SABE, An Indigenous-led, Trauma-Informed Project Launches in Winnipeg’s Osborne Village

SABE, An Indigenous-led, Trauma-Informed Project Launches in Winnipeg’s Osborne Village

A new provincially funded pilot project with the purpose of providing trauma-informed support and safety services was started today to Winnipeg’s Osborne Village.

SABE Peace Walkers will be leading the project with the team focusing on Indigenous-led non-violent crisis interventions. A trauma-informed approach will be used during high-stress situations.

The program will pilot at 17-weeks and the team will receive $77,000 in funding through Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries’ social responsibility program. Peace walkers will be offering community safety walks, incidental supports to the residents, public and businesses in Winnipeg’s Osborne Village.

“We take into consideration perspectives and potential triggers and trauma and then base everything we do…on the relationships we’re able to establish,” said SABE co-founder Daniel Hidalgo during an interview with CDC’s Up to Speed.

Sabe is Ojibwe for the mythical creature and symbol for honesty in the Seven Grandfather Teachings. This includes seven sacred laws which are values represented by different animals which offer guidance for how one should live their life – practiced by Indigenous peoples across North American. The values include: the bigfoot (honesty), the wolf (humility), the beaver (wisdom), the eagle (love), the turtle (truth) and the buffalo (respect).

SABE’s peace walkers also carry medicine with them, such as sage for smudging purposes. Hidalgo, Sabe’s co-founder shares how she has used sage to establish connections with individuals experiencing distress allowing them to feel more comfortable sharing what they are going through. Consequently, allowing her team to better able to understand the situation at hand and effectively come up with a solution.

“SABE Peace Walkers go beyond basic needs like shelter, water, and food. Sometimes meeting people where they’re at means providing them with connections. Some people just need to vent. Some people need access to their culture, and acceptance of who they are,” shares Hidalgo.

While the project has an Indigenous focus, its services will be available to all those who need them.

SABE Peace Walkers are licensed in safety training including Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, Administering Naloxone to People with Opioid Overdoses, First Aid/CPR, Trauma Informed Practice, Harm Reduction and Seven Whistle Laws and Seven Healing Techniques.

“This is a great opportunity to start a journey of reconciliation and to meet people where they are to support them. We believe an Indigenous led-approach is the right approach and we are very excited to partner with SABE and give them the leadership in repairing and rebuilding our community to make it safer for all,” says chief executive of Osborne Village BIZ, Lindsay Somers.

(Image Credit: SAGE Peace Walkers)