National Aboriginal Health Organization signs Collaborative Agreement with the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network

Ottawa, ON – Dr. Paulette C. Tremblay, CEO of the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO), and Kevin Barlow, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN), today signed a collaborative agreement formalizing a partnership between their two organizations.

The two research-based organizations signed the document at an open house hosted by NAHO to further raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.



“One of NAHO’s main goals is to promote an understanding of the health issues affecting Aboriginal Peoples,” stated Dr. Tremblay. “As HIV/AIDS continues to grow among the First Nations, Inuit and Métis populations, it is important that individuals and communities have an understanding of this growing health concern.”



“As CAAN prepares to move full force into its national campaign to end HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination at the Canadian Aboriginal Festival this weekend, we are very excited to know that the National Aboriginal Health Organization will be involved in CAAN’s work to improve awareness of Aboriginal HIV/AIDS and its related issues,” said Barlow.

Barlow went on to say, “These types of partnerships are important to truly making a difference for the Aboriginal population, by way of supporting knowledge creation and finding effective ways to get this knowledge into our communities. NAHO is a key stakeholder in this regard.”

NAHO and CAAN intend to collaborate on specific projects of mutual interest, including publishing a joint issue of the Journal of Aboriginal Health with a specific focus on HIV/AIDS issues, developing awareness campaigns, assisting with each other’s projects and dissemination efforts, and more.

Special thanks to Steven Vanloffeld for emceeing and Natalie Dunleavy for photographing the event.