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WISDOM OF THE ANCESTORS, 12-FILM SERIES | NOW LIVE

In this short video, learn more about the Mauri global film premiere and how you can participate.

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Fifty percent of net proceeds are returned to Indigenous-led projects in the very communities that entrusted us with their stories.
Wisdom of the Ancestors
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  • Watch Mauri for 48 hours
  • Access 3 Talks from our 5-Day Online Event with Māori Elders
  • Receive a downloadable workbook
  • Support the Indigenous communities featured in the film

Suggested minimum donation $20
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Wisdom of the Ancestors
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12-Film & Talks Pass
Watch ALL 12 Films and Events
(2-Year Extended Access)
  • Unlimited streaming of Mauri
  • Unlimited streaming of The Eternal Song
  • Full 12 companion films, each from a featured community, released every two months
  • 15 recorded sessions from the Mauri Event
  • 40+ recorded sessions from our previous 7-day gathering with Elders and knowledge keepers
  • Audio files & full transcripts of each session
  • Extended interviews & behind-the-scenes conversations
  • The original film soundtrack
  • Two-year access to your private library
  • Monthly community gatherings to stay connected
  • Discussion groups to share reflections, questions, and resources
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The Guardians

Guest Speakers & Indigenous Wisdom Keepers

Mauri Talks Global Gathering Schedule

A Journey of Remembering, Healing, and Reimagining

Day 1

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LIVE @ 1:00 - 1:30 PM PDT
9:00 - 9:30 AM NZDT (OCT 15)

Welcome & Opening Karakia (Prayer Circle) & Pūrākau (Story)

w/ Tāngaroa Ngaropo-Tāwio, Atarangi Murupaenga, Mark Kopua. Hosted by: Maurizio and Zaya Benazzo

LIVE @ 1:30 - 2:40 PM PDT​
9:30 - 10:40 AM NZDT (OCT 15)

Mauri Film Communal Screening ​

LIVE @ 2:45 - 3:15 PM PDT
10:45 - 11:15 AM NZDT (OCT 15)

Q&A

w/ Atarangi Murupaenga & Mark Kopua

LIVE @ 3:30 - 4:30 PM PDT
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM NZDT (OCT 15)

The Art of Mahi Raakau (Self Healing) Workshop

w/ Atarangi Murupaenga

We will explore in community

› Holistic principles and elements for healing
› How to use rākau (wooden tools)
› Listening to the body’s truth

Day 2

LIVE @ 1:00 - 2:00 PM PDT
9:00 - 10:00 AM NZDT (OCT 16)

Opening the Pacific Ocean Stargate

w/ Tāngaroa Ngaropo-Tāwio

We will explore in community

› Our breath & the breath of our ancestors
› A Sacred Covenant with Ra‘iātea
› From deep-sea navigation to celestial navigation

RECORDED @ 2:00 - 3:00 PM PDT​
10:00 - 11:00 AM NZDT (OCT 16)

Teaching, Tradition, and the Echo of Mōteatea

w/ Tenga Rangitauira

We will explore in community

› Reclaiming Education Through Ancestral Language and Rhythm
› Mōteatea as Memory, Medicine, and Movement
› Carrying the Flame: Story, Responsibility, and Spiritual Guidance

RECORDED @ 3:00 - 3:05 PM PDT
11:00 - 11:05 AM NZDT (OCT 16)

Mōteatea

w/ Tenga Rangitauira​

Day 3

LIVE @ 1:00 - 2:00 PM PDT
9:00 - 10:00 AM NZDT (OCT 17)

The Medicine of the Forest and the Land: A Conversation

w/ Donna Kerridge and Tohe Ashby​

We will explore in community

› Listening to the language of the Ngahere (forest)
› Healing the whānau (people) and the whenua (land) as one
› Carrying ancestral knowledge forward for future generations

RECORDED @ 2:00 - 3:00 PM PDT​
10:00 - 11:00 AM NZDT (OCT 17)

Remembering Through the Land: A Conversation

w/ Tohe Ashby

We will explore in community

› Rongoā Māori is more than medicine
› Healing begins with permission
› Wellbeing includes land, lineage, and spirit

RECORDED @ 3:00 - 3:05 PM PDT
11:00 - 11:05 AM NZDT (OCT 17)

