1. 1 First National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day! March 21, 2007 “Celebration of Life”

2. 2 Other honoring dates… National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day… February 7 National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day… May 19 National HIV Testing Day…June 27 National Latino AIDS Awareness Day… October 15 World AIDS Day… December 1

3. 3 March 21st was the date chosen! A survey was conducted with Native Communities asking what day our people believed most appropriate for observing the National HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which was jointly conducted by the National Native Capacity Building Assistance Network which includes the Center for Applied Studies in American Ethnicity at Colorado State University, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc., and the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center.

4. 4 March 21, 2007 was chosen because respondents to the survey believed that the four seasons are sacred and highly respected in many Native cultures. It marks the beginning of Spring, a time of birth and new beginning. It is the only day in the year that both day and night are at equal lengths, it is a time of complete balance. A time to celebrate life. Spring Summer Fall Winter

5. 5 the nalukatak, or spring whaling festival, takes place at the end of the whaling season. One purpose of this festival is to win the favor of the spirits of the deceased whales and to ensure the success of future hunting seasons. In Alaska

6. 6 The Woodland tribes celebrate the Green Corn Ceremony to mark the emergence of the first ears of corn which represent the ideal relationship between humans and the corn plants upon which they depend for their existence.

7. 7 For Native Hawaiians and many of their Polynesian cousins, the season of Makahiki begins with the first sighting of the rising of the Pleiades in the heavens; it is the time when the sun turns northward, and plants flourish and fish spawn. It is the season to give tribute to Lono, the god of cultivation. The season of Makahiki is a time of peace.

8. 8 The cycle of life is defined by the change in seasons, and ceremonies are held to recognize the passing of one season and the beginning of another Spring Summer Fall Winter Birth Youth Adult Elder

9. 9 HIV continues to increase among Native people as it has over the past decade to the realization that American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) had the 3rd highest rate (above Caucasian) of AIDS diagnoses in 2004, despite having the smallest population.

10. 10 March 21, 2007 “Celebration of Life” This awareness day will challenge Native people to work together, in harmony, to create a greater awareness of the risk of HIV/AIDS to our communities. It will be a time to reflect on those who have passed and who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS today. It is also a “celebration of life” for all Natives.

11. 11 March 21, 2007 “Celebration of Life” The Native CBA Network presented a resolution SAC-06-002 to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) during the October 2006 session. The resolution was approved for support of the National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, March 21, 2007. ~The resolution was introduced by CASAE, ITCA and NNAAPC~

12. 12 Increase awareness of the risk and impact of HIV/AIDS in our communities Remember those who have died from AIDS and AIDS related complications Support those infected and living with HIV/AIDS Acknowledge those affected by HIV/AIDS today Promote opportunities to discover more about HIV/AIDS and its impact Inspire folks to learn about HIV testing options and counseling Will address the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS The Awareness Day Will…

13. 13 Materials Available Posters Buttons Fact Sheet All downloadable materials can be obtain on the following Native CBA websites: www.happ.colostate.edu; www.itcaonline.com, www.nnaapc.org Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. 2214 N. Central Avenue, Ste 100 Phoenix, Arizona 85004 Phone: 602-258-4822 American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Fact Sheet

14. 14 What can I do in my community? Plan and conduct a Basic HIV 101 training Approach your Tribal Council for support Collaborate with local Tribal programs to plan an awareness event Sponsor a Fun Run or Walk Hold a Candlelight Vigil to remember those impacted by HIV/AIDS and affected Coordinate a health fair

15. 15 What else can I do in my community? Announce the Awareness Day on a bulletin board or email listserv Hold a social Pow Wow and honoring those who have been impacted by HIV/AIDS Develop Public Service Announcements on HIV/AIDS information for Tribal Radio stations Schedule a bingo event to highlight HIV/AIDS awareness Sponsor a community HIV/AIDS Wellness Conference Organize a Basketball/Softball tournament to raise HIV/AIDS awareness

16. 16 Resources Center for Applied Studies in American Ethnicity (CASAE) Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA) National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC)

