Vision Statement
By creating numerous opportunities for conversation, Death Matters hopes to open up an area which has traditionally been in the closet….. that of dying and death…. an area of normal, healthy human experience which has been denied coverage by our death-phobic culture for far too long.
In exploring our fears about this great adventure, we encourage the possibility of approaching it with grace and perhaps joy. In fact, recognizing the mortal nature of our brief existence, may bring grace, joy and gratitude to every moment of our daily life.
At Death Matters, we acknowledge with deep respect that we live and work on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. This land, known as Mi’kma’ki, has been home to the Mi’kmaq since time immemorial and remains sacred to this day.
In our work with death, dying, and remembrance—including burial practices and sacred spaces—we honour the spiritual, cultural, and historical connections that the Mi’kmaq have with these lands. We recognize the ancestors who rest here and their continuing presence among us.
We commit to approaching our work with reverence, listening deeply, and engaging in respectful relationships with Indigenous communities. As we support people in their final journeys, we also support the living legacy of Mi’kmaq traditions, values, and sovereignty.
This acknowledgment is both a statement of truth and a call to action—for reconciliation, for justice, and for the shared care of this sacred land. We honour the Mi’kmaq people, past, present, and future.
Who We Are
Deborah Luscomb, although primarily known for her decades of ritual textile production, has a passion for bringing people together around difficult, but necessary conversations. In addition to hosting the Halifax Death Café and Final Curtain Films, she leads Advance Planning workshops, acts as a Thanadoula and Funeral Guide, assisting during the transition and postmortem experience, and is a Founder, and Past Chair of Green Burial Nova Scotia. She brings extensive training in meditation, contemplation, deep listening and midwifery… and a fine sense of humour… to this inevitable adventure.
Dawn Carson, an accomplished business owner, has seamlessly transitioned into the role of a Death Doula, Community Deathcaring Educator, Funeral Coordinator, President of the Green Burial Society of Nova Scotia, Meditation Instructor, and Certified Yoga Instructor. Through a unique blend of practical planning and empathetic communication, she offers education and resources to guide individuals in making informed end-of-life decisions. As the host of Death Café & Green Burial Café and a consultant for Death Matters, Dawn actively contributes to fostering a culture of openness surrounding both living and dying well. By assisting you in creating a thoughtful plan, she ensures that you can confidently articulate your vision and values for a meaningful and peaceful end-of-life. Regardless of where you are in the process, Dawn encourages you to reflect on the question, “What must I do to be at peace with myself so that I may live presently and die peacefully?”
ABOUT THE LOGO
These intertwined triple, purple hearts represent the inseparability, richness and mystery of birth, life and death.