Singing to the Darkness is a profound journey of self-discovery and healing that invites readers to reconnect with theirauthentic selves beyond the scars of colonization and trauma. Rooted in Patricia’s Indigenous Haida, Heiltsuk, and Ts’msyen heritage, as well as her British ancestry, this evocative work combines soulful storytelling, meditative reflections, and twenty stunning nature-inspired paintings to guide readers through a visual and emotional inquiry into identity and resilience.
As Mental Health Department Head at Skidegate Health Centre on Haida Gwaii, Patricia draws on both ancestral wisdom and contemporary healing practices, exploring how altered states of consciousness can retrieve fragmented parts of the self broken by trauma. Through her “soul catcher” stories and gentle meditations, she offers a sanctuary for those seeking solace, understanding, and transformation.
Renowned trauma expert Dr. Gabor Maté writes in his Foreword that Singing to the Darkness is a “jewel of a book,” illuminating the path toward authenticity with “winged words” that inspire truth, beauty, and hope. This deeply integrative work is both a personal and collective guide for anyone navigating the complexities of identity, healing, and spiritual awakening.
$22.95
Patricia June Vickers, PhD, is an internationally respected leader in the field of trauma research and programming, specifically for Indigenous peoples. A member of the Eagle Clan with Indigenous roots in the Haida, Heiltsuk, and Ts’msyen Nations, alongside British ancestry, her work as a healer and scholar bridges these worlds, drawing on deep traditions and contemporary insights. Patricia lives on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, where she leads the Mental Health Department at Skidegate Health Centre. She believes in the power of altered states of consciousness to recover the parts of ourselves fractured by trauma.
To learn more about Patricia, please visit her website, www.patriciajunevickers.com.
The discomfort that Patricia’s inquiry generates is a central element of critical reflection and transformative learning — and is a Truth and Reconciliation process itself. Patricia re-creates a pedagogy of liberation, drawing on the culture of her ancestors for the spiritual principles of respect; she echoes the writings of Paulo Freire on the critical inquiry cycle of reflection and action; and she deepens the teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti on inquiry and the conditioned mind.
Patricia’s unique adaptation of the ceremonial Feast Hall style for delivering her web of thoughts leaves space for the listener to make the connections from one concept to the next; it does not provide bridges between thoughts. A grandmother, artist and mental health professional, Patricia’s writing and art are deeply rooted in Indigenous healing principles of the northwest coast of British Columbia.
“This personal story runs deep and I was washed ashore to my own life experiences. This hope is what I need in my life and in these times — Indigenous resiliency!”
Martin Brokenleg, EdD, co-developer, Circle of Courage training model.
ISBN: 978-1-9990861-0-7
Format: Paperback. 7.5” x 6.0”
Published: September 2020
