Here I am at the networking session for the 26th International HPV Conference with Elder Amelia Tekwatoni McGregor of the Bear Clan from the Kahnawake (pronounced Gah-Nah-Whah-Geh) Mohawk Territory, who during the opening ceremonies, welcomed delegates to her traditional territory.

The Keynote Presentation was delivered by Stephen Lewis. Just prior, I had the opportunity to catch up with him during the networking session (since I hadn't had a chance to speak with him since the closing ceremonies of AIDS 2006).


We discussed the current initiatives he is working on with Eve Ensler and her global campaign to bring much needed attention to the needs of Congolese women and girls.

Since this was a conference focused on HPV, we also spoke about the work I am doing with the National Aboriginal Health Organization in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada and the International Centre for Infectious Disease.

I explained that we had brought together an International Indigenous panel that would be presenting on July 5, 2010. How we are hoping to gather information on individuals who already doing work in HPV prevention among Indigenous populations. We both agreed that a coordinated international response is a good idea.