The HIV infection rate in the province is continuing the steady decline that began in 2010.
The latest numbers for last year show there are129 new cases.
That’s a drop of 27 per cent from 2012.
The numbers also show the highest rates of infection are in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert and the predominant group now affected is men between the ages of 40 and 49.
Intravenous drug use is still the primary means of transmission.
The numbers were released during the Canadian Launch of Aboriginal Aids Awareness Week in Regina.
Ken Klements, the CEO of the Canadian aboriginal AIDS network says a number of factors are to blame for the high infection rate.
“Racism, stigma, colonialism, poverty, lack of education, residential schools. I think those are the issues we need to look at it.” He says.
An AIDS survivor also told his story at the conference.
Ron Horsefall is originally from the Pasqua First Nation.
He was diagnosed with full-blown AIDS in 1996.
Initially he thought it was a death sentence.
Since then he has been clean and sober and talking to others about what his life has been like.
He says rejection and discrimination were common.
“I went to the walk in clinic and when the doctor looked at my chart and saw that I had HIV he stood across from me at the other side of the room and at that time, I was sick and I had a rash all over my body and it was painful and he did not even look at the rash.” He says.
The first-ever indigenous aids strategy was also unveiled.
It takes a more holistic approach, focusing on first nations tradition and culture in dealing with patients.
Its focus is to look beyond the numbers and get to the root cause of why aboriginal people are such a high-risk group for HIV and AIDS.
Saskatchewan’s infection rate is about twice the national average and the highest rate in the country.