[Viva] Oak Tree Evaluation/PAPBC

[Peggy Frank]

hi Kecia,

Thank you for sending this note. I am sorry it has taken so long to reply. To be perfectly Frank, my head has been elsewhere this week. My partner, Jim’s son tried to end his life and I was so preoccupied that — while I know I looked at this, I did not respond. And my response may only reflect the way my mind is not working linearly.

Margarite is in a better position to talk about the beginning of VIVA. The list serve has been useful to connect women — been more and less active over the years. It has also been a place to share.

I knew that you were ill from our Victoria group — and am really sorry that I wasn’t more support for you. I have tried to email and call on several occasions and not heard back. I understand all too well how life gets in the way. Could you make sure that both your partner and your children have my number and know that they can call me when you might benefit from talking to a peer or receiving some energy work. I can come over to you. I know your Mom - too — does energy work. 

To distract myself from thinking about what will happen to Jim’s son — who I am grateful is in health care at St Paul’s Hospital - I have been attending the CANAC conference. CANAC stands for Canadian Nurses in AIDS Care. In some strange way, I think it helps me feel reassured that people everywhere are aware of the problems in health care and many dedicated nurses are doing what they can to change things. 

It is amazing to me — makes me very hopeful — that the whole CANAC program looked at de-colonization and issues for Indigenous people. Many sessions featured peers — one panel I heard was entirely women who use or have used. The Pre-conference  keynote was Len Pierre who minced no words when outlining how health outcomes are horrid for Indigenous people. Helped us reframe language from trauma aware care to resilience. There was a beautiful film about a couple of nurses who work together administering care wherever it is needed in Vancouver Eastside "Angels on Call”. There is reason for hope Kecia. 

I think we all have dealt with and deal with the pain of stigma as HIV is certainly a teacher about resilience from the s word. But I see that Indigenous women, especially women who have used are triple stigmatized by some. I hope that I am able to address the settler response in me as time goes on.

Again Kecia - thank you for reaching out. I will call when the ground under me feels stable.  Love-peg

> On May 9, 2022, at 1:12 PM, Kecia Larkin <kecialarkin at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Oki
> I am sending this email from me inquiring about the current understanding of how PAPBC aka ViVa was started?
> Marguerite and I were given money from Dr. Budget too host a focus group aka evaluation from clients.
> This was when Positive Women's Network was still alive.
> We hosted it downstairs from their office, anyone remember?
> That "report," went back to Oak Tree and one recommendation was having an "Aunt"onomous (autonomous), identify by and for women living with HIV, in BC.
> The existing group changed the name and has since then been Viva 
> It's really important that we keep these creation stories by and for our sisters.
> I have been away from you all and am poking my head in too see who is around.
> I was ill for several years, with inflammation of my Achilles tendon and have chronic pain, from wasting in 2012.
> I left Oak Tree at that time too seek help.
> I hope none of you have dealt with the stigma of pain/mental health issues and HIV/AIDS. 
> It's been very apparent that we need dialogue about these intersections of our health.
> We also need voices added to existing "research, knowledge transfer/exchange (KTE), education and community development."
> I don't know what exists for this dialogue, but certainly facilitate and discuss these courageous conversations in the Zoom Group. 
> As an Indigenous Woman living with HIV, I see alot of medical trauma. I hear how disconnected many people feel and have a need for their voice to be heard.
> Thank you for your time and please feel free to reply back to me. 
> 
> Unca, 
> Kecia 
> 

I am privileged and honoured to be writing to you from sxʷeŋxʷəŋ təŋəxʷ - pronounced s-hweng hw-ung tongue-oo-hw, - the Lekwungen name for James Bay.
sxʷeŋxʷəŋ təŋəxʷ is part of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations unceded traditional territory.









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