Sherri Mitchell, Indigenous rights attorney, teacher and spiritual activist, will speak at Lincoln Theatre in downtown Damariscotta on Tuesday, April 24 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m). “Sacred Instructions: Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-Based Change” is the title of her recently published book and the subject of her talk. In the introduction to the book, she says, “I believe that we have the capacity to create a world that is compassionately intent on preserving the integrity of all life in a harmonious balance. And that the Sacred Instructions for creating that world exist within every one of us right now and are waiting to be called forth.”

Mitchell was born and raised on the Penobscot Indian reservation. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Maine and received her juris doctorate and a certificate in Indigenous People’s Law and Policy from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. In 2010, she received the Mahoney Dunn International Human Rights and Humanitarian Award, for research into Human Rights violations against Indigenous Peoples. In 2015, she received the Spirit of Maine Award, for commitment and excellence in the field of International Human Rights.

Mitchell was a longtime advisor to the American Indian Institute’s Healing the Future Program and currently serves as an advisor to the Indigenous Elders and Medicine People’s Council of North and South America. She is the founding director of the Land Peace Foundation, an organization dedicated to the global protection of Indigenous rights and the preservation of the Indigenous way of life. Prior to forming the Land Peace Foundation, Sherri served as a law clerk to the Solicitor of the United States Department of Interior and as civil rights educator for the Maine Attorney General’s Office.

Sherri speaks and teaches around the world on issues of Indigenous rights, environmental justice, and spiritual change. Her broad base of knowledge allows her to synthesize these many subjects into a cohesive whole, weaving together the legal, political, and spiritual aspects surrounding a multitude of complex issues. She is the co-host of the radio program Love (and revolution) Radio, which focuses on real-life stories of heart-based activism and revolutionary spiritual change.

This event is free and open to the public. The Lincoln Theatre is sponsoring the event, in partnership with four local organizations that span issues of environment, social justice, and youth: Chewonki Foundation, Damariscotta River Association, Midcoast Conservancy, and People United Against Racism. Sherri will be signing copies of her book after the event. The book is available now at Sherman's Maine Coast Bookshop and will also be available for sale at the theater that night. For more information: sacredinstructions.life.