Ontario data on HIV rates amongst Aboriginal communities is limited but indicates a growing problem. An analysis of AIDS cases reported to 2004 in Ontario found that while Aboriginals made up about 1.1% of all cases in Ontario, this proportion has increased over time (from 0.0% of cases in 1981-1984 to 3.2% of cases in 2000-2004). Similar increases in the proportion of HIV diagnoses represented by Aboriginals in Toronto and Ottawa suggest a growing problem.

The Public Health Agency of Canada’s HIV/AIDS data for 2008 indicates that Aboriginal peoples in Canada are over-represented in Canadian HIV/AIDS statistics.  Although representing only 3.8% of the Canadian population, Aboriginal peoples comprised an estimated 12.5% of new HIV infections and 8.0% of prevalent HIV infections in Canada.  Overall, the rate of new HIV infections for Aboriginal peoples is estimated to be about 3.6 times higher than among non-Aboriginal people in Canada.

The Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy was created by a steering committee composed of government representatives, researchers, community representatives and people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The goal of the strategy is to provide culturally respectful and sensitive programs and strategies to respond to the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic among Aboriginal Peoples in Ontario, through promotion, prevention, long-term care, treatment and support initiatives consistent with harm reduction principles.

The strategy is a provincially mandated AIDS service organization that provides outreach and support services, through regional outreach workers, to off-reserve Aboriginal Peoples who are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

For more information on the strategy, or to contact strategy outreach workers, send an email to : info@oahas.org