17. 17 National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC) CBA program provides services in two areas of HIV prevention - organizational development and HIV prevention programming. CBA is provided to organizations with varying degrees of exposure to Native communities and with different levels of familiarity with the CDC’s evidence-based HIV interventions. CBA is also provided to health departments and other agencies with Native constituents on culturally competent ways to access and work with Native communities. Capacity-building assistance is provided through one-on-one consultations, site visits, regional trainings, and clearinghouse information. For more information, contact NNAAPC at (303) 542-2039 or visit their website at www.nnaapc.org.www.nnaapc.org

18. 18 Center for Applied Studies in American Ethnicity (CASAE) Provides CBA for strengthening community access to and use of HIV prevention services, using the highly successful Community Readiness Model to improve the capacity of Native serving organizations in the development of strategies consistent with readiness levels. For more information, contact CASAE at 800-642-0273 or visit their website at: www.happ.colostate.edu www.happ.colostate.edu

19. 19 Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA) ITCA’s National STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention Program provides tailored CBA to Tribes, Community- based organizations, State health departments, community planning groups (CPGs), tribal health consortia and coalitions, and individual planning group members to achieve and ensure parity, inclusion and representation (PIR) of American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native Hawaiians (AI/AN/NH’s) in HIV community planning through orientation, skills building for active participation, leadership development and consensus building. For more information, contact ITCA at (602) 258- ITCA or visit their website at: (www.itcaonline.com)www.itcaonline.com

20. 20 Additional Resources Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National HIV/AIDS Hotline 1(800) CDC – INFO or 1(800) 232-4636 1(800) 232-6348 (TTY/TDD)

21. 21 Senate Indian Affairs Committee Room Washington, DC 8th Annual Circle of Harmony HIV/AIDS Wellness Conference “25 years of HIV/AIDS: Don’t Stop Now! A New Day, A New Dawn” Albuquerque, NM To mark this day, the Indian Health Service (IHS) HIV/AIDS Program is privileged to announce the March release of our first IHS HIV/AIDS website. http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/hivaids/. http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/hivaids/ The Oklahoma Native American AIDS Coalition will be collaborating with the AIDS Care Fund to unveil billboards in specific areas of Oklahoma to encourage awareness and testing. They will also include information where the Native community can go to get tested and will provide possible web links for treatment and care. Contact person: Gloria Bellymule-Zuniga. First National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – Celebrations across the Nation ~

22. 22 “AIDS to Native Eyes” – A 25-year Retrospective Exhibit of Native American response to AIDS in Poster Art. Art Exhibit/Lecture and Panel Discussion/Feast by Northeast 2 Spirit Society and collaborating partners; American Indian Community House, NNAAPC, etc. on March 21, 2007, New York, NY. More information contact: Harlan Pruden, Harlan@NE2SS or visit www.NE2SS.org Harlan@NE2SSwww.NE2SS.org 8th HIV Rapid Testing Training and Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day workshop, sponsored by the Aberdeen Area Chairman’s Indian Health Board, Dakota AIDS & Education Training Center. Indian Health Service Hospitals, March 9, 2007, Wagner, SD, March 21st, 2007, Eagle Butte, SD HIV HIV Awareness and Wellness Fair on March 21, 2007 at United American Indian Involvement, 1125 W. 6th Street, LA, CA

23. 23 “AIDS to “Warriors Against AIDS Awareness Concert and Comedy Jam – Celebration of National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day”, Friday March 23, 2007 at “The Improv” Los Angeles, CA 8th 1st National Native HIV Awareness Day Casino Night & 1st National Native HIV Awareness Day Youth Poster Contest “Don’t Gamble with Your Life.”, March 21, 2007, Indian Walk-in Center, Salt Lake City, Utah Sunrise ceremony with the Native American AIDS Project (NAAP) Singers, drum circle in Dolores Park, San Francisco. The Celebration of Life Gathering will continue at the SF LGBT Center starting at 7pm with music by DJ Lovesick and a Pendleton will be given away, the Center is located at 1800 Market St. The Native American AIDS Project, Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits, the Native American Health Center, and the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center are holding the event.

