Reconciliation’s role in combatting HIV

For weeks, Indigenous leaders and advocates in Manitoba have been holding public health events to combat the stigma surrounding HIV. Manitoba is currently an epicentre for a severe HIV outbreaks, with 20 cases per 100,000 people — a rate three times higher than the rest of Canada.

This has prompted provincial health officials to declare a public health emergency.

First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in this province are disproportionately impacted by HIV, with seven in 10 of individuals in the Manitoba HIV program self-identifying as Indigenous.

Of those people, Indigenous women and northern residents are most often affected.

My colleague, CBC producer and longtime CBC Indigenous contributor Lenard Monkman recently produced a documentary about this subject.

Statistics in the 2025 Manitoba HIV Program Update report also identify Manitoba’s outbreak is heavily related to the ongoing issues of addiction, poverty and lack of suitable housing.

Preventing HIV, therefore, isn’t just about sexual education but understanding the historical, political and social causes that lead to infections.

I hope that everyone understands that HIV, like any disease, doesn’t discriminate; however, it is discrimination — particularly of the socioeconomic and racial variety — that leads to increasing cases of HIV.

Combating HIV means combating social divisions and therefore embedding ourselves in reconciliation.

Niigaan Sinclair, Columnist

FIVE STORIES ON TURTLE ISLAND

Indigenous leaders in Ontario are demanding accountability after some city officials in Niagara Falls suggested the relocation of First Nations evacuees negatively affects tourism. Last year, hotels in the city housed almost 5,000 people from various First Nations communities in Manitoba due to forest fires. The mayor of Niagara Falls says he wants to support a “Team Canada” approach but he argues life in Niagara Falls is affected. As he says: “We’ve got a lot of unhoused people, but the fact is they’re living in a hotel room. How long can you stay in a 300-square-foot hotel room with your family? You want to get out, you get stir-crazy, so they’re walking around and it’s leading to other issues, too, like, trying to educate them, schooling, they want to go play in the park — it’s just too much at one time for one city.”I got some news for you Mr. Mayor: this is Canada.
There’s been lots of talk of the federal government “fast-tracking” major infrastructure and resource projects that would affect First Nations, including the Mackenzie Valley Highway in the Northwest Territories. As expected, Indigenous leaders stress that consent must be earned and oversight maintained but there is fairly universal agreement an all-season highway reaching Inuvik is crucial. In an interesting twist, however, this is a case of history repeating itself: we might remember the Mackenzie Valley (and the Berger Inquiry) was the site of arguably the most influential discussion of the 1970s in regards to Indigenous rights and resource development in Canada.
I’ve been talking about nuclear power and First Nations this week and the seven First Nations in Ontario who collectively make up the Williams Treaties First Nations partnered to acquire a minority stake in the Darlington New Nuclear Project. This marks the largest Indigenous loan guarantee — and the first time an Indigenous government has become a partner in a major nuclear deal — in Canadian history.
This week, the United States Supreme Court struck down U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship, reaffirming the more than 100-year-old understanding that nearly all of those born in the United States are citizens. I’ve written several times about Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship and how this impacts Native Americans who are considered “domestic dependent nations” and only receive U.S. citizenship because of the Indian Citizenship Act passed by Congress in 1924. This would have been threatened by Trump’s executive order but not now (or not until the next executive order, anyways).
There’s been lots of great coverage of the Toronto Maple Leafs picking Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation left winger Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick in the NHL entry draft. Readers may not know, though, that McKenna is not the first ever Indigenous player taken in the NHL entry draft. That honour goes to Dale McCourt from Frog Lake First Nation, who was picked by the Detroit Red Wings with the No. 1 pick in 1977.Speaking of draft picks, a huge congrats to Métis hockey player Emerson Jarvis from Sawridge Cree Nation. Jarvis was selected in the third round (26th overall) by the Seattle Torren in the Professional Women’s Hockey League earlier this month.

