which included representatives of Métis, Inuit and Innu communities in Labrador and an individual living with HIV/AIDS. Information resources and materials were gathered from other HIV/AIDS organizations and distributed to communities. More than 200 information sessions were delivered in 33 communities in coastal Labrador and the Upper Lake Melville area. The project office also collaborated with the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador to deliver integrated HIV/hepatitis C training and awareness sessions to inmates and prison staff. An independent evaluator concluded that the project helped raise awareness of HIV/AIDS among Aboriginal people in Labrador, "albeit more successfully in some communities than others."

Quebec

Urban Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Support Service
Native Friendship Centre of Montréal (www.nfcm.org)

Working in partnership with a variety of organizations, the Native Friendship Centre of Montréal developed and delivered an HIV/AIDS education and prevention program for the Aboriginal community of Montréal. Activities included workshops on themes such as health, HIV awareness, sexuality, self-esteem, and drug/alcohol awareness, with an average of 15 people in attendance at each session. As well, 60 to 100 people attended each of six day-long "community gatherings" held to provide HIV/AIDS education and to entertain community members. The Centre also staged, with less success, two "game shows," in which participants were asked questions about HIV/AIDS in front of an audience of community members. HIV/AIDS prevention information was provided to Aboriginal people using postcards, bookmarks and other tools. The Centre published a newsletter, established contacts with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organizations, and participated in relevant conferences, annual meetings, committees, etc.

Ontario

Mino Tibadjumowin ("Spreading A Good Message")
Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health (www.wabano.com)

The Mino Tibadjumowin project aimed to establish a sustainable HIV/AIDS program at the Wabano Centre, which provides services to Aboriginal people in the National Capital Region. Project activities included development and delivery of a culturally specific HIV/AIDS train-the-trainer program and peer education curriculum known as "Keep Our Circle Strong." A video on HIV/AIDS was produced by and for Aboriginal youth and shown at regular workshops. These workshops were later replaced by the Cyber Café Stay-in-School program and the Aboriginal Circle outreach program, which offers workshops to Aboriginal high school students. The Wabano Street Theatre Company was also created and made two productions: The Blood Remembers, a play about addiction, trauma and their link to HIV in the Aboriginal population, and Jay's Story, which raises awareness of HIV/AIDS by telling the story of a young Aboriginal man who leaves his reserve to explore life in the big city. This project was continued by the Wabano Centre at the end of the funding period, with a new focus on community development.

HIV/AIDS Training Project
Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres (www.ofifc.org)

In this project, the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres offered its member organizations support to provide culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS training and awareness sessions to their staff, board members, volunteers, clientele and other community members, thereby increasing the capacity of Aboriginal communities to address HIV/AIDS. A total of 31 workshops were delivered to 3 314 participants, with a focus on providing a basic understanding of HIV/AIDS from an Aboriginal perspective. Information booklets, brochures and posters were distributed to all participants, and some Friendship Centres distributed condoms when available. Participant evaluations of the workshops and feedback from Friendship Centres indicate that the project significantly increased awareness about HIV/AIDS in many Aboriginal communities and strengthened the knowledge and skills levels of Friendship Centre staff and community members. However, since only 18 of the Federation's 29 member Friendship Centres participated, training was not delivered in all Aboriginal communities in the province.

Manitoba and Saskatchewan

Northern Aboriginal Links for AIDS
Northern AIDS Initiative Inc.

The Northern Aboriginal Links for AIDS (NALA) project was designed to broadly engage the Aboriginal community and Aboriginal leaders in developing and implementing a healthy sexuality curriculum. Information and recommendations for the curriculum were collected from teachers, school board officials and other sources. NALA also facilitated focus groups in the community to learn about the wants, needs and expectations of Aboriginal youth in relation to HIV/AIDS education. Community leaders and Elders were invited to contribute to the program, and youth volunteers were recruited as role models. This project culminated in the development of a manual describing a culturally appropriate curriculum for use by peer youth workers to provide healthy sexuality education in their home communities. The Northern AIDS Initiative Inc. has used its own operational money to continue the NALA project, but training has been limited to only a few communities.

