Clyde Pierre works as a peer support person at Positive Living North
Clyde Pierre is a man of few words, but those who know him know his actions speak louder. The 71-year-old has spent years volunteering as a frontline warrior in Prince George, sharing his journey of living with HIV to other First Nations people who may just be coming to terms with their diagnosis.
Originally from a First Nations community in Northern BC, Clyde moved to Prince George shortly after being diagnosed with HIV in 1989. Back then, Clyde says he didn't know much about what HIV/AIDS is and that many in his community didn't know either. When asked how people interacted with him when they learned that he lives with HIV, Clyde shrugs.
“There were people on both sides. One against and one for," he says. “Sometimes, I still get that. Nothing I can do about it."
With news stories in the 1980s of people dying from AIDS, the stigma surrounding the disease—along with work opportunities in the bigger city—got him to move away from community to Prince George.
“The family I got now is right here [at Positive Living North]."
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that can weaken our immune system, the body's built-in defense against disease and illness. In the past, many people with HIV would develop AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), but treatment and medication today allow many like Clyde to live a happy and healthy life. While HIV is not curable, the medication today is so effective that when taken as prescribed and carefully monitored, blood levels of HIV can become undetectable. When HIV is undetectable in the blood, HIV cannot be passed to others through sex.
To help others realize this, Clyde spends every day at Positive Living North, also known as the No Kheyoh t'sih'en t'sehena Society. His work supports frontline outreach, going out into the streets of Prince George with a harm reduction coordinator to meet people where they're at.
Some of the people he meets who are living with HIV are young, using substances and are precariously housed or unhoused. He says some people with HIV who are living unhoused don't understand why they need their HIV medication and either do not take it or throw it away. This leads to worse health outcomes, and Clyde tries to emphasize the importance of taking medication.
Uju Egbuawa, Support Service Manager at Positive Living North, says she has worked directly with People Living with HIV (PLWHIV), of whom she estimates 80 per cent are of Indigenous ancestry.
“The unending effects of intergenerational trauma, stigma and opioids crisis—to mention a few—have impacted significantly on our members who are PLWHIV at PLN," she says. “Their resilience in the midst of the struggles resonates with all members as we in support services support them at every point of their healing journey."
Uju says that peer support workers like Clyde give back to their community by providing a needed voice that living with HIV is “not a death sentence."
“Clyde is one of the success stories we have of persons who have served with dedication in the community either as frontline warriors, harm reduction outreach workers or at any available capacity to create awareness on HIV treatment, testing and education. They go to the reserves and remote Northern BC communities with our education team as evidence-based proofs that one can live a normal life as a person living with HIV."
Vibusha Madanayake, education manager at Positive Living North, describes how Clyde is dedicated to helping others. The centre holds a sharing circle every month, drawing upon the Indigenous way of sharing stories and healing.
“He's very comfortable sharing his life experiences, challenges, and struggles with the Elders and other peers and patrons," she says.
Stigma is still an issue when it comes to HIV and AIDS, despite the fact that medical interventions have greatly reduced mortality rates for those with the disease. Both Clyde and Vibusha say that the north can sometimes have stigmatizing attitudes on the disease.
“We've found when we've gone for interventions, we felt like people do not know anything about HIV sometimes," says Vibusha. “Even if they know, they don't want to talk about it. It's a very taboo topic."
Clyde says he always provides an ear for those who want to speak, but some find it hard to talk. Many people with HIV face the dual stigma of not just the diagnosis but having acquired it intravenously while using substances. Despite living with HIV for over 30 years, he tries to be there more for support than offering advice.
“I try not to offer advice because everyone has their own [experience]. It's different for everyone," he says, adding that some people don't want support. “I can only help them as far as they want to go. A few of them, I say, I want to help you, but I need you to help me help you."
Despite the stigma, Clyde says that people are slowly coming around. It's hard not to respect his warrior spirit and determination, day in and day out, to help others.
“A lot of them I used to meet on the street and they'd just shun away from me. They don't say hello or nothing. Now they just wave," he says with a grin.
The FNHA would like to thank Clyde Pierre for his hard work and dedication to helping others. Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week (Dec. 1-7) is a time to raise awareness, share knowledge, and reduce fear and stigma. We can empower each other by starting conversations, honouring Indigenous people living with HIV/AIDS, and by remembering friends, family, and community members who have passed away from HIV/AIDs. This is an important time to take care of ourselves mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Positive Living North
Positive Living North has been at the forefront of advocacy, education and support for HIV/HCV (Hepatitis C), People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) and at risk of HIV/HCV in Northern BC since 1992. Learn more at positivelivingnorth.org.
To find out more on the FNHA's work on Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections, including supports, visit our webpage here. If you would like information on mental, social and cultural supports, please visit this page.
