Welcome back to Our Shared Politics. My name is Nova, I am a settler on Turtle Island. I created this podcast to really showcase socialism, instead of pursuing the Red Scare blindly, which just pushes people further apart. I wish to express acknowledgment that I am on Treaty 8 territory, home to the Tse’khene, Dunne-za, Nehiyawak, Saulteau, and BC Métis. It is essential I recognize all First Nations, Metis, and Inuit, both Status and non-Status, as the guardians of these lands. As a non-Indigenous person, I play a role as a treaty partner, being represented by the government. My pronouns are she/her, but I also accept they/them, and I fall under the 2SLGBTQIA+ umbrella.

I drop a new episode every Monday morning at midnight MST.

So-called Canada is in a fentanyl and mental health crisis right now. Please, consider picking up a free Naloxone kit at your local pharmacy and do not use alone.

For any Indigenous listeners out there, the Hope for Wellness Helpline offers immediate culturally aware and trauma-informed help to all Indigenous people across Canada. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in English and French to offer immediate support and crisis intervention. While there are supports in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut, those are not available 24/7, so you may need to call in to find out the next time that a language-speaker will be available. Call the toll-free Helpline at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat at www.hopeforwellness.ca, and there is also the Thunderbird Wellness app that provides access to Indigenous perspectives on health and wellness, including substance abuse and mental health.

Now, not that Indigenous people can’t use these next resources, but they do not advertise as culturally aware or trauma-informed, so for everyone else: if you must use alone, please keep in mind that you can call 1-888-688-6677 to contact the National Overdose Response Services to access support while using and especially using alone, and there is the Brave app with a use-alone timer that connects a paramedic with your location if you don’t respond. For mental health support, you can contact 9-8-8 to get connected to a crisis responder.