Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction - Covid Winter

Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction (TIHR) emerged in April during the first wave of the COVID19 pandemic in response to a massive shutdown of frontline services and a lack of basic needs for Indigenous houseless folks in the city of Toronto. Over the past year, we have provided basic needs, access to critical health support & covid 19 testing, harm reduction supplies, sexual, reproductive health and prenatal support, traditional medicines, traditional food, expressive arts, and ceremony to some of our most vulnerable people, many of whom are survivors of residential schools, the 60’s scoop and other devastating impacts of colonization.


Eli, Brooklyn, Nanook and Grizz.

 TIHR has been on the frontlines of encampment support and the devastating overdose crisis that is currently taking place across Turtle Island.
TIHR, Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction is a grassroots Indigenous led support system that receives incredible volunteer and donation support from many members of our community.

We are currently assisting to winterize the camp and setting up Indigenous houseless folks across the city as many warm winter supplies and basic necessities as possible . The city shelter system was found guilty for not providing adequate social distancing in their shelter systems, making it unsafe for people to reside there during the pandemic. They also have much less shelter and housing space than is needed, leaving more than one thousand people on the street this winter. With your donations we will continue distributing  traditional meals bi weekly by our lovely aunties at Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin (They Feed the People). To date we have helped served and distribute over 3000 meals to the encampments and Indigenous street folks. Your support will also help to purchase supplies to winterize the camps such as military style winter jackets, -30 sleeping bags, wool socks and accessories, heavy foam, tarps, long johns, thermals, bags of sawdust, plywood boards, firewood, portable lamps and portable electric heaters. Your support also provides us with our travel and logistical support across the city to continue harm reduction and health promotion practices that are desperately needed right now more than ever.

TIHR relies solely on your generous donations as a grassroots initiative. We do not receive any government funding or large charity support. Your donations will directly benefit this important ground work.

We will continue to provide support to Indigenous houseless folks in Toronto through generous donations and with the help of those who believe in the value of harm reduction as a lifesaving and unconditional expression of Love and support.


Nakurmiik, Miigwetch,
Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction




Photo at encampment by Red Works Photography, Josh Best and fellow community members.
 
Logo by: Tuk Gordon


Indigenous community members singing for one of our feasts.


Fancy Dancer, Nichole, Traditional dancer John & Jingle Dress Dancer Brianna.

Trenchcoat David.



One of our art days at the beginning of summer.


Beautiful fancy and jingle dancing by Nichole and Brianna dancing while talented singer Iziah leads drumming with Indigenous Youth and community members.

Kevin, Steven and Eli enjoying moose, fried white fish, bannock & veggies.


Suzanne, Laurie, Bri & Nanook doing an open song before the feast.


Shannon, Donuts, Nanook & Cal.





Shannon Copenance who is a knowledge keeper, song carrier and fluent language speaker saying a prayer before one of our feasts.

Nanook, Grizz and Bri at one of the weekly feasts

Donuts, the queen of Parkdale.


Shannon

Indigenous Peoples Day feast helpers.

Donuts ready for the dancers to start.


Donuts.

Brianna smudging community member, Steven aka Sparky.


Everyone enjoying intertribal where all community members are welcome to join the dancers.

Community members hanging out before food and dancing.