24. 24 HIV Awareness Walk and Assembly on March 21, 2007, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Cherokee High School Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Health and Medical Division, Cherokee, NC. Contact Person: Keahana Lambert-Sluder. NATIVE AMERICANS AND HIV: 2007 UPDATE March 21, 2007 to commemorate National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Kansas City, Program: Breakfast, CEUs, and Materials FREE to registered participants. Kansas AIDS Education & Training Center. Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Celebration Community Lunch with Raffle, Prizes, HIV Testing all day long. Sacramento Native American Health Center, Inc. Gila River Tribe hosting National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Casino Night, March 21, 2007. Gila River, AZ

25. 25 Ti-chee and Lummi Nation holding a National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day All Day Event with feasts, traditional dance, HIV/AIDS/STI and Natives updates, Natives and HIV short film festival, and a healing circle in Bellingham, Washington. 1st Annual HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, March 21, 2007 at the Concho Community Hall, in Concho, OK. The Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Health Programs hosting the event with video of and presentation by Philip Smith, HIV education and testing, feast, and presentation on HIV and high risk behaviors. Rosebud Tribal Chairman signs a proclamation for National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day! Their diabetes program is sponsoring a walk along with the Sinte Gleska University honoring the awareness day. They are also holding a basketball tournament with an HIV test instead of an admission fee! Their DOH will be offer testing and an incentive to return for your results. The students at Sinte Gleska University are putting together ‘snag bags’ and red ribbons and currently working on a PSA for the awareness day. Their guest speaker for event for their community will be someone from the community who had a family member die of AIDS, they will discuss the impact and struggles for the family. Candles will be lit – one for each Native AIDS death in South Dakota.

26. 26 The Nebraska Department of Health is going to Winnebago with their hepatitis coordinator to do rapid testing and Hepatitis C testing from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm in honor of the National Native Awareness Day. Santee Sioux Tribe Honors Awareness Day with a Walk with Children. The Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska is holding a walk with kids from the community at 10:00 am and a walk later in the day for the whole community, followed by a feed. They are also having a speaker at their High School. Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate in South Dakota are co-sponsoring a skit on HIV in the junior high schools. There will also be a demonstration of the oral rapid test for youth, to help better understand the process and what it would be like to get tested. Minni-Tohe Health Center in North Dakota has their public health nurse is presenting information and education on HIV/AIDS at the middle school and the juvenile detention center on March 21st.

27. 27 The National Indian Health Board is sponsoring a Just Move It event at the National Native American Museum in conjunction with the NNAAPC. The event will be held at the Las Vegas Paiute Colony, 1257 Paiute Circle, Las Vegas, NV, 89106. American Indian Education Center, Cleveland, Ohio will be hosting an event on March 21st at the American Indian Education Center in Cleveland, Ohio. It's a dinner open to the community where a presentation will be made on HIV/AIDS 101. The presentation will focus on the most recent statistics in the Native community and of course, why the awareness day is so important. The presentation will target people of various ages! The United Tribes Technical College is holding a Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day event for the students. A presentation will be made related and their Student Senate will perform a skit/play about HIV/AIDS on the evening of March 21st, 2007. UTTC is located in Bismarck, ND, and their student body represents 70 tribes from all over the country. More info can be obtained through UTTC - http://www.uttc.edu/contact.asp.http://www.uttc.edu/contact.asp

28. 28 Phoenix Indian Medical Center. In observance of the National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the Phoenix Indian Medical Center has scheduled a health fair from 9am to1pm on the East Patio. Activities include speakers, educational booths, and door prizes. For more information In Commemoration of Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and to celebrate the Native Hawaiian Community, the Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center is holding an event on Friday, March 23rd, from 5 to 7 PM. It is free and open to the public. There will be Hawaiian-style food, Hula performance, Native Hawaiian HIV Positive guest speakers and Health Education presentations. For more information, call (415) 292-3400 or visit www.apiwellness.org. Their offices are located on the 4th floor at 730 Polk Street in San Francisco, between Eddy and Ellis.www.apiwellness.org

29. 29 Oklahoma Native Nations United Against AIDS Coalition (ONNUAA) is having an awareness campaign/event coming up this Wednesday, March 21st. We have a full page print ad that will come out today in the Anadarko Daily News and a copy of the proclamation from the City of Anadarko will be printed on Wednesday as well. We have created our own materials for this event, including a resource directory for testing sites in SW Oklahoma that was previously non- existent. So we hope to have a good turn out for the event and hope to raise awareness in our community about HIV/AIDS. Again, on behalf of all our (ONNUAA) Oklahoma Native Nations United Against AIDS coalition members... thank you so very much!

30. 30 Many blessings to each and every one of you… for the work that you do and the struggles that you continue to embrace on behalf of our people…