CAAN Warrior Societies
The CAAN Warrior Societies are national Indigenous-led advisory committees that offer guidance, advocacy, and lived-experience insights to support CAAN’s work in Indigenous communities across Canada. Focused on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and related health and social issues, the Warrior Societies ensure that Indigenous voices are central to shaping responsive, culturally grounded solutions.
Each Warrior Society operates under a shared Terms of Reference and holds responsibilities to advise on CAAN’s strategic direction, participate in research, and ensure cultural safety and community engagement. Members include people with lived experience, Elders, community advocates, and CAAN staff who collaborate to drive change and uphold Indigenous knowledge systems.
Together, they serve as strong, committed circles of leadership rooted in healing, cultural strength, and collective action.
The Voices of Women (VOW) Warrior Society uplifts and represents Indigenous women living with or affected by HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. This group provides a platform for women’s voices and perspectives to be heard and respected in all areas of CAAN’s work — from research to policy to frontline programming.
Key Areas of Focus:
Promoting gender-specific advocacy and supports
Addressing intersectional issues such as lateral violence, gender-based violence, and trauma
Supporting safe spaces and healing rooted in Indigenous women’s teachings
The IPHC Warrior Society brings together Indigenous people living with or affected by hepatitis C. This group works to raise awareness, address stigma, and ensure that hepatitis C is addressed as a priority within Indigenous communities.
Key Areas of Focus:
Harm reduction and education strategies
Community-led knowledge sharing and lived experience
Strengthening access to culturally appropriate care
The IPHA Warrior Society is made up of Indigenous individuals living with HIV/AIDS who use their lived experience to inform and strengthen CAAN’s national response. They work to eliminate stigma, improve health equity, and shape culturally safe approaches to prevention, care, and treatment.
Key Areas of Focus:
HIV awareness, education, and advocacy
Supporting research and community engagement
Providing strategic direction to CAAN’s HIV-related initiatives
CAAN’s Warrior Societies bring together Indigenous leaders, peers, and advocates from across the country to share knowledge, support healing, and influence change in their communities. Members of all Warrior Societies may have opportunities to travel, as travel is a vital part of CAAN’s work—ensuring Indigenous voices are present on national and global stages, and that we remain deeply connected to the realities and needs of our communities.
Why Join a Warrior Society?
By joining a Warrior Society, you become part of a powerful collective of Indigenous leaders, advocates, and knowledge holders committed to improving health and wellness in our communities. Members receive training, participate in national discussions, and help guide CAAN’s work from a community-first perspective. You’ll be supported in a culturally safe environment that values ceremony, relationship-building, and mutual respect.