Free Event (All Ages Welcome)
Documentary Screening
Doors 12:30pm
Promising Practices in Timiskaming First Nation (TFN)
Addressing Hepatitis C, Community Readiness in Action!
Indigenous Communities in Canada are experiencing high rates of Hepatitis C. Injection drug use remains the highest risk factor for contracting this blood to blood virus.
Promising Practices in Timiskaming First Nation was filmed over a two-year period beginning in February 2016 – March 2017. It tells the story of how one community utilized the Community Readiness model in addressing the Hepatitis C epidemic in their community. TFN’s approach included an assessment of where they were at in terms of their readiness and matching interventions and developing stage-appropriate strategies.
Some of their strategies and interventions began with the education of staff, leadership and community regarding Hepatitis C and harm reduction. Culture and traditions played a strong role and is shared through Tammy’s powerful story and with her lived experience she shared the challenges of people who are actively using drugs and living with Hepatitis C.
TFN’s distribution of harm reduction kits and approach of meeting people where they are at, with a non-judgemental attitude has reduced the risk for contracting Hepatitis C amongst people who are using drugs or engaging in risky behaviours.
Their effort has resulted in an increase of more people getting tested and they have begun to get more people onto treatment.
It is our hope that other communities will begin to incorporate and adopt some of their wise practices to begin addressing this epidemic in their own communities!
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Agenda
Sunday May 28th, 2017
Event runs 12:30 – 2:30 pm
12:30 pm – Meet and Greet
1:00 pm
Opening Prayer
Welcome by
Opening Remarks
Message from CAAN
Ken Clement, Chief Executive Officer
Musical performances by the Producers of the soundtrack, Thomas Beckman from Sons Of Granville.
Original songs and performance by Jason Lawrence and The Medicine Stones
Documentary Screening
Promising Practices in Timiskaming First Nation –
Addressing Hepatitis C – Community Readiness in Action!
Closing remarks
Master of Ceremony: Merv Thomas