As we approach November 26th and prepare to engage with a version of history rooted in disinformation, it is worth our time to explore what disinformation does. RYSE member, Stephanie, recently put together a presentation highlighting Indigenous people, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and the facts of their story that combat an age-old disinformation campaign perpetuating various forms of violence against them to this day.

November 26th in the time of COVID hits a little different. Sure, there’s got to be something to say about a virus killing our most vulnerable and willfully spread by those marked with greed, white supremacy, and a colonizer mentality. But disinformation weaponized as a play for power seems like a serendipitous topic to engage with as we approach this day. It is the ultimate weapon, which causes ultimate harm. This is a time when our country is reckoning with its own mis-told history and this mis-telling inspires violent action out of those adamant on maintaining the myth. The United States’ experience with COVID is significantly more painful due to a disinformation campaign that inspired people not to engage with reality.

So on this day it is important for us to think about this country’s history of warping reality, the ways in which we, the vulnerable, have always combatted this, and the ways we can continue to do so. Something as simple as changing a Thanks-Giving to a Thanks-Taking asserts reality and our first line of defense as the vulnerable is to make sure we get the story straight.

But Stephanie can explain the rest. Click on the image below to view her presentation.