What’s That Noise?!

One Feather Two Pens: Episode 15 – Digital Innovation in Indigenous Housing

In this episode, we sit down with Stan Knight from Opaskwayak Cree Nation. He is the creator of Inspector in a Box: an initiative to build housing capacity in remote Indigenous communities across Canada. Drawing on his experience in construction, insurance adjusting, and community work, Stan explains how the program equips communities with tools, training, and digital infrastructure so that housing inspections and renovation planning can be led locally rather than relying on costly outside contractors that are often unfamiliar with the needs of Indigenous communities. Our conversation explores the deeper realities of housing across Indigenous communities, from the logistical challenges of shipping materials north to the cultural and environmental realities that make one-size-fits-all government housing ineffective. Stan walks us through how technology such as drones, LiDAR-enabled smartphones, thermal cameras, and inspection software are being used to capture housing data locally, allowing communities to document their needs, plan repairs, and access funding without having to bring outside experts into remote regions. This is a thoughtful conversation about housing, technology, and self-determination — and about how Indigenous leadership can reshape systems that have historically been imposed from the outside. We hope you’ll explore it as an invitation to think differently about infrastructure, innovation, and the role digital tools can play in supporting community-led solutions. Gila’kasla! Follow us on Twitter: Wtncast [https://twitter.com/wtncast?lang=en] Follow your co-hosts: Tommy [https://wtncast.podbean.com/wtncast/episode/@whatsthatdata] | Al [https://twitter.com/thatalcoombsguy] | Lawrence [https://twitter.com/OneFeatherApp?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs [https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/146237470-indigenous-future] for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe [https://wtncast.podbean.com/feed/] for updates Contact us at wtncast@gmail.com [wtncast@gmail.com] Follow us on Apple Music [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-that-noise/id1364610122?mt=2] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0SW489x40xOpZD2r4WbAQ0?si=RLJpmxeFTJmwkqQKAqeJpA]   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.

One Feather Two Pens: Episode 14 - Building Indigenous Digital Identity

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 [https://twitter.com/wtncast?lang=en] Follow your co-hosts: Tommy [https://wtncast.podbean.com/wtncast/episode/@whatsthatdata] | Al [https://twitter.com/thatalcoombsguy] | Lawrence [https://twitter.com/OneFeatherApp?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs [https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/146237470-indigenous-future] for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe [https://wtncast.podbean.com/feed/] for updates Contact us at wtncast@gmail.com [wtncast@gmail.com] Follow us on Apple Music [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-that-noise/id1364610122?mt=2] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0SW489x40xOpZD2r4WbAQ0?si=RLJpmxeFTJmwkqQKAqeJpA]   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.

One Feather Two Pens: Episode 13 - Carving Digital Pathways

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 [https://twitter.com/wtncast?lang=en] Follow your co-hosts: Tommy [https://wtncast.podbean.com/wtncast/episode/@whatsthatdata] | Al [https://twitter.com/thatalcoombsguy] | Lawrence [https://twitter.com/OneFeatherApp?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs [https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/146237470-indigenous-future] for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe [https://wtncast.podbean.com/feed/] for updates Contact us at wtncast@gmail.com [wtncast@gmail.com] Follow us on Apple Music [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-that-noise/id1364610122?mt=2] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0SW489x40xOpZD2r4WbAQ0?si=RLJpmxeFTJmwkqQKAqeJpA]   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.

One Feather Two Pens: Episode 12 - Rebuilding Nations & Healing Economics

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 [https://twitter.com/wtncast?lang=en] Follow your co-hosts: Tommy [https://wtncast.podbean.com/wtncast/episode/@whatsthatdata] | Al [https://twitter.com/thatalcoombsguy] | Lawrence [https://twitter.com/OneFeatherApp?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs [https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/146237470-indigenous-future] for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe [https://wtncast.podbean.com/feed/] for updates Contact us at wtncast@gmail.com [wtncast@gmail.com] Follow us on Apple Music [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-that-noise/id1364610122?mt=2] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0SW489x40xOpZD2r4WbAQ0?si=RLJpmxeFTJmwkqQKAqeJpA]   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.

One Feather Two Pens: Episode 11 - Coastal Sovereignty and the Canadian Royal Navy

Happy New Year! To kick off 2025 we're excited that you'll join us in speaking to Anita Pawluk [https://racerocks3d.ca/leadership-member/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 [https://twitter.com/wtncast?lang=en] Follow your co-hosts: Tommy [https://wtncast.podbean.com/wtncast/episode/@whatsthatdata] | Al [https://twitter.com/thatalcoombsguy] | Lawrence [https://twitter.com/OneFeatherApp?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] A very special thanks to Compulsion Soundlabs [https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/146237470-indigenous-future] for sharing their musical talent, which you are hearing as the intro and outro music in this series! Subscribe [https://wtncast.podbean.com/feed/] for updates Contact us at wtncast@gmail.com [wtncast@gmail.com] Follow us on Apple Music [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-that-noise/id1364610122?mt=2] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0SW489x40xOpZD2r4WbAQ0?si=RLJpmxeFTJmwkqQKAqeJpA]   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.