Four Doorways Project: Phase II
Manitoba Aboriginal AIDS Task Force (www.ninecircles.ca)

Phase two of the Four Doorways Project (physical doorway, emotional doorway, mental doorway and spiritual doorway) focussed on the development of a culturally based harm reduction peer education model for Aboriginal people who use injection drugs, APHAs and street-involved Aboriginal youth. Elders and traditional teachers were engaged to develop the cultural component of the model, and consultants were hired to produce a train-the-trainer manual. Fifty copies of the manual were distributed to peer trainers, the Nine Circles Community Health Centre and other partner organizations in Winnipeg. More than 10 train-the-trainer sessions were provided by peer educators to Four Doorways staff and Aboriginal organizations in Winnipeg and elsewhere. Work was also undertaken to assist partner groups and other Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal agencies in integrating the Four Doorways education and training models into their own service delivery. Although the Four Doorways Project is generally viewed as being successful in educating community workers about the philosophy of harm reduction, at the end of the funding period there were questions about the project's sustainability.

Red Prairie HIV/AIDS Project
Brandon Friendship Centre Inc. (www.mac.mb.ca/bfc)

The goal of the Red Prairie HIV/AIDS Project was to develop the knowledge, skills and safe practices needed to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among Aboriginal people, especially youth, in southwestern Manitoba. Work was undertaken to produce and distribute culturally relevant HIV/AIDS prevention education materials to agencies in Brandon and southwestern Manitoba that provide services to Aboriginal people. As well, a series of prevention workshops were delivered between September 2000 and March 2002. The Brandon Friendship Centre also partnered with the Sexuality Education Resource Centre and Gays and Lesbians of Brandon to educate the community about two-spirit people. An independent consultant concluded that the Red Prairie HIV/AIDS Project filled a gap in HIV/AIDS education for Aboriginal people and should be continued.

2-Spirit Circle of Friends
Family Healing Circle Lodge Inc. (Telephone: 306-653-3900)

This project was designed to provide support systems and safe environments for Aboriginal two-spirit people and to educate Aboriginal organizations about homophobia, its relationship to HIV/AIDS and the needs of two-spirit people. In partnership with Gay & Lesbian Health Services of Saskatoon (GLHS), the Family Healing Circle Lodge facilitated a "2-Spirit Circle of Friends" to give two-spirit people affirmation and support, build their self-esteem and enable them to remain free of HIV. Weekly meetings were held on a variety of spiritual, emotional, physical and mental health issues. Time was also set aside at the Lodge for two-spirit people to have one-on-one counselling sessions with an Elder, and training was offered to Aboriginal organizations in Saskatoon and elsewhere on the needs of two-spirit people. The Sasknative Housing Society evaluated this project and determined that it had limited impact in terms of increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS, developing group supports, ensuring safe environments for two-spirit people, or addressing the issue of homophobia. Nevertheless, the Society endorsed the project's objectives and recommended additional work on these issues.

Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut

Me and HIV
Mannawanis Native Friendship Centre (http://www.albertafriendshipcentres.ca/)

The objectives of this project were to promote HIV/AIDS awareness among high-risk youth in and around St. Paul, Alberta; to support the development of healthy families; and to reach out to people who may need additional supports. To this end, the Mannawanis Native Friendship Centre invited Grade 8 students from local schools to attend two-day "camps," called "Me and HIV," to learn about HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and healthy lifestyle choices. Each camp featured sessions on topics such as sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, high-risk activities, safer sex and other healthy lifestyle choices. High school students were recruited as teen facilitators, and HIV-positive individuals travelled from Edmonton to tell their stories. To support the development of healthy families, participants at the camps were given information on healthy lifestyle choices and advised where to turn for additional support in the community. According to participant evaluation forms, the "Me and HIV" youth camps were very successful in giving students a better understanding of HIV/AIDS, high-risk activities and healthy lifestyle choices.

