PICTURES OF HEALTH
Saskatchewan women living with HIV share difficult times and hopes for future
The Journeys of Spirit & Hope: Women’s Body Mapping Exhibit hangs on the second floor of the Regina Public Library’s downtown location. It consists of life-size body maps And stories from HIV positive women in the community.
The outlines of eight women adorn a wall at the Regina Public Library (RPL).
Each one is filled with colourful paint, bringing to life images and symbols such as the medicine wheel, scars and a pregnant woman.
Phrases such as, “Be calm, Love your condoms,” “Strive to survive” and “CD4 viral load” weave in and around the images.
Next to each painting hangs a story — stories of Saskatchewan woman living with HIV.
“It was hard for me, but the first people I told were my kids, my family,” one woman wrote. “And when I told my partner ... he started crying. Me and him cried together.”
“I do a lot of positive thinking,” another wrote. “I know I am beautiful. I know I am smart and I’m loved.”
The paintings and stories are part of Journeys of Spirit & Hope, a body-mapping exhibit on until Dec. 6 on the second floor of the RPL.
They were created during workshops held in southern Saskatchewan through a research study called Women, ART and the Criminalization of HIV (WATCH).
“They had approached me actually to put them on display,” said Jamie Crossman, a peer program co-ordinator for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. “They wanted to share their stories.”
Crossman works with the eight Regina women who attended the out-of-town workshops.
She said they came back proud and glowing about the work they had done.
“They’re role models for other women in their community,” she said of the women, who have lived challenging lives and worked to overcome stigma, discrimination and more.
Mentors in their community, the women support, lift up and empower other women, Crossman said.
“I’m privileged to be able to work with such a wonderful group of women who do share the lessons that they’ve learned with others in order to help others,” she said.
The body maps are rife with visual representations of the ups and downs of a life with HIV.
Wrists with scars and words such as “depression”, “divorce” and “violence” tell one side of the story, while words such as “graduation”, “power” and “caring” tell the other side.
They are stories or resilience, acceptance, family, loss and love.
Another woman spoke of her life back in Manitoba. She used to work as a “head start educator” at a wellness centre where she provided clients with resources for housing and advocated for parents.
Following her diagnosis, she resigned from her job. “That was all that took the spotlight,” she wrote.
“Parents tried to be supportive but they didn’t understand. I didn’t want to continually explain and reassure others, and anyway there was always whispers.”
Crossman hopes the exhibit will spread awareness and encourage education around HIV in the province to help break down the stigma and prevent discrimination.
The exhibit, which opened on Nov. 27, marks AIDS Awareness Week (Nov. 24 to Dec. 1) and Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week (Dec. 1 to Dec. 5).
On Dec. 3, All Nations Hope Network is hosting a community gathering that will focus on discussing legal issues such as HIV non-disclosure and other issues faced by Indigenous people who are HIV positive.
The gathering will include a video screening, sharing circles and an arts-based project.
It is being held at All Nations Hope Network (2735 5th Avenue) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is provided.
It was hard for me, but the first people I told were my kids, my family. And when I told my partner ... he started crying.”