Acknowledgements

As many of us are settlers on this land, it is our collective responsibility to pay respect and recognize that this land is the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nations. It is our collective responsibility to recognize our colonial histories and present-day implications and to honour, protect and sustain this land for generations ahead.

Colonial processes have also resulted in the South Asian diaspora being settlers on this land today. Additionally, these same processes have shaped queer identities both within South Asia and among the diaspora abroad. We would like to acknowledge those who migrated from South Asia to Turtle Island, this land we call Canada, who left their homes or were forced to leave due to socio-political unrest, or to escape heterosexism, cisgenderism, and other forms of oppression due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identities. The South Asian diaspora is vast and diverse, and we recognize this diversity and acknowledge the differences in lived experiences due to migration histories and other intersecting axes of power and privilege. For those of who are us (queer) South Asian settlers on Turtle Island, we reflect on the colonial processes that brought us here to this land and how we can better support the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island in their fight for truth, reconciliation, and sovereignty. 

Within this study, it is also crucial to reflect on the access and uptake of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) prevention strategies for Indigenous groups, and what it might mean for people in Tkaronto and across Turtle Island. As this project aims to understand how systems of oppression affect access to STBBI prevention services for South Asian gay, bisexual, and other queer folks who live on Turtle Island, we recognize that colonialism also disproportionately affects access to STBBI prevention services for the Indigenous peoples living on this land. As such, all of us must work together in solidarity to dismantle systems of oppression, such as colonialism, racism, heterosexism, and others, to improve access to STBBI prevention services for both the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island and South Asian GBQM who live on this land. 

We would also like to acknowledge that the successes we have achieved in this field have been due to the meaningful involvement and engagement of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), who continue to share their lives, experiences, and passion in the fight against HIV and other STBBIs. We are indebted to the millions of people living with HIV from our past, present and future, including those who are Two-Spirit, Indigenous, queer, South Asian, and those who occupy multiple of these social locations.

We encourage you to visit the links below and do your own research as to how you can best support Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island. We have also provided a list of resources on where to access sexual and mental health support, and other types of community services available in Tkaronto and other parts of Turtle Island. Some resources suggested are specific to those from the South Asian diaspora and/or the Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) communities. By becoming more informed about issues affecting the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island, the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, the South Asian diaspora, PHA, and those who inhabit multiple of these social locations, we can better support each other in our fight for social justice and health equity. 

Resources to learn more about Turtle Island and other issues affecting Two-Spirit and other Indigenous Peoples of this land: 

List of other resources for those living in Tkaronto and other parts of Turtle Island: 

Sexual health testing is available for free at your family doctor’s office, walk-in clinics, sexual health clinics, public health units, community centres, and college/university campuses. Some specific resources are below: 

For mental health support: 

Other health and social resources