World Indigenous Peoples' Conference on Viral Hepatitis
Viral hepatitis impacts Indigenous peoples throughout the world at much higher than average rates, harming their physical, spiritual, emotional, social and economic health. The event will highlight this issue and effect change with Indigenous people, including those with lived and living experience of viral hepatitis, clinicians, researchers and policy-makers. There will be presentations from Indigenous people and organizations who are using traditional approaches to wellness, sometimes in tandem with Western medicine, to treat hepatitis. Medical and frontline experts will share their latest developments. The impact of HIV as a hepatitis coinfection and what can be learned from successful HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs will be addressed. As this is an Indigenous conference, we will focus on work being done by and for Indigenous people. We will embrace the wisdom and knowledge of Elders, and have safe spaces for people to share their lived and living experiences of hepatitis. As presentations are being made inside, there will be Indigenous cultural and land-based activities occurring outside. There will be storytelling, sharing circles, demonstrations and lessons, and music and dancing, all important aspects of wellness.