HIV/AIDS Training and Resources for Addictions and Community Workers
Nechi Training, Research & Health Promotions Institute (www.nechi.com)

Addressing the HIV/AIDS training and resource needs of addictions and community workers was the underlying objective of this project. In Phase I, the Nechi Institute, located in St. Albert, Alberta, undertook an assessment of HIV/AIDS training needs in relation to Aboriginal people in Canada. Phase II of the project involved the development of curriculum inserts on HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C for Nechi's Community Addictions Training and Advanced Counsellor Training series. The new curriculum package includes background information about the project, learning goals for the curriculum, information on the values and attitudes that participants may bring to the workshop, lessons plans on HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, and a bibliography. Trainees involved in testing the new curriculum indicated that it was useful both professionally and personally, and that the learning process was appropriate. Nechi believes this project has greatly enhanced the Institute's training capacity in the addictions field as it relates to HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.

Wiya Wapaki
Alberta Native Friendship Centre Association (www.albertafriendshipcentres.ca)

Wiya Wapaki is Cree for "For Tomorrow." The objective of this project was to build the capacity of Friendship Centres and their affiliated youth centres across Alberta to respond to the HIV/AIDS needs of Aboriginal people. An environmental scan was completed of HIV/AIDS resources, services, attitudes and behaviours in 18 Friendship Centre communities, and strategies were developed to respond to each community's needs. More than 30 awareness and training sessions were offered to staff of Friendship Centres, youth centres and community agencies in the 18 communities, as well as to Aboriginal people in and around these communities. HIV/AIDS resource materials were provided to the Friendship Centres, which also distributed free condoms. This project helped build awareness of HIV/AIDS among Aboriginal people and increased the capacity of Friendship Centres to respond to the HIV/AIDS-related needs of their clientele, both on their own and in collaboration with other agencies.

HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention for High-Risk Aboriginal Target Groups in the Northwest Territories
Native Women's Association of the Northwest Territories (www.nativewomens.com)

The objective of this program was to provide culturally relevant information about HIV/AIDS to high-risk Aboriginal target groups in the Northwest Territories, particularly women and youth incarcerated in correctional facilities. Following a needs assessment and resource development phase, workshops were offered in correctional facilities, schools and community centres in Fort Smith, Hay River and Yellowknife. Visits were also made to Lutsel K'e, Fort Resolution and Fort Good Hope. In total, 1 440 people were reached by the workshops. Participants gained a greater knowledge of HIV/AIDS and related issues and were informed about community supports that could help them make healthier lifestyle choices. As a result of this project, the Native Women's Association of the Northwest Territories and its partner, the Northwest Territories Youth Council, have made prevention of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C a priority. Although an application for renewed funding was not approved, both organizations have continued work in this area.

Iqaluit Community HIV/AIDS Fair
Pauktuutit Inuit Women's Association (www.pauktuutit.on.ca)

This project was intended to inspire youth to explore HIV/AIDS issues in the same way they would research science for a science fair. The original plan to hold a single HIV/AIDS fair in Iqaluit, with the best projects being packaged into an exhibit that would tour other Inuit communities, was modified to support smaller HIV/AIDS fairs in Iqaluit, Taloyoak, Pangnirtung and Arctic Bay. Overall coordination was provided by Pauktuutit's national office in Ottawa. The fairs took place in February 2001, with a panel of judges in each community selecting the winning projects. Some of the best projects were later shipped to two other Inuit communities. Pauktuutit believes that the project achieved its expected results: increased understanding and awareness of community HIV/AIDS issues; increased involvement of youth in community HIV/AIDS education; and the sharing of information between communities. The HIV/AIDS fairs have since been expanded to include hepatitis C and to involve many more communities (12 in 2002 and 19 in 2003). The fairs have also provided a model for other health issues in Inuit communities.

