ALCOHOL IN INDIAN COUNTRY

Fire In The Mountains 2025, at the Red Eagle Campground on the Blackfeet Nation, will be an event without alcohol. 

The complicated presence of alcohol in Indian Country…

This decision was made in respect to the wishes of our hosts, and one we respect as it was a decision made with intent. The values of our festival lie in the power of music, nature, and connection above all else. With this, we are aligned with our partners in the vision of the event, and aligned with their wishes to abstain from the presence of alcohol.

To learn more about the reasons why this edition will be conducted without the sale of alcohol, as well as the impacts the festival aims to create – please read the statement below. 

This piece was written in collaboration with one of our partners at the Buffalo Hide Academy on the Blackfeet Nation, and outlines the history behind Alcohol in Indian Country, as well as some of the aims the festival holds to have a positive impact on the lands and people that are hosting us.

The historical presence of alcohol in Indian Country in the United States is one which can be characterized through tragedy and deceit. Initially used as a tool by Europeans to manipulate and influence Indigenous tribes into ceding land and valuable resources, the relationship many native Americans have with alcohol remains complicated to this day.

Alcohol was first introduced to Native American communities during European encroachment of North America during the 15th century. Prior to this, many Indigenous tribes had little or no exposure to alcohol. This sudden introduction of alcohol caused immediate problems in Indigenous communities, many of which still remain today. 

Native Americans have faced centuries of intergenerational trauma due to colonization, forced relocation, cultural suppression, and systemic discrimination. This historical trauma has contributed to higher levels of stress and psychological duress, which can lead to higher rates of substance abuse as a coping mechanism. The disruption and harmