Indigenous youth taking lead in sexual health education

MeganKanerahtenhawiWhyte wasn't always comfortable talking about her sexual health.

"I think its true for a lot of young people that its awkward or maybe difficult to talk about sex and sexuality..."

Whyte is a young mother from Kanawake, QC., and a student at Concordia University.

She went to her first Native Youth Sexual Health Network (NYSHN) eventin 2009 and quickly realized how important it was to talk about it.

"Having those discussions really made me have a clear look at my own boundaries and to look at confidence and when it's OKto say no and thats OKand you shouldnt have to feel guilty for setting your own boundaries."Whytesaid.

"That was an important lesson for me having had prior experiences with not so great situations."

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Whyteis now a youth leader for the network and hers is just one of dozens of communities the organization visits across North America to raise awareness about sexual health.

The Native Youth Sexual Health Network invited to present at the UN

This year the NYSHN was chosen to represent Canada and the United States at the first international expert group meeting on sexual health and reproductive rights at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

"This issue hasnt had this amount of attention in the past so it really is an opportunity for us to highlight unfortunately several human rights violations that are continuous in our communities."says ErinKonsmo.

Konsmo is theMedia Arts Justice and Projects Coordinator at the Native Youth Sexual Health Network.

"We are by and for indigenous youth so it really is important for us to have peer education as a model in our work,"

"We know that when indigenous youth are leading around the issues that are happening in their lives and in our case its around their bodies... we see the most effective changes in our communities."

The organization will present a 12 page report highlighting some the issues facing indigenous youth in Canada.

High rate of HIV and AIDS in indigenous communities

"Indigenous youth and indigenous young women are facing some of the highest rates of HIV in our communities." says Konsmo.

"Much of that is because of not having the right to access clean needles or harm reduction supplies because thats often not provided on reserve or in rural or remote areas or access to testing."

She points to Saskatchewan as an example.In 2012, 74% of all newly diagnosed HIV cases were Aboriginal.

It'san issue important to Whyte as well."lm involved in HIV/AIDS awareness because I think it's important to talk about your sexuality and to talk about consent and to talk about protecting yourself and to break down stereotypes or misconceptions about HIV/AIDS."

The meeting takes place over two days and the findings will be put together in a reportshared at the United Nation's PermanentForum on Indigenous Issuesin May.