Pūrākau

w/ Mark Kopua

Day 4

LIVE @ 1:00 - 2:00 PM PDT
9:00 - 10:00 AM NZDT (OCT 18)

Weaving Currents of Care and Resistance

w/ Erin Matariki Carr, Tina Ngata

We will explore in community

› Decolonizing Our Relationship with Natural Resources
› Revitalizing Indigenous values for planetary regeneration
› Indigenous governance for sustainable futures

RECORDED @ 2:00 - 3:00 PM PDT​
10:00 - 11:00 AM NZDT (OCT 18)

Healing with the Ancestors: From Birth to Death TRT: 1hr 10min

w/ Awhitia Mihaere

We will explore in community

› The placenta as a carrier of wisdom and guidance
› Colonization’s impact on birth and land
› Spirit work in prisons, births, and death

RECORDED @ 3:00 - 3:05 PM PDT
11:00 - 11:05 AM NZDT (OCT 18)

KAPA Haka

w/ Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue

Day 5

LIVE @ 1:00 - 2:00 PM PDT
9:00 - 10:00 AM NZDT (OCT 19)

The Maori Star Compass and the Sea's Embrace

w/ Captain Stan Conrad

We will explore in community

› The History of the Waka as a sacred vessel
› Te kapehu whetū, the compass as a mental construct
› Voyages as reclamation and revitalization of culture

RECORDED @ 2:00 - 2:20 PDT
10:00 - 10:20 AM NZDT (OCT 19)

Wayfinders of the Ancestors: Ocean, Stars & the Spirit of Navigation

w/ John Panoho

We will explore in community

› Ancestral knowledge carried on waves and wind
› Resilience, relationship, and reverence at sea
› What ancient navigation offers us today

RECORDED @ 2:30 - 3:15 PM PDT​
10:30 - 11:15 AM NZDT (OCT 19)

The Body Already Knows: Rongoā Māori and the Art of Listening

w/ Atarangi Murupaenga

We will explore in community

› The body tells the truth — no story needed
› Rongoā Māori is remembering, not learning
› Laughter, grief, and spirit all belong in healing

RECORDED @ 3:15 - 3:20 PM PDT
11:15 - 11:20 AM NZDT (OCT 19)

Mōteatea

w/ Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue

LIVE @ 3:20 - 3:30 PM PDT
11:20 - 11:30 AM NZDT (OCT 19)

Closing Ceremony

w/ Tāngaroa Ngaropo-Tāwio

How Your Contribution Supports Indigenous Communities

In The Spirit of Reciprocity

We thank the past, current, and future Indigenous stewards of this territory.

SAND is a nonprofit organization under section 501c.3 of the US tax code.

With Mauri, at least 50% of the funds we receive—after covering costs—are directed to Indigenous-led initiatives in the territories where we filmed.

When you donate to watch the film, you help support the following project:

Rongoā Māori Fund

Relational Offering to Rongoā Māori Healers and Elders

Rongoā Māori is a sacred, living system of healing carried by Māori communities in Aotearoa, woven through land, lineage, and relationship. It is not just a set of practices, but a way of being, knowing, and tending to the health of people, waters, forests, and future generations. Contributions from this film will help support Māori-led projects that preserve, protect, and grow Rongoā Māori for future generations nurturing a complete and complex Indigenous system of healing, health, and wellbeing.

In deep gratitude for the presence, wisdom, and guidance shared by Māori elders and healers in the making of this film, we are offering 50% of all proceeds (after costs) back to their community. This is not a donation to a fixed project, but a humble act of redistribution trusting Māori custodians to use the funds in ways that sustain the long arc of Rongoā Māori, as they choose and in their own time.

WISDOM OF THE ANCESTORS 12–FILM SERIES

The Eternal Song

Over the next two years, we will release a total of 12 full-length films featuring different indigenous traditions. Each film opens a portal into the ancestral wisdom of these cultures, calling us to remember, grieve, heal, and act.

