Interview with Selina A. Moose, Inupiaq, sister of Frank who was HIV positive and progressed to AIDS. Selina and her brother went public with their story before Frank had passed away.

How did you find out that your brother had tested positive for HIV?

I went home to my village to pick up my brother Frank to bring him to see my doctor because he was not getting well from whatever ailed him. My doctor strongly urged us to have Frank go to ANMC and he arranged for Frank to be seen at the ANMC emergency room. We found out a week later he was HIV positive and his condition progressed to AIDS.

What are some of the some of the things that came to your mind when you were told that a loved one had tested positive to HIV?

When both Frank and I found out, my immediate thought was my brother is very ill and he's eventually going to die. I wanted to know everything about HIV/AIDS. I was clueless about the disease and felt helpless.

What are some of the things that have helped you cope or address some of your fears, or understanding of the disease, and learning to live with someone who is HIV positive?

Both Frank and I had no idea that there were so many different types of medications out there and that people can live for many years providing that they find out in the early stage of HIV, before a person starts getting sick. Learning about some of the medical terms and what happens to a person when they have the disease, and how to take care of the person in the latter stage of AIDS, made it easier to cope with my brother being sick.

What would you say to someone who is newly diagnosed?

You are loved, the disease doesn't define who you are.

To the relative of someone who recently tested positive - your relative needs your support right now. The disease has not changed the person; they are not lepers or contagious by touching, caring, helping and loving them.

One who has not disclosed their status - I would tell them that as long as they have a strong mental support system in place, when they are ready to tell their relative they will do so on their own time. Although if it is your spouse or partner, that disclosure needs to happen as soon as possible - love means sharing, both the good and not so good.

Is there anything that you would like to share?

I never thought in my wildest dreams that my family would have to deal with this type of disease, but it does go to show that anyone can get it. My brother lived in the village pretty much all his life and his contacts were from that area. He was heterosexual, a very quiet, unassuming, shy Native man. We as Native peoples of Alaska have survived over the many years by facing our challenges head on rather than ignoring or disregarding them.

What's so different about HIV? We cannot let pride get in the way of facing any predator (disease) that has the potential of our ethnic extinction. We have survived thus far using our innate instinct for survival. Let us continue with our heads held high and preserve our people. Let it not be said of our generation, that we are responsible for the extinction of our culture and indigenous peoples, by not taking care of each other. One of our values is taking care of the tribe.

Anything else you would like to say about having a relative living with HIV or AIDS?

Your relative; whether it be your sister, aunt, uncle, dad, mom, cousin or brother, they are still your relative and what if it was you that was infected? Would you want your relatives to turn their back on you?