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In this episode, we sit down with technologist and entrepreneur Matthew, founder of iComply, a company focused on trust, security, privacy, and digital identity. Matthew shares his journey from growing up in the Red River Valley and building a career in financial services to stepping into the tech world and helping shape the infrastructure of online trust. Our conversation explores what Indigenous digital identity could look like when sovereignty and consent sit with the individual rather than being endlessly copied and stored across institutions. Matthew reflects on reconnecting with Métis identity, the legacy of the Sixties Scoop, and how Indigenous values can guide the design of systems that protect people instead of extracting from them. Along the way, we dig into centralization vs decentralization, why accountability and transparency matter, and how Indigenous communities could leapfrog outdated government infrastructure to build digital governance on their own terms. This is a thoughtful dialogue about identity, trust, and building a digital future that serves communities for seven generations. We hope you will explore it as an invitation to think differently about where power lives online... and what it means to design technology with care. Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Contact us at [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

In this episode, we sit down with serial entrepreneur Ryan St. Germaine, a visionary leader who helped found the Indigenous Tech Circle, a network of nearly a thousand Indigenous tech professionals. Ryan reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, his family history, and the responsibilities that come with leading in both business and community. Our conversation touches on themes of digital sovereignty, collective strength, and the importance of creating our own spaces rather than waiting for permission to join others. Ryan speaks candidly about the balance between Indigenous values and the often extractive nature of the tech industry, and why moving forward with courage and faith is essential. Along the way, he shares the story of Tech Circle’s growth, the challenges of sustainability, and the vision of building an ecosystem rooted in Indigenous knowledge, governance, and innovation. This is a powerful dialogue about resilience, responsibility, and the future of Indigenous leadership in technology. We hope you will explore it as an invitation to think about how we connect, invest, and shape digital spaces.   Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Contact us at [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

In this episode, we chat with the inspiring and visionary Tamara Goddard, a fierce advocate for Indigenous economic sovereignty and community-led healing. Tamara is the founder of Four Our Future, where she supports land-based economic development and Indigenous entrepreneurship rooted in ancestral knowledge and nation rebuilding. Tamara is joined by her business associate, Sam - someone has a lot to share about his journey in support of Indigenous innovation.  Tamara shares with us her approach to prosperity grounded in land, community wealth, and spiritual and cultural belonging. We explore her belief that reclaiming economic systems is a central pillar of self-determination and healing, and we imagine what Indigenous futures could look like 400 years from now. We're honoured to bring you this conversation. Settle in, open your heart, and join us as we dream bigger with Tamara. Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Contact us at [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

Happy New Year! To kick off 2025 we're excited that you'll join us in speaking to Anita Pawluk, Founder of Race Rocks 3D - an Indigenous-owned training company that utilizes cutting-edge technology. One of their largest partners is the Royal Canadian Navy. In this episode we learn a lot about what it means to work with not only the Canada government but its Armed Forces in all matters pertaining to listening to, working with, and training from coastal Indigenous communities across the furthest reaches of the north.  Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Contact us at [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

We've got a fascinating and important episode for you today. Our guest is Ja'Elle Leite, CEO of Ultralogix Inc., who is a veteran of data management. Tommy and Lawrence speak with her about how to engage Indigenous communities when it comes to capturing and using their data. Ja'Elle provides a wealth of experience and insight about what it means to interact with Indigenous data. One of her many important points is that Indigenous data tells stories on its own terms. The question is whether or not we are willing to listen. In this case, she doesn't mean through data visualization tools. Join us to learn more listening and learning with and from Indigenous data. Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Contact us at [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

Not all that long ago when our series started, very few of us had tried AI. The idea of even interacting with AI was almost absurd. One year ago, only a few industries began experimenting with AI. Now, in 2024, AI is everywhere... What does that mean for Digital Indigeneity? What does this mean for Indigenous peoples? How do our conversations adjust in response - or should they? Is AI merely hype? Is it a colonial trap? Is it possible for AI to liberate not only Indigenous communities but empower them? Does it make sense to continue talking about Digital Indigeneity in the way we have thus far?   Join Lawrence, Al, and Tommy as they reconnect and dive into not only AI - but what lies ahead for One Feather, Two Pens   Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Contact us at [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

