CAAN is committed to addressing the issues of HIV within an Indigenous context. CAAN provides a national forum for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples to holistically address HIV/AIDS, HCV, STBBI, TB, mental health, aging and related co-morbidities.
The Sky Lodge is rooted in ancestral science and Indigenous ways of knowing, it reminds us that research is not a transaction but a relationship — one grounded in ceremony, kinship, and the principles of pimatisiwin (the good life). Click here to learn more about how The Sky Lodge is weaving together knowledge, community, and spirit.
Wapiwin Akinê (Seeing Collectively): Strategic Visioning
A leadership council was established to guide this strategic visioning process. The leadership council met for the first time at a visioning retreat in Fall 2023 in Canmore, Alberta and created the following video, speaking to the value of visioning through ceremony. On December 1, 2023, CAAN launched Wapiwin Akinê to coincide with World AIDS Day and Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week. Wapiwin Akinê is supported by the Canadian Red Cross Society through the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund.
The Ayaangwaamiziwin Centre
“Indigenous-led, culturally grounded, trauma-informed, and community-oriented health services are an essential part of reducing the spread of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities,” said Dr. Tom Wong, Chief Medical Officer of Public Health, Indigenous Services Canada. “We will continue to work alongside partners and leaders to support safe spaces for Indigenous Peoples to seek holistic care in their healing journey.”
Download The Ayaangwaamiziwin Centre Document Here
CAAN Warrior Societies
The CAAN Warrior Societies are Indigenous-led advisory committees that guide CAAN’s work on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and related health and social issues in communities across Canada.
Rooted in lived experience, cultural knowledge, and collective action, Warrior Society members—Elders, advocates, and community leaders—ensure Indigenous voices shape responsive, culturally safe solutions.
Featured Projects
Many of our communities are facing high rates of gender-based violence, which includes intimate partner violence, family violence, violence against children and many more types of violence. The training’s main goal is to provide support and resources for those working in those frontline spaces. Ensuring that cultural ways of being and knowing are at the centre of how we help those who are experiencing these different situations.
CAAN’s Community Readiness project strengthens the ability of community-based organizations across Canada to deliver culturally relevant, evidence-based interventions that help Indigenous people living with HIV, HCV, and other STBBIs overcome barriers to achieving the 90-90-90 HIV targets.
Become a Member!
Join CAAN and become part of a growing network dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Indigenous communities across Canada.
As a member, you’ll gain access to exclusive content, including resources, updates, and educational materials tailored to support your efforts in addressing HIV/AIDS. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in important voting processes, helping to shape the future direction of CAAN’s initiatives. By becoming a member, you can actively contribute to the empowerment and advocacy efforts that strengthen Indigenous communities and voices.
