A key strategy for bridging the gap between cultures and communities torn by division and strife is to engage in sacred conversations with each other in our everyday lives. In recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, join us for a discussion at the Biddeford Pool Community Center of the award winning documentary film Within the Lodge of Sacred Relations by Patricia Burke. The film brings light to Ryan’s extraordinary journey of reclaiming his indigenous heritage and creating sacred spaces for indigenous and non-indigenous peoples to discover healing, belonging, and the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation. The film offers possibilities for creating spaces in which we can all engage in sacred conversations.

The program will begin with some clips of the documentary followed by a discussion with the filmmaker.

Patricia Burke is a psychotherapist, author, and educator turned filmmaker. She is an older adult member of the LGBTQ+ community and has a life-long commitment to equality, inclusion, diversity, and social justice for all. Her mission as a filmmaker is to direct, produce, and distribute non-commercial films that combine her skills and abilities in Narrative Therapy and Community Work with her passion for film as a multidimensional art form of storytelling. Her intention is to create films that link people together through their narratives of lived experience, transport the viewer to new understandings, and bring awareness of social justice issues to audiences around the world.