A feast and round dance in Saskatoon tonight is hoping to bring more awareness to the higher rates of HIV and Aids in the Aboriginal community.
The event is a collaboration between the Saskatoon Indian Metis Friendship Centre and Out Saskatoon and coincides with National Aboriginal Aids Awareness Week.
Organizers of tonight’s event say a similar feast was held last year as a memorial to those who have died from the virus.
Mo Mike, Out Saskatoon’s Two Spirit consultant, says this year’s event carries significance because of the recent reports on HIV and Aids in the Aboriginal population.
“HIV is still real, the numbers have been going down, but the numbers are still disproportionate in the Native population compared to the population as a whole,” says Mike.
Recent reports have shown that Saskatchewan has nearly double the national average of HIV and Aids.
For Mike and the rest of the organizers they just want people to be aware of the issue and that anybody is welcome to join in.
“It’s just a way for us to raise awareness of Aids and to honour those who have passed away because of the virus,” says Mike.
With this week being Aboriginal Aids Awareness Week, the Canadian Aboriginal Aids Network has had several events across the country as well.
Tonight’s feast and round dance gets underway at 5:30 at the Friendship Centre and is expected to run all night.