EONS was developed in consultation with a diverse group of approximately 300 Aboriginal women from communities and regions across Canada.

The commitment and strong voices of the women that contributed to this process are woven within this document; each voice spoke strongly about the need for addressing the impacts of HIV and AIDS in the lives of Aboriginal women. Each voice spoke about the immediate need to create a response that will change outcomes for Positive Aboriginal Women (PAW) and change the trend of Aboriginal women being most vulnerable to becoming HIV positive. This strategy demands the creation of ‘environments of nurturing safety’ for Aboriginal women to continue and/or begin healing journeys.