IN PICTURES

A new Winnipeg Police Service cruiser emblazoned with Indigenous art was unveiled on Tuesday. The cruiser is to be used by community relations officers at special events. (Erik Pindera / Free Press)

RECONCILI-ACTION OF THE WEEK

Every week I highlight an action, moment, or milestone forwarding reconciliation, illustrating how far Canada has come — and how far the country has yet to go.

The reconciliaction of the week is all of the amazing performers who delighted audiences at the 17th annual sākihiwē festival, which took place June 25 to 28 at venues throughout the city.

Performers included Métis fiddle veteran Darren Lavallee, singer/songwriter Kenzie Love, fiddle player Kieran Maytwayashing, rapper KNG JMZ, hip-hop artist Big Tones, Juno-winning soul-folk act Celeigh Cardinal, pop artist Jessa Sky, Mutti Mutti songman Kutcha Edwards, R&B-soul singer-songwriter LOV, Yanyuwa and Wardaman singer/songwriter Dr. Shellie Morris, Red River Métis and Franco-Manitoban artist Willows, and indie folk/rocker Tinge.

A highlight for me was once again seeing Cree music legend Winston Wuttunee and the youth throat singers from the Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre. A huge miigwech to sākihiwē festival director Alan Greyeyes and all the tireless work he and his staff do to bring the best and brightest in Indigenous music to this place.

WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON

Niigaan Sinclair:

Indigenous artifacts also deserve legal protection

The trafficking of items of civilizational, cultural and historical significance is a global issue. Read More

Niigaan Sinclair:

Ryle perfect choice for Manitoba’s first associate chief judge for reconciliation

Judge Jerilee Ryle is more qualified than the majority of Manitoba judges on the issue of how to best serve Indigenous peoples in Manitoba’s justice system. Read More

Niigaan Sinclair:

Importance of Indigenous languages outweighs any soccer tournament

Canada’s parliamentary budget officer says the FIFA World Cup is estimated to cost Canadian taxpayers $1.066 billion to host 13 games over 38 days. That’s $82 million a game, or $28 million a day. ... Read More

LOCAL NEWS

Tyler Searle:

Wildfires force two northern First Nations, Lynn Lake to evacuate for second consecutive year, province warns of ‘high to extreme’ danger

The Manitoba government warned of “a high to extreme level of fire danger” in northern parts of the province Monday, where out-of-control wildfires have already prompted hundreds of people to flee the... Read More

Erik Pindera:

Cruiser bearing Indigenous art act of reconciliation: police chief

The Winnipeg Police Service has unveiled a new cruiser car emblazoned with Indigenous art that’s meant to foster reconciliation. The cruiser will be used by community relations officers at events s... Read More

Julia-Simone Rutgers:

Carbon capture project gains support

Deep Sky seeks to build on Alberta success as it pitches province on ‘economic opportunity for Manitoba on a global scale’ Read More

Erik Pindera:

Inquests called into fatal shootings involving police, inmate death

Melissa Martin:

Recovering, together

Respect, unconditional care drive Bruce Oake Recovery Centre staff as they lead participants from the darkness, despair of addiction Read More

Maggie Macintosh:

Teachers’ union recognizes teacher group focused on climate-change issues

Manitoba’s newest professional teacher group has a mandate to share tips for managing eco anxiety and deliver solutions-based lessons on climate change. Read More

OPINION

Dan Lett:

Joyal would bring compassion, empathy to Canada’s high court

Over his time on the bench, Glenn Joyal has overseen cases involving the most contentious issues of our time, including assisted death, COVID-19 restrictions and a long list of constitutional dilemmas. Read More

ARTS & LIFE

AV Kitching:

Visitation monitoring important, delicate work

On a busy Saturday morning, in a building on River Avenue, a parent and their child sit in a room stocked with games and puzzles, engrossed in a board game while Deanna Jones observes them. Jones, ... Read More