Following their headlining performance at Fire in the Mountains, Norwegian collective Wardruna have donated $14,000 to Firekeeper Alliance, a non-profit committed to reducing suicide rates among the Blackfeet Nation and other indigenous communities.
The funds were raised through the creation and sale of a limited-edition t-shirt, designed by a student in the Blackfeet Nation. More than 500 shirts were sold both online and at the festival.
“It makes us profoundly happy and proud to see that the Wardruna community all over the world responded with a genuine desire to support the Firekeeper Alliance, their cause, purpose and work,” the band shared. “True light-work is about daring to name and face the shadows, the dark and the pain. Thank you Firekeeper Alliance for your important work with suicide prevention. It was deeply moving to see the positive ripples of this work at Fire in the Mountains. Keep the fire burning!”
“As for many others, our experience is hard to put into words. It was one of those events that changes people and views,” adds Wardruna’s Einar Selvik.
Charlie Speicher, director of Firekeeper Alliance, says: “The connection between FITM, FKA, Wardruna, By Norse and AISAmusic is one of the most powerful relationships I’ve been a part of. This support of our mission and the work we are doing means a lot to us. From the very bottom of our hearts, thank you. This gesture, and everything else you have supported us with, is going to translate directly to creating a safer world here for our loved ones. Please know that your love, support, and generosity has lifted our organization to allow us to help our community in ways we never dreamed would be possible.”
Wardruna returns to North America next month in support of their recently released album, Birna. Chelsea Wolfe opens on all dates except Los Angeles.