Frames of Mind
Screening Dates
All Ages

“A powerful story of reclamation, this film champions Indigenous knowledge in shaping neuro-affirmative care.”

DOXA 2025

“Our elders teach us that autism is a gift. Autistic people are seen as connected to the spirit world. They are ​‘sewâtsiwin’ or ​‘sacred,’” says Dr. Grant Bruno, a member of Samson Cree Nation and an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta. Bruno’s passion for fostering culturally responsive healthcare is not just part of his professional life, it is also his lived reality—his son Anders is autistic. To encourage Anders’s gifts to flourish, he must balance cultural and kinship support in their community with therapeutic services in the city. Set against a stunning Prairie landscape, the film follows Anders as he participates in a sweat lodge ceremony and learns to hunt—cultural practices rooted in the Cree language that make clear how spiritual connection is as important as medical treatment.

In English and Cree with English subtitles

Post-screening discussion with Jordan White, a member of the Fraser Valley Métis Association and registered clinical counsellor.

Moderated by Selina Crammond, series programmer.

Nigel Moore Award for Youth Programming
DOXA 2025

Co-sponsored by ACT – Autism Community Training
ACT logo
Media
Note

Please note the earlier start time for this all-ages Frames of Mind screening.

Jordan White, of Métis ancestry, is an educator, supervisor, consultant, and therapist who weaves Indigenous Storywork practices with clinical knowledge into multiple professional domains. He holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling and believes in knowledge democracy, co-creation of knowledge, and honouring all his relations while centring dignity and respect. He is a university instructor at the University of the Fraser Valley, Clinical Leader at Telmexw Awtexw, and has experience presenting nationally and internationally.

Upcoming in this Series

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  • Chroniques fidèles survenues au siècle dernier à l’hôpital psychiatrique Blida-Joinville, au temps où le Docteur Frantz Fanon était chef de la cinquième division entre 1953 et 1956
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