British Columbia and Yukon

Red Road Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Education Standardization Project
Red Road HIV/AIDS Network Society (www.red-road.org)

This project developed an HIV/AIDS Education Manual that provides standardized, culturally appropriate information on HIV/AIDS for use by educators, speakers, APHAs, community health representatives and others when making presentations to Aboriginal communities in British Columbia. The manual provides step-by-step guidance on how to prepare and present materials, recommends methods of presentation and suggests ways to maintain cultural sensitivity. About 200 copies of the manual have been distributed throughout B.C. and an additional 100 manuals have been distributed in other parts of Canada. The Red Road HIV/AIDS Network Society also compiled an e-mail list of all Aboriginal educators in the province and shared this information with the educators. This project achieved its key objectives of establishing a provincial Aboriginal HIV/AIDS education model and a standard of quality HIV/AIDS education for B.C.'s Aboriginal population. Based on informal feedback, the Red Road HIV/AIDS Network Society is confident the manual is having a positive impact on Aboriginal communities within and outside B.C.

Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Prevention Curriculum and Manual Project
Healing Our Spirit BC Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Society (www.healingourspirit.org)

This project was intended to develop a culturally appropriate and scientifically correct HIV/AIDS prevention curriculum and educators manual to be used to educate Aboriginal people about HIV/AIDS and to train Aboriginal HIV/AIDS educators in B.C. Under the direction of a steering committee of professionals, Aboriginal educators and APHAs, the curriculum and manual were researched and written using existing models developed by Healing Our Spirit and the Mokakit Education Research Association. Specific workshop modules were developed for youth, health workers and Elders, and a participants manual was developed for people who take the workshops. Although development of the educator's manual was an important achievement that engaged Aboriginal people in the HIV/AIDS response, several elements of the project were not completed due to time and budgetary constraints. For example, the manual was not translated into three First Nations languages or tested in First Nations communities. As well, little work was done to recruit and train Aboriginal people living with HIV/AIDS to become guest speakers and educators.

National

LinkUp: An Aboriginal On-Line Information Network and Exchange
Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (www.caan.ca)

This project by the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) was designed to develop a web site that would link all CAAN member groups, regional networks, individual members and partner groups; provide education on using the Internet for information management and communication; host web sites for groups, reports, regional strategies, programs and contact information; and moderate and facilitate chat and/or virtual discussion groups, support educational discussion groups and provide training and technical support. A mock-up of the LinkUp site was developed for presentation purposes, and necessary changes were made based on focus group testing. CAAN also produced promotional materials to raise awareness about LinkUp and direct people to the site. Officially launched in March 2002, LinkUp has been a tremendous success and is now widely used by Aboriginal organizations in conducting research and planning programs. The site receives 4 000 to 5 000 hits per month from Canada and abroad, and continues to be maintained, updated and improved by CAAN using funds from its operational budget and other sources.

Canadian Inuit HIV/AIDS Network
Pauktuutit Inuit Women's Association (www.pauktuutit.on.ca)

Pauktuutit furthered the development of the Canadian Inuit HIV/AIDS Network under the direction of a national steering committee. Also as part of this project, Pauktuutit worked with other stakeholders to develop the proposed Inuit Plan of Action on HIV/AIDS, which sets out a long-term strategy for addressing HIV/AIDS among northern and urban Inuit. Work was completed on a skills-building manual to strengthen the capacity of Inuit community members to deliver HIV/AIDS education, and partnerships were formed with other organizations to improve dissemination of Pauktuutit's HIV/AIDS educational materials. Pauktuutit views this project as a tremendous success. The Canadian Inuit HIV/AIDS Network provides for a coordinated Inuit response to HIV/AIDS, and the Plan of Action has been widely endorsed and was awaiting implementation at the end of the funding period. The dissemination of culturally relevant HIV/AIDS resources was much stronger at the end of the project than in 1999, as was the capacity of Inuit community leaders and health representatives to deliver HIV/AIDS education.

Lessons Learned

Although each of the funded projects had specific successes and/or challenges to report, a number of common themes emerged. These "lessons learned," which are discussed briefly below, could assist in the development and delivery of future HIV/AIDS projects in Aboriginal communities.

• Project workplans should allow for flexibility in how initiatives will be implemented, to enable the sponsoring agency to shift the focus of activities or adapt to changing circumstances. Continuous evaluation of project activities permits such adjustments to be made.
  
• Project sponsors should avoid being "too ambitious" when defining the scope of activities to be undertaken using the available financial and human resources. Otherwise, activities may be dropped or done poorly/incompletely, which in turn can adversely affect the overall project.
  