The Eternal Song

LAND: EARTH

92 Minutes

Mauri

LAND: AOTEAROA (NEW ZEALAND)

70 Minutes

If an Owl Calls
Your Name

LAND: Esk’etemc, Gitxsan, and Wet’suwet’en (CANADA)

92 MINUTES • COMING DECEMBER 9-13

In the Circle of Life

LAND: BUNDJALUNG & WIRADJURI (AUSTRALIA)

75 Minutes • COMING JANUARY 20-25

Little Singer

LAND: DINÉ BIKÉYAH (ARIZONA)

81 MINUTES • COMING APRIL 2026

Sila

LAND: KALAALLIT NUNAAT (GREENLAND)

COMING 2026

‘Āina

LAND: MOKUPUNI HAWAI’I

COMING 2026

Guarani-Kaiowá

LAND: MATO GROSSO DO SUL (BRAZIL)

COMING 2026

Katô: Dreams of Dark Earth

LAND: DAJE KAPAP EYPI (BRAZIL)

COMING 2026

Maasai

LAND: OLOSHO LE MAA (KENYA)

COMING 2027

Haida

LAND: HAIDA GWAII (CANADA)

COMING 2027

Ifá

LAND: TSENACOMOCO (VIRGINIA)

COMING 2027

The Eternal Song

LAND: EARTH

Mauri

LAND: AOTEAROA (NEW ZEALAND)

If an Owl Calls
Your Name

LAND: UNIST’OT’EN YIN’TAH (CANADA)

In the Circle of Life

LAND: BUNDJALUNG & WIRADJURI (AUSTRALIA)

Sila

LAND: KALAALLIT NUNAAT (GREENLAND)

Little Singer

LAND: DINÉ BIKÉYAH (ARIZONA)

‘Āina

LAND: MOKUPUNI HAWAI’I

Guarani-Kaiowá

LAND: MATO GROSSO DO SUL (BRAZIL)

Mundurukú

LAND: DAJE KAPAP EYPI (BRAZIL)

Maasai

LAND: OLOSHO LE MAA (KENYA)

Haida

LAND: HAIDA GWAII (CANADA)

Ifá

LAND: TSENACOMOCO (VIRGINIA)

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from the Following Wisdom Keepers & Elders
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Carrying the Vision

The Crew

Born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria, and fascinated with exploring life’s big questions, Zaya feels most at home in nature and, increasingly, within herself. Her deepest passion is bringing spiritual wisdom in service of all life. She has produced and directed several award-winning documentaries including The Wisdom of Trauma, The Art of Life, Rays of the Absolute, and Where Olive Trees Weep
Zaya Ralitza BenazzoProducer / Director
Zaya Ralitza Benazzo
Born and raised in Genova, Italy with deep ancestral roots in Piemonte, Maurizio is devoted to making visible the profound interconnectedness between all forms of life and the ancestral wisdom that flows through it. He and Zaya co-founded SAND, and together they have since co-directed, produced and independently distributed several award-winning documentaries.
Maurizio BenazzoProducer / Director
Maurizio Benazzo
Nika is a cinematographer born in Tbilisi, Georgia and raised in Toronto, Canada. After making his first film, Nika dived deep into the world of electronic music events. He joined some of the world's most renowned DJs on tour, creating music videos and after-movies for them. He also engaged in meaningful work with NGOs around the world.
Nickoloz KachibaiaDirector of Photography
Nickoloz Kachibaia
Caroline's natural talents cover three areas: science, art and drama. After receiving her Masters in Science, Caroline found unlikely doors opening for her with the BBC Natural History Unit and the BBC World Service. By the age of 28, she had filmed in over 30 countries and even had her feature documentary, an exposé on China’s Energy Industry, shut down by top government officials.
CAROLINE CAMPBELLDirector OF PHOTOGRAPHY
CAROLINE CAMPBELL
Finley is a film and television editor, producer, and director from Toronto, Canada. Having cut thousands of commercial spots by the age of seventeen and his first feature at eighteen, Finley practically grew up in a post-house. Working with countless producers in Canada, the US, and Europe, Finley has amassed innumerable credits at a very young age. His most recent works include The Case Against Cosby, Life Below Zero: Canada, and In Their Own Words.
Finley MacNeilEditor / Producer
Finley MacNeil
Alexis is an Emmy award-winning producer and a video editor with over a decade of experience working for companies like NBC, CBS, ESPN and Netflix. She graduated from Brown University with a dual degree in Film and Theatre. When Alexis is not working on film and television, she enjoys performing with her band, Otaku Ongaku, and querying agents with her fantasy trilogy, The Shadow.
Alexis AurigemmaProducer
Alexis Aurigemma
Armand is a French Moroccan composer born in Jerusalem. He was imbued early with the sounds of instruments considered exotic at the time. He co-founded the record label Long Distance, dedicated to traditional music, and opened a museum in Paris for his huge collection of instruments from all over the world. Armand created Leylâ & Majnûn, an internationally acclaimed oratorio for the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music in Morocco.
Armand AmarComposer
Armand Amar
Jeanric grew up on the shores of Algeria where he developed a passion for the water element. His strong scientific background and his Kashmir Tantric Shaivism spiritual path directed him to become, pell-mell, an aquatic bodyworker, a telecommunication engineer, a pool specialist, a venture capitalist, and more. He helps with sound recording, writing, translating, editing, financial organization and human resources.
Jeanric MellerAssociate Producer
Jeanric Meller
A mother, educator, and elder-in-becoming from a loud and loving Italian family, Lisa values reciprocity, possibility, compassion and transformation. She believes in a world that works for everyone and remains committed to living in integrity and connection. She was instrumental in the physical organization of the journey.
Lisa Breschi Location Producer
Lisa Breschi
Yasen was born in Palo Alto, in the heart of Silicon Valley, where his early fascination with computers and visual storytelling shaped his unique approach to filmmaking. His professional path has included work as a cinematographer at Brown Barn Films, sound recordist and assistant camera for SAND, and production assistant on the feature film Under The Lights.
Yasen StoevCamera Assistant/Sound Recording
Yasen Stoev