In Episode 8 Tommy and Lawrence chat with the venerable James Delorme, VP of Community Development at Salish Elements. James is one of our most fun yet most insightful guests. He brings a wealth of knowledge and insight into helping us understand what is meant by an Indigenous lens on all things technology, collaboration, innovation, and co-operation. James also helps us think through what is at stake and what is meant by decolonization, and one of it's remedies: Indigenization.  Thank you all for your patience during our prolonged absence. Tommy took some time to prioritize family and health, but we're back and more grateful than ever to be resuming our journey together. James is a wonderful fit for resuming our exploration of Digital Indigeneity so sit back, relax, and enjoy! Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Email: [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

In Episode 7 we speak to Melissa Giles-Hardy, owner, President, and CEO of ORIGIN - a company that design, develops, and delivers technology experiences to drive employment while also protecting and promoting culture for Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island. It's no surprise that Melissa is recipient of multiple awards, including the 2021 RBC Innovative Company of the Year award, the Indigenomics Top 10 Business's To Watch in Canada, the 2019 Northern Ontario, Influential Women's Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the Confederation College President's Award in 2019 - as well as a nominee for the 2019 Ontario Premier Award. As you can see, Melissa is not only a passionate innovator. She is also a passionate community member who is motivated to use technology, specifically Virtual Reality, to do many amazing things: to provide Indigenous youth in remote communities opportunities to learn about new jobs, to train Indigenous peoples to do new jobs or upskill in certain areas, and to also record, preserve, and create interactive VR-based media content that protects and promotes Indigenous cultural practices, learnings, and lessons. For example, using a VR headset to interact with Elders providing the viewer a language lesson.  This is one of our favourite episodes. It is full of incredibly powerful insights and advice. We're honoured to have Melissa on the show. Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Email: [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

In Episode 6 we speak to Matthew Norris, Senior Policy Analyst at the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, and President of the Urban Native Youth Association. As a former candidate for Vancouver city council and a PhD student in UBC's Department of Political Science, Matthew has and continues to be exposed to numerous important intersecting Indigenous developments and issues. Between Matthew's grassroots community work and advocacy along with his academic studies on United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Matthew has much to contribute toward the emerging discussion around Indigenous digital identity and Indigenous digital space. We decide to explore Indigenous digital space and community in particular, and we are guided by some great questions Matthew raises throughout: how might be Indigenous digital communities be made? What are the pitfalls and divides, and how can we avoid them? When these spaces are constructed, what algorithms guide us through them and what content are prioritized? What does it mean to have a voice in this arrangement, and how do we subsequently think about, with, and through accountability? Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Email: [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

In Episode 5 of One Feather Two Pens we speak with the award winning actor, director, producer, writer, and storyteller, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers. Member of the Kinai First Nation as well as Sámi from Norway, Elle-Máijá joins us to discuss her Rogers Audience Award winning documentary, Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy. The powerful film is an intimate and reflexive portrait of her community and the impact of substance abuse and opioid epidemic. Elle-Máijá is a remarkable wisdom and self-awareness facilitates a truly insightful conversation about representation, authenticity, and narrative sovereignty in Indigenous media. Join us as we explore what it means to truth, history, paternal politics, unlearning bias, and of the challenges and opportunities that emerge when navigating voice, privilege, and power. Elle-Máijá also raises important questions for Canadians seeking to assist and collaborate with First Nations peoples, such as: Who is the right person to tell a story? What does it mean to represent Indigenous life? And what happens when non-Indigenous narrators take up space without being aware of doing so? Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Email: [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

In our latest episode on One Feather, Two Pens we have the privilege and honor to chat with Mary Teegee and Matt Smiley, the Directors of For Love on Netflix. As an Indigenous woman and non-Indigenous man, Mary and Matt have worked closely together since before their powerful piece Highway of Tears. The two reflect on their journeys, learnings, and discoveries together, which leads to a fascinating and important set of realizations and offerings about the promise of Indigenous media.  Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Email: [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