• Coordination by, or partnership with, a national or regional organization is often needed for certain types of projects. Many Aboriginal communities lack the resources, knowledge and capacity to effectively deliver HIV/AIDS awareness/education initiatives on their own.
  
• Community and/or peer involvement in the development of HIV/AIDS activities and resources is often a key to success. However, building community consensus can be a difficult and time-consuming task.
  
• When partnering with non-Aboriginal agencies, building trust at the working level requires a significant investment of time and money. Maintaining adequate cultural awareness among non-Aboriginal frontline workers can also be a challenge due to high rates of staff turnover.
  
• The involvement of "peers" in HIV/AIDS awareness/education initiatives is invaluable. Young teens tend to be more receptive to HIV/AIDS prevention messages when the information is delivered by slightly older teens, injection drug users (IDUs) can relate better to former IDUs, etc.
  
• Involving APHAs in delivering workshops is an effective way to reach target audiences. However, money is not always available to support this approach, and it can be difficult to recruit suitable individuals.
  
• Aboriginal youth tend to be more receptive than adults to HIV/AIDS messages, and want to know how traditional practices can provide guidance on issues like healthy sexuality.
  
• One size does not fit all. Many project sponsors found that workshops and other activities had to be custom-tailored to the needs and awareness levels of the community being visited.
  
• Time-limited projects often do not address the Aboriginal community's long-term needs. More must be done to ensure that projects are sustainable after Health Canada funding ends.
  
• Many Aboriginal people believe that HIV/AIDS does not exist in their communities. What is especially disturbing is that this viewpoint is sometimes held by service providers and others who should be taking a leadership role in HIV/AIDS education and prevention.
  
• In some communities, participation at HIV/AIDS workshops continues to be impacted by barriers such as stigma, discrimination, homophobia, fear and apathy. Similarly, condom distribution is often frowned upon or opposed due to cultural beliefs.
  
• Active, involved, informed and committed steering committees, comprising Aboriginal representatives and others, can contribute significantly to the success of a project.
  
• HIV/AIDS workshops and information sessions can reach a broader and more receptive audience when held in conjunction with other community events.

Conclusions

This section of the report considers whether the 18 funded projects have helped achieve the Fund's objectives.

Objective 1: Enhancing the Capacity of Aboriginal Communities to Address HIV/AIDS

Most of the funded projects appear to have enhanced the capacity of Aboriginal communities to address HIV/AIDS. Several projects developed culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS education curricula and/or education models, which have been widely distributed at the regional or national level. Some projects also provided training on how to use the new education materials.

Significant progress has also been made in developing and distributing culturally appropriate materials to support HIV/AIDS awareness/education workshops and other prevention initiatives. Several thousand Aboriginal people across Canada have been reached through these workshops, thereby gaining new knowledge, awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS and related issues.

Objective 2: Enhancing Sustainability

Many organizations believe that their projects have enhanced their capacity, and often the capacity of partner agencies, to address HIV/AIDS in culturally appropriate ways. However, due to high rates of staff turnover, it is difficult for these organizations to maintain this capacity on an ongoing basis. As well, many organizations lacked the resources to sustain or build upon their projects at the end of the funding period.

Objective 3: Encouraging Integration of HIV/AIDS Work in Aboriginal Communities

Strong efforts were made through a number of projects to strengthen the integration of HIV/AIDS work in Aboriginal communities. However, questions remain as to whether agencies that embraced the "integration" concept will be able to sustain their commitments in the face of high staff turnover and competing program and service demands. Encouraging integration is an ongoing challenge, both in terms of regularly training new agency staff and ensuring that the agency itself is committed to this goal.

Conclusion

The majority of the 18 projects summarized in this document were, to varying degrees, successful in achieving their stated objectives. Many of the projects have laid important groundwork for continued and expanded prevention efforts in Aboriginal communities, and others have developed resources that will be of value to educators and others for years to come. Valuable lessons have been learned that will strengthen future efforts to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic among Aboriginal people across Canada.