Knowledge Holders

Our Guides

Pat McCabe (Weyakpa Najin Win, Woman Stands Shining) is a voice for global peace, and her paintings are created as tools for individual, earth and global healing. She draws upon the Indigenous sciences of Thriving Life to reframe questions about sustainability and balance, and is devoted to supporting the next generations in being functional members of the “Hoop of Life” and upholding the honor of being human.
Pat McCabeMother, Grandmother, Activist, Ceremonial leader, Diné
Pat McCabe
Tiokasin has a long history with Indigenous activism and advocacy. The Founder, Host and Executive Producer for 28 years of First Voices Radio in New York City and Seattle/Olympia, Washington, he received many awards including a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016 and an award for New York City’s Peacemaker of the Year in 2013. He is a “perfectly flawed human being."
Tiokasin GhosthorseFounder of First Voices Radio, Cheyenne River Lakota Nation
Tiokasin Ghosthorse
Born and raised in a remote village of Northeast Greenland, Rakel declared she would be a shaman when she was four. In 2012, she immersed herself in nature and the teachings from Silap Aappaa (the other worlds) to reconnect with the wisdom of her ancestors. By 2019, Rakel was formally initiated into the ancient tradition as an angakoq (medicine woman). She helps individuals rediscover their souls and restore harmony within themselves and the world.
Aviaja Rakel Sani-muinaq KristiansenInuk Shaman, Kangigaimeer, Nunarput (Greenland)
Aviaja Rakel Sani-muinaq Kristiansen
Iya is a trauma specialist with ancestors in West Africa, Barbados, Jamaica and the Bahamas who brings over two decades of experience in mental health, social services, and community advocacy. She empowers individuals and communities to break cycles of trauma through healing practices which emphasize reconnection with cultural roots. She is a speaker and educator with a mission to facilitate re-culturing and healing of indigenous people all over the world.
Iya AffoFounder of Heal Historical Trauma, Speaker & Educator
Iya Affo
Bayo Akomolafe is the Chief Curator of The Emergence Network, a speaker, author, fugitive neo-materialist com-post-activist public intellectual and Yoruba poet. Bayo was born in 1983 into a Christian home, and to Yoruba parents in western Nigeria. Now living between India and the United States, Bayo is a father of Alethea Aanya and Kyah Jayden Abayomi. He is married to EJ, his dear life-partner of Indian descent.
Bayo AkomolafeYoruba Philosopher, Writer
Bayo Akomolafe
Chief Oluwo Obafemi Fayemi Epega is a world-renowned Babalawo and the founder of O.I.D.S.I. (Obafemi Institute for the Divine & Universal Study of Ifa). He was initiated as a priest of Obatala in 2004, and received his Tefa in 2005. He strongly believes that the restoration and preservation of African divine sciences and traditions can restore psychological balance and personal empowerment to all people. A lecturer, teacher and healer and the author of Who is Sambo?.
Obafemi FayemiFounder of Obafemi Institute for the Divine Study of Ifa
Obafemi Fayemi

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