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AIDS MEMORIAL STORYTELLING PROJECT

The AIDS Memorial Storytelling Project aims to both honour and document the stories of those commemorated at the memorial. We’ll be exploring its history, adding names that have been missed and underrepresented, all while creating opportunities for sharing and archiving these vital stories.
Our goal is to celebrate the experiences and legacies of those affected by HIV/AIDS through an art-focused and community-driven approach. Through this project, we aim to cultivate connection, support, and deeper understanding of the ongoing impact of HIV/AIDS.
What Songs Did They Sing?
Memory Writing Workshop by the AIDS Memorial Storytelling Project

On December 19th, 2024, we gathered with community and allies, who joined us for ‘What Songs Did They Sing?‘, a memory writing workshop by the AIDS Memorial Storytelling Project. This workshop was facilitated by filmmaker and activist Samuel Kwakwitchin Ernesto Lopez. We shared stories and honour loved ones whose name is in the memorial, or whose name is missing, through art and letter writing. We used watercolours while facilitator Samuel led us in remembrance and celebration.
Samuel is a nawat Nonualco First Nations from El Salvador. His directorial première was Samuel & Samanta a short video from 1993 co-directed with Jorge Lozano, local filmmaker. Most of his work is related to HIV, El Salvador and the 2SLGBTQIA communities. Samuel has a passion for documentaries. Having lived through a civil war where there was censorship of information, made them very interested in documentaries: “I am sure that’s where my inspiration comes from”, he says. Check out Samuel’s films here!