Indigenous Health Advocate Spotlighted During AIDS Awareness Week
Kecia Larkin, a prominent Indigenous health advocate and proud mother of two, is sharing her deeply personal story during Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week. With roots in the Kwa’Kwa’ka’wakw and Piikani Nations, Larkin’s journey highlights the profound impact of intergenerational trauma and systemic inequities on Indigenous health, particularly concerning HIV.
Larkin’s early life was marked by displacement and racism. Attending a municipal school in Alert Bay, she experienced physical violence and corporal punishment from former Indian Residential School teachers. Although her mother moved her to Victoria to live with her grandparents, these difficulties persisted. “I experienced a lot of unwanted sexual behaviors from other kids and adults,” Larkin recounts. These experiences left her feeling disconnected from her culture and struggling with a sense of self-worth.
Her childhood trauma, compounded by undiagnosed ADHD, led to academic struggles and a period of profound anger. By age 15, Larkin moved to Vancouver. Unable to stay with family due to a lack of mental health and trauma support, she became a ward of the court from ages 16 to 19. During this time, she became immersed in Vancouver’s Downtown
