Support Giwaabamin Free Herbal Street Clinic

Giwaabamin started as the result of a grassroots native led street patrol over 10 years ago that Cathy Walker, a mother of three autistic boys who is of Mohawk and European descent, helped to start with two other Indigenous people. From there she started Allan Gardens food and clothing drive, which continues on today and is in its 6th year of running. After the patrol dismantled, Cathy continued working out of her small one bedroom apartment and started offering a free herbal clinic for Toronto’s Street community all out of pocket for many years. A one bedroom to run a clinic/patrol and house three kids left everyone with very little space and she was able to procure a commercial space. And as a result… Giwaabamin celebrates its 3rd year at our commercial space in the Bloor St west community.

Giwaabamin focuses on harm reduction based herbalism accessible to encampments, harm reduction programs and shelters. We have a wound care program that has been very successful as well as support in after care for both hospitals and prison. Last year we were able to branch out to offer free clinical consultations and free medicine to folks in transitional and supportive housing as well as gift packages for front line harm reduction workers, most with lived experience, who only work part time or relief.

Our focus is on working with clients individually and wholistically on illnesses brought on as a result of long term houselessness and exposure. Using herbal remedies in a clinic surrounding for long term chronic conditions like COPD, arthritis, trench foot, Staphylococcus infections as well as strep and TB infections. We also work from a harm reduction lens on all levels of active drug use as well as recovery, including detox. We see mental health, addictions and houselessness as a result of trauma, systemic racism and an apathetic government . Where funding and access to critical resources has slowly decreased over the years, but the need has increased exponentially. We strive to bridge the gap in the healthcare system and go to the clients directly. Where they are most comfortable, in a less triggering environment to make it more accessible to them.

Giwaabamin believes strongly in medicine sovereignty and health care autonomy.

Giwaabamin has maintained it’s grassroots core and doesn’t receive any other grants. We rely heavily on the annual fundraising to keep the clinic going. The funding we get through community resources helps to pay for the commercial space. All funds left over goes towards purchasing bottles, jars, alcohol, glycerine, oils, honey and everything needed to make medicines including plant material that cannot be harvested. Also needed this year to keep the clinic going is labware for measuring and mixing liquids. A new scale, larger glass jars to make bigger batches of fire cider as well as individual bottles to give out. We also need a bigger sink to properly wash all pots and glassware.

Goals added this year to the thousands of people we have served in the year is to feed the elders once a month a nutritious meal consisting of soups and stews filled with nutritious herbs, roots and good quality meats. We will continue our biweekly drum circles which has been requested during the winter months. Immune boosting teas are a favourite during these visits.. And we would like to add anxiety herbal smoke blends to our street patrol. We would also like to add Ear acupuncture supplies for harm reduction use and provide that in our roaming clinic.

We realise it has been a very hard year for so many and asking for donations at this time can be challenging. But even the smallest amount will add up and make such a difference to ensure our commercial space stays open and available for those who need it the most.