Cree woman’s taxi offers more than just a ride for Indigenous women in crisis

The moment someone gets into Regan Gamble’s taxi, she knows what kind of music they like. Gamble, who owns and operates a taxi service specifically for Indigenous women called SheDrives, says she can predict her clients’ tastes — from Ernest Monias to Fawn Wood. 

Whatever their preference, Gamble says they always say the same thing once they get in her car. 

"The first question is, 'Where are you from?'" she says. 

Gamble is from Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation, about 80 kilometres north of Saskatoon.

It’s easy to develop a connection from that point, Gamble adds, and it has already helped her develop repeat customers — despite only starting in mid-December. 

"I have that connection because of the experiences that I've had … whether they're a residential school survivor, whether they're a Sixties Scoop survivor, whether they're a survivor of violence of any sort," she said.

SheDrives is fully licensed and based in Edmonton, although Gamble says she has taken passengers more than 400 kilometres out of the city. 

The inspiration for the service came from her kokum. 

"We had a hard time getting to and from," Gamble said. 

"Anywhere we wanted to go, she had to phone somebody."

But SheDrives isn’t just a taxi service, she adds. Gamble also advertises as offering companion support, like taking elders to medical appointments and waiting with them or even shopping for them.

She also says she has driven several women dealing with domestic violence, like taking survivors to court dates out of town and spending the entire day with them, and has picked someone up from an RCMP detachment following an assault.

"That is why SheDrives exists. For women in crisis," Gamble said. 

The positive reception has been overwhelming at times.