Tawaw outreach collective (TOC)
Harm Reduction, Social Action & Connection
Tawaw [ tah - wow ];
You are welcome here,
there is space for me & you
Amiskwacîwâskahikan - Treaty 6 Territory - ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ
Who We Are
We are an Indigenous-led, grassroots harm reduction organization in Treaty 6 [edmonton]. We provide community street outreach and offer community-level, public and private training and educational workshops. We promote Indigenous Harm Reduction, De-Stigmatizing Substance Use, Indigenous Awareness and Naloxone Training Sessions.
We are Advocates for Indigenous Harm Reduction, Social Action & Justice
We are committed to reducing stigma, educating people about the drug poisoning crisis, and fostering inclusion for Indigenous people.
STREET OUTREACH
Meeting folks where they’re at with harm reduction supplies and other necessities.
EVENTS
Hosting a harm reduction table at local events supplying Naloxone kits, drug test strips, safe sex supplies, & information.
TRAINING
Training services for Naloxone and Drug Poisoning Response, Indigenous Awareness & Harm Reduction Training
OUR COMMITMENT TO DECOLONIZATION
Being Indigenous-led and decolonizing is about recognizing the agency and self-determination of Indigenous people and taking concrete actions to rectify historical injustices while respecting their cultures, rights, and voices. We recognize that decolonization involves building more inclusive and diverse societies where everyone’s contributions and voices are valued.
INDIGENOUS LED
We are an Indigenous-led organization. This means that the leadership positions within the organization are held primarily by Indigenous individuals. This ensures that the organization's direction is shaped by indigenous perspectives, values, and priorities.
GRASSROOTS
As a grassroots organization, we do not receive government funding. We believe in remaining independent to offer support on our terms. We rely on the generosity of compassionate individuals to raise funds for our initiatives.
MUTUAL-AID
Being a mutual-aid organization means fostering a sense of community, solidarity, and shared responsibility among members to provide practical assistance and support during challenging times while also working towards broader social change.
CHALLENGING SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION
Colonialism perpetuated systems of oppression, racism, and discrimination. These systems harm not only marginalized groups but also perpatuate divisions and inequalities within societies. Effort from all cultures and groups are needed to dismantle these systems.
Photo by @thewolvesarecalling
More than just handing out harm reduction supplies, our volunteers focus on building connections and fostering a sense of community. We believe every person has a story worth hearing, and we strive to honour the gift of storytelling that is important amongst Indigenous cultures. Often folks feel welcomed and comfortable with our presence, and many want to tell us their story. We consider this a gift and we don’t rush from one person to the next, we try to take the time to listen to folks and honour and validate their existence. We are an empowerment based group and do our best to make others feel heard and seen.
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