Behind the Pandemic in Aboriginal Communities - Interagency ...

Family LevelFamily LevelFamily LevelJessica’s StoryJessica is thirteen years old and lives in an inner city neighbourhood with her mother and her aunt.She started experimenting with drugs a few years ago with some of the other kids in her class. Theywould “borrow” a bit of pot or poppers from someone’s parents or older brother or sister. Jessicacaught her aunt shooting up with her boyfriend in the living room. Her aunt offered her some cocaineto try if she promised not to tell her mother. Jessica now shoots up a few times a week with her aunt.Tori’s StoryLately, Tori’s older cousins have been pressuring her to join their gang, the largest gang in the east sideof the city. Tori feels like she belongs in this group of girls and guys - they seem to really care about herand her life. In order for Tori to join the gang officially, she will have to have sex with six guys from thegang. She’s heard of gangbangs before and figures that even though it would really hurt it would beworth it just so that she could have a “family” that really cares about her. Besides, it couldn’t be anyworse than her uncle touching her.Valerie’s StoryValerie and Martin have been married for nine years. During the second year of their marriage, itseemed like Valerie was getting sick all the time. The doctor finally suggested that they do an HIVtest – just to rule it out. The test came back positive. Valerie was scared to tell Martin. She’d seenhow others were treated when their HIV status was known by their family and community. She wasafraid that her husband might walk away from their marriage and maybe even try to take their babyboy away. However, Martin was very supportive. He and the baby were also tested –luckily they bothtested negative. Since that time, they’ve had two more children – both of whom are HIV-negative.Valerie knows her husband and children sometimes have a hard time because of her HIV. The thoughtof her dying makes them sad and they are often subjected to ignorant comments from other peoplein the community. Valerie and Martin also find it challenging to make their sex life as safe as possiblebut still fun. Valerie has been looking for programs in her community that could help her family, buteverything is only for people living with HIV and not their partners or families.33