"We have an AIDS epidemic in this community," she said. "It's sex, it's intravenous drug use, it's out there and we have to talk about it. Let's stop putting our heads in the sand."

Four years later, [Lynn Thompson] said living with the virus hasn't been easy -- she's been punched, harassed and asked to leave a First Nations community because of her status. Although Thompson's two children, age 21 and 15, are supportive, she said most aboriginals don't talk about the disease openly.

Aboriginal health consultant Albert McLeod said part of the problem that's already been identified by the program's focus group is access to HIV tests. He said many aboriginals don't know what and HIV test is or where and when they should get it.