Gizhiwenimin is an Ojibwe word that translates into English as “I see you, I hear you, I love you.”
Gizhiwenimin is a flexible department that responds to community wellness needs and provides advocacy for and training on the issues affecting Sunshine House participants. The Gizhiwenimin team is present at all of our drop-in and outreach services to provide educational programming and help with accessing health care. Gizhiwenimin specifically works with 2SLGTBQIA+ people and has some limited capacity supporting queer newcomers and refugee claimants.
Gizhiwenimin was developed out of the work that was done organically at Sunshine House in the 2010s. Queer refugee claimants in Winnipeg had nowhere to get assistance navigating the bureaucracy involved in the process. Staff at the Like That drop-in as well as volunteers from the queer community began doing this work with no funding to speak of at first.
Ongoing programs within Gizhiwenimin are often very dependent on funding availability.
Currently, Gizhiwenimin offers:
- Monthly Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infection (STBBI) testing and vaccine clinics onsite
- Rides along on MOPS on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays providing guidance on STBBI testing and vaccines
- Limited capacity (intake currently paused) for 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers and refugee claimants in preparing for hearings, obtaining support letters, providing tech assistance in facilitating virtual hearings, as well as general social integration.
- Facilitation of religious cultural celebrations for queer community members. Many of our newcomer participants are Muslim, so Sunshine House has hosted some excellent Eid Iftars and also provides space for queer folks to pray.
- An inventory/library of Gender-Affirming Gear (everything from binders and packers to wigs and heels)
- A liaison who works with Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre in supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ folks
- Together with our Cultural Initiatives team, runs “At the Rapids,” a special project to support 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous people address, acknowledge, and heal from violent crime
Learn more about Gizhiwenimin by calling 431-335-3931.