Mpox in Indigenous Communities
Understanding Monkeypox in Indigenous Communities with Dr. Darrell Tan, Albert Beck, and Dr. John Schellenberg
On September 29, 2022, Feast Centre for Indigenous STBBI Research held a virtual conversation on monkeypox in Indigenous communities with infectious disease specialists and community leaders from across the country. Our speakers will debunk myths about monkeypox, give current information about transmission and discuss how monkeypox is a concern for Indigenous peoples and all of us living in Canada. While it is known that monkeypox disproportionately effects certain communities in Canada - including two-spirit, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, trans communities and those involved in sex work – the three panellists will discuss how monkeypox is a concern for all of us living in Canada.
Our speakers: Dr Darrell Tan is an infectious diseases physician and Clinician-Scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital, where he leads the Options Collaboratory in HIV/STI Treatment and Prevention Science (www.optionslab.ca). He is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on clinical trials and implementation science in the areas of HIV prevention and treatment, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and COVID-19.
Albert G. D. Beck Albert is the Director of Sixties Scoop at the Manitoba Metis Federation and is a founding member of the Two-Spirits in Motion Society and a founding member of the Two-Spirit Michif Local and Lii Michif Otipemisiwak 2SLGBTQ+ & Allies within the governance structure of the Manitoba Métis Federation. Over the past twenty-five years, Albert has brought his background in health, social policy and human rights defending to the forefront of Indigenous issues in Canada.
Dr John Schellenberg John Schellenberg is of settler ancestry and lives in Treaty One Territory. He is a Research Associate in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Manitoba and the founder of Lamp Diagnostics, a non-profit offering support for rapid diagnostics in community settings in Winnipeg. He is the former Treasurer of Sunshine House and has spent years working on many HIV/STBBI prevention projects.
Reflection Guide for Mpox in Indigenous Communities