Living with AIDS in Apache culture

Published on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 9:43 AM MST

San Carlos man talks about need for AIDS education

By Diane Saunders, Staff Writer

Today is the first National Native American HIV/AIDS Aware-ness Day, and Isadore Boni, a San Carlos Apache, knows firsthand about the stigma and rejection experienced by a homosexual afflicted with AIDS — especially in American Indian communities.

“I have been shunned by the tribe, but I also have forgiven those who have hurt me,” Boni said. “I’m not ashamed of being gay; I’m not ashamed of having AIDS.”

American Indian communities selected March 21 to commemorate National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day because “it marks the start of spring, a time of renewal,” according to Charles W. Grim, director of Indian Health Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

A Health and Human Services statement indicates that more than 1 million Americans are living with HIV and at least 40,000 new infections are reported every year. American Indians and Alaska Natives represent approximately 1 percent of the U.S. population but account for the third-highest rate of AIDS diagnoses in the United States.

Boni, 40, said although attitudes are changing on Indian reservations, only education and awareness will bring about an open dialogue that will result in saving lives.

“I want to educate people about what’s killing me. It’s not about being gay; it’s about choosing life,” he said.

To help promote AIDS awareness and assistance to those suffering with the disease, Boni is holding a carwash in Phoenix on March 24 with the help of several Arizona State University students.

Boni’s journey in coping with the disease began in 2002, when he was diagnosed with AIDS. He said he was exposed to HIV in 1999 when he was barhopping. Experimentation with illegal drugs, including methamphetamine, impaired his judgment - but he doesn’t view this as an excuse.

“I have to take responsibility for everything I do in my life and everything I did in my life,” Boni said.

At the time of his infection, Boni said he believed AIDS was a white man’s disease. He added that he is not the only Apache who has AIDS.

He was working in San Carlos as a social worker when he found out he was infected with AIDS. He moved to Phoenix because he felt he could not live on the reservation, although his mother was compassionate.

“I had to leave San Carlos. I did not trust anyone there because of lack of confidentiality,” he said. “I kept crying out for my dad, who died two months prior.”

For the next couple of years Boni alternated between living on the streets and in homeless shelters.

“I’ve lived on the streets, slept in the alleys and ate out of dumpsters,” Boni said.

He found that AIDS medications are expensive, and several agencies that provide assistance to AIDS patients lost their funding.

A television story about his plight in December 2004 was the first time he talked publicly about his disease. He said the tribe responded with negative reactions, and he was accused of stigmatizing the tribe. Only his mother and a niece were supportive.

A little more than two years later, his relationship with the tribe is improving.

“A lot of it’s changing. It’s getting better now,” Boni said. “I’m getting more positive feedback from the tribe.”

In November 2006 he received a positive response from the San Carlos Tribal Council. He has been invited to speak at Fort Thomas High School in May, but no date has been set, Boni said.

He looks forward to bringing AIDS awareness to Fort Thomas and to the San Carlos Reservation.

“The best thing since my diagnosis is being welcomed back home,” he said. “I’m proud of being an Apache, and I want to go back home.”

Print this story Email this story Post A Comment

Comments

14 comment(s)

Genevieve wrote on Oct 22, 2009 7:59 PM:

" I visited this spot in 2001 and had a wonderful time, in the two weeks I was there I greatly enjoyed the spring, the people and hiking in the surrounding area. The time I spent here was the highlight of my winter adventure. I played dominoes, drank tequila and picked up pretty rocks (and soaked in the spring of course!) It sounds like some terrible things have happened since and it's a shame that it's now closed. I would have loved to have seen it again. "

Tricia Wenzl wrote on Sep 20, 2008 4:32 PM:

" Re: Eve Batchelder murder-2006. I personally knew Eve as did many of my other co-workers and we were appalled that her confessed murderer was allowed to plead to a lesser charge (obviously) to escape the death penalty. This was a pre-meditated murder and kidnapping, resulting in the death of a wonderful, gentle soul not to mention leaving her two children without their mother! Jason Martinez does not deserve to live at the expense of the taxpayers with the chance that he could be paroled! Society cannot afford to be "soft" for the fear of peer pressure. "

ciara wrote on Jul 17, 2008 9:06 PM:

" hi i would like to know what time the pool opens "

Warnar Moll Amsterdam The Netherlands wrote on Jul 14, 2008 11:20 AM:

" I agree with Rustom Kevala.
In literature there are many scientific indications that the preparation of the sacred liquid (Haoma),could not contain a Hallucinogen-Entheogen drug (cf publications of Harry Falk, Jan Houben, Frits Staal and the late Mary Boyce).
As a plant-physiologist and toxicologian, I did some study about the preparation of Parahom (as described in Avesta). From the scientic point of view it is impossible that the sacred drink is hallucinogen.
I do not understand the arguments of the Pima's Church of Cognizance.
It is as stupid as the assert: Jesus used Marihuana. "

tom wrote on Apr 19, 2008 3:15 PM:

" if having someone go through something like especially a child is not an invasion of privacy then nothing is but then thats the 9th circus for you "

F THE SYSTEM!!! wrote on Feb 14, 2008 9:15 AM:

" Who cares about ibuprofen anyways! its just a pill that peopel take for headaches and aches who cares about what the school system. If someone suffers from chronic headaches and stuff like that they should be allowed to carry it around. IT was a bad thing to distribute it around to others, but they should be able to keep it anyway. Its not like teachers are all that willing to let students out of the classroom just because of a headache!!! SMS should be sued. Strip searching a student like that should NOT BE ALLOWED!!!! "

LaVae McClellan wrote on Feb 5, 2008 1:51 PM:

" Eric and Kevin Yazzie are my brothers, they always will be. Yeah its true they had a history of fighting, but thats all u see. The Eric and Kevin i know are happy and fun loving, make everybody laugh. I miss kevin, but theres nothing we can do for him now. As for Eric they need to let my brother go already "

joe tapia wrote on Dec 9, 2007 8:05 PM:

" I have spent half of my life in this canyon along with my cusion juan luepke and I would like to know what threats to the public that our gate is causing. there is another way into the canyon then through our property. Just before you get to the cobra guest ranch on klondyke rd take the tully springs\old aravaipa town turn follow for about 4 miles there is a side road just after the second cattle guard the road turns east you have to open a few gates but there not locked. "

JOE TAPIA wrote on Dec 9, 2007 12:11 AM:

" THE ROAD THAT EVERY ONE HAS USED FOR THE LAST 20-30 YEARS, Is owned by my family. as I have been told to me by my father that the b.l.m and nature conseverency asked to use our road because their easement down by the river kept getting washed out by floods.So when norma put the gate up the b.l.m asked the conservency to redo the road by the river again conservency said no way. By,joe tapia "

Katelynn Nichols wrote on Dec 7, 2007 5:34 PM:

" Clifford Bea Fowler is My uncle ans my cousin Kelci's dad he may be a white supremeist but he still loves his daughter.But he should be held responsible for his actions. "

Stephen wrote on Nov 30, 2007 8:57 AM:

" My thoughts and prayer's go out to the late Bobby Bell's family. "

SMSmom wrote on Nov 9, 2007 12:11 PM:

" I will be notified if my child is in so much trouble that he may need to be stripped searched. "Depending on circumstances"--NO I WILL BE NOTIFIED!!! TRY ME!!! "

Keisha wrote on Oct 27, 2007 8:03 PM:

" I'm sure if these guys were a threat to society action would of been taken. I'm not condoning such behavior but Linda sounds like she's up to no good. "

linda wrote on Oct 26, 2007 11:59 AM:

" Is there any way to post the photos of these molesters "in" the schools so that the children and school staff may detect any possible molesters? After all they are the ones who would most likely see them. "

WRITE A COMMENT

READER COMMENTS
* Be respectful of others, the writer and the subjects in the story.

* Be relevant. Keep your comments pertinent to the story that is being discussed.

Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All reader comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. The Eastern Arizona Courier is not liable for messages from third parties. IP addresses can be subpoenaed and your identity established by individuals who have been hurt by your comments.

DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity: You can be prosecuted for identity theft.
* Comments unrelated to the story.

Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in www.eacourier.com reader comments represent the individual's own views and not those of the Eastern Arizona Courier. The Courier does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than Eastern Arizona Courier spokespersons.

Thank you for your comments!