Quechan boost HIV/AIDS awareness

The Quechan Indian Tribe will be celebrating the fourth annual National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Friday.

Events will include a Community Wellness Walk, children's activities, traditional entertainment, resource booths, guest speakers, Spiritual Running and a candlelight vigil to honor those who have died from the disease. The Native Red Ribbon HIV/AIDS Pendleton Blanket will be on display.

"The whole focus of the event is around protection," said Christina Allen, senior counselor of Substance Abuse & HIV/AIDS Prevention for the Quechan.

"If we are aware and know how to protect ourselves, it makes this a safer community. We can't do it alone and we need each other's support."

The Spiritual Runners will begin at the Q Resort at 4 p.m. and run to the event.

"We are offering a prayer for the people," said Phil Emerson, Quechan Tribe member. "There are a lot of ceremonies involved, and it started out as a way to get messages from one reservation to another, and now it is a way to get the message out of awareness."

Agencies involved in the event include the Fort Yuma Indian Health Services, Quechan Community Health Representatives, Fort Yuma Alcohol and Drug Prevention Program, the Yuma County Health Department, the Center for Family Solutions and the Imperial County Health Department.

The event will be from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Quechan Community Center.

It is free to the public. For more information, call 1-760-572-0232.

Allen said the awareness day is a fun occasion for members of the community to gather together.

"The Earth moves, times change and spring represents a new beginning. It is very important that we have these events and we do it in a subtle way so we don't make people feel uncomfortable. It is a celebration of life and we are thankful for life and the freedom to protect ourselves. It is important to support this event and not let this epidemic come to our tribe because it could wipe us out."

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Native Americans have the third highest rate of AIDS diagnosis in the United States, despite having the smallest population, and are likely to be younger than non-Native Americans with AIDS. They also have the shortest time between AIDS diagnosis and death.

According to the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, HIV continues to increase among Native people as it has over the past decade. The NNAAPC said the awareness day challenges Native Americans to work together to create a greater awareness of the risk of AIDS, to call for resources for testing and early detection and for increased treatment options. The ultimate goal is to decrease the infection rate among Native people.

Quechan tribal member Farren Escalante has seen the effect AIDS has firsthand.

"I had a friend that was a Native American from New Mexico who was dying of AIDS, and she was a transgender. She passed away, and I think after that I saw AIDS in a different way. It is not only affecting everyone else but Native Americans as well. Because of her I'll be able to live long because I am more aware of how not to go down that road."

Escalante said the awareness day is extremely important.

"It isn't only gays and transgenders that can get it, but everybody. We have a choice just to stand by and watch or to take part in the awareness day and share that knowledge with other people. I want people to be reminded of the danger of AIDS and that it is still around.

"Do the things you need to do like getting tested and wearing condoms. And be honest with yourself. This is a seriously deadly disease, and the awareness day has really changed the way I look at things."

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• 6 p.m. - Community Wellness Walk
• 6:30 p.m - Traditional entertainment, guest speakers, candlelight vigil
• 7 p.m. - Dinner
• 8 p.m. - DJ and Sober Dance Contest with prizes