We are very excited to have Josh Nilson, Co-Founder of East Side Games, recent winner of the BC Tech Association's Person of the Year Award (and a Producer of one of Tommy's all time favourite games, Company of Heroes!), to talk about the value and importance of reconciliation through the inclusion of Indigenous peoples in the tech sector.  Josh shares his fascinating professional journey, beginning in the world of culinary arts and then successfully transitioning into video game development where he produced some of the most popular Apps around, including The Office, Star Trek Upper Decks, Ru Paul's Drag Race, Trailer Park Boys and more. Josh reflects on the importance of learning, and especially on what's at stake for Canadian businesses to start thinking seriously about what Indigeneity does and does not mean and include. Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Email: [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

In our second episode of this new special series, we are honoured to be joined by Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, OC, OBC. Dr. Joseph is a hereditary Chief of the Gwawaenuk First Nation, is Ambassador for Reconciliation Canada where he has guided the Canadian Federal government through their residential school response. Dr. Joseph is a survivor of St. Michael’s Residential School.  Dr. Joseph guides Tommy, Al, and Lawrence through the importance of creating safe space to converse and listen deeply in order for reconciliation to move forward. Dr. Joseph believes that technology, and platforms like podcasting, can be vehicles for moving reconciliation forward - specifically by giving opportunities for unheard voices and experiences from Indigenous peoples. This episode is full of practical advice to any listener, particularly for Indigenous and Canadian entrepreneurs who are looking to innovate and collaborate in this digital space. Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Email: [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

Once upon a time on What's That Noise?! we asked: wouldn't it be wonderful to launch a special series with their new friend and former guest, Lawrence Lewis? That time has arrived! Al, Tommy, and Lawrence are so very pleased to present One Feather Two Pens, a special series that interviews Indigenous thought and technology leaders about functioning and co-existing with Indigenous peoples in this digital space. We kick off the series in episode 1 by laying the terrain for what this new series is about, what it's goals are, and what it hopes to contribute by means of creating a safe, inclusive dialogue for sharing the stories and lessons of Indigenous people across Canada who are carving out and navigating Indigenous digital sovereignty. What does it mean for Canadians and Indigenous peoples to work together online? What values and principles should be prioritized? What does reconciliation mean and look like on the Internet? What does success look like here, exactly - and how will we even know that we've been successful?  Stay tuned for more episodes, releasing on the 15th of every month! Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast Follow your co-hosts: Tommy | Al | Lawrence A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe for updates Email: [email protected] Follow us on Apple Music and Spotify   Tommy and Al respectfully acknowledge that this show is recorded and produced on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chonnonton, and Lūnaapéewak peoples. London, Ontario, Canada is situated on their lands, a beautiful place that Tommy and Al are privileged to call home. Through this series, Tommy and Al aim to share their platform to create progressive, safe, and inclusive space to share the wisdoms, lessons, and experiences of Indigenous peoples from sea, to sea, to sea - in hopes of finding meaningful avenues to co-exist and function together online, in the spirit of love, courage, kindness, and reconciliation.

Before the pandemic, AI was growing in Canada. Throughout the pandemic, AI has exploded in Canada. Through working from home and online schooling to the abundance of location, health, medical, and interaction data around us at all times, the last half decade truly has witnessed institutions moving rapidly toward AI to make money, increase efficiency, trim fat, and perhaps even assist in finding new cures and vaccines.  And as you might imagine, there are serious rights, liberties, justice, ethics, and equality issues that pop up along the way. So, how does a country insulate itself from such dangers? Through regulation, but easier said than done...  Join us as we chat with the distinguished Dr. Teresa Scassa, Canada Research Chair in Information Law and Policy at the University of Ottawa, an award winning author, a recognizable expert across numerous Canadian media outlets - and a fantastic Ad Lib'er to boot.  As you'll hear, the move toward regulating AI in Canada has been anything but clear... Tune in to hear more! Subscribe for updates! Follow Tommy and Al on Twitter! Email Tommy and Al: [email protected] Follow What's That Noise?! on Apple Music and on Spotify