Hi friend,

This week’s Dispatch is a bit of a departure from my usual focus on digital culture. But don’t worry—next week, I’ll be back with my annual Spooky Season watch list, a rant about Emily in Paris, updates on the latest AI models, and some news on some exciting upcoming projects!

When my family immigrated to Canada in December 1989, we felt incredibly grateful for the opportunities—healthcare, education, safety. Like many newcomers, we viewed Canada as a land of possibility, but the history we were taught in school was sanitized and incomplete. It wasn’t until my thirties that I began to understand the full extent of what had been erased, particularly the injustices done to First Nations peoples.

For so long, I hadn’t connected the dots. The freedoms I enjoy were built on the violent displacement and genocide of Indigenous communities. So, how do we hold space for both gratitude and complicity? How do we love a country that has caused such harm?

Today in Canada, it's the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, symbolizing Phyllis Jack Webstad’s experience of having her new orange shirt taken from her at a residential school—a poignant metaphor for the erasure of identity. 150,000 Indigenous children were subjected to these institutions, with many never returning, and the survivors carry their trauma forward, affecting generations with higher rates of substance abuse, suicide, and marginalization.

These children weren’t just taken from their families—they were stripped of their very selves, forcibly isolated from their traditions and thrust into a system designed to erase them. Those who did survive carry the weight of that trauma, which continues to echo through generations.

Here a great overview:

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In 2022, Canada’s House of Commons passed a motion acknowledging the residential school system as an act of genocide. While this recognition is important, for many, it comes too late. A reckoning is long overdue, and it demands more than acknowledgment—it requires action.

Uplifting Indigenous Voices

Every year at this time, I make space to listen to Indigenous voices and honor their experiences. This year, I’m reading Up Ghost River by Edmund Metatawabin, a memoir that lays bare his experiences in a residential school and his lifelong journey of healing. It’s a powerful reminder that these stories are not just historical—they’re still lived realities impacting Indigenous communities today.

On October 18, the documentary Yintah will be released on Netflix, chronicling the Wet’suwet’en people’s fight to protect their land and water from pipeline projects. These struggles aren’t distant echoes from the past—they’re unfolding right now.

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For those of us in Ontario, the provincial government is in final treaty negotiations with the Algonquins of Ontario for a historic land back agreement. This is a critical moment where we can contribute to righting these wrongs. Call your elected representative and let them know this issue matters to you.

Do One Small Thing:

• Support Land Defender initiatives by donating to their legal fund.
• Get involved with Land Needs Guardians by offering your time or resources to conservation efforts.
• Join Amnesty International’s efforts to support water defenders.​

American Friends - you can find resources here.

Caring for The Land is in Our Collective Best Interests

As we talk about land, let’s remember that its destruction affects us all. The devastation from Hurricane Helene in the southeastern U.S. is the latest reminder of what happens when we exploit our planet. Fossil fuel pollution is fueling this era of climate catastrophe—Hurricane Isaac and Tropical Storm Joyce are already brewing in its wake.

We’re living through a time when the fight for land and resources is no longer just about justice—it’s about survival.

Why We Shouldn't Shy Away From a Painful Past

If you’re wondering why it’s necessary to face these difficult truths, it’s because looking at the past helps us prevent future atrocities. Sometimes, just acknowledging someone’s pain is a profound act of solidarity. It’s about saying, “I see you. I acknowledge you. I stand with you.”

In a world driven by distractions, many of us find it hard to sit with uncomfortable emotions—our own or others’. But this is a moment to remember what Thich Nhat Hanh taught: compassion transmutes suffering. Our hearts are strong enough to look directly at pain and transform it into connection.

It’s uncomfortable, but necessary. History teaches us that silence is a choice can no longer afford.

On Helping Others In Need:

In this era of “perma-crisis,” the humanitarian disasters in Palestine, Lebanon, and Sudan are overwhelming. If you’re unsure where to donate, I recommend Doctors Without Borders. They provide life-saving care in all the areas I’ve mentioned and are conducting emergency response operations in these regions.

For those in the U.S. dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the American Red Cross has a page dedicated to how you can help rebuild, volunteer, or donate.

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On Preparing for the Unexpected

This is also a good time to assess your own preparedness. Is your first aid kit fully stocked? Do you have enough food, water, and medications to last 7-14 days in case of an emergency? What about candles, batteries, and extra pet food?

If you need to evacuate, do you have a Go Bag ready? Is your paperwork in order? Make sure to scan important documents—health records, insurance info, prescriptions, IDs—and store them securely in Dropbox or a password manager. Here’s a list of what to include

​Here's a list.​

Being the Helpers

As we confront the weight of these histories and crises, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But remember, small actions matter—whether it’s educating ourselves, calling our representatives, or donating to causes we believe in. The world needs more people willing to engage with discomfort, to acknowledge pain, and to act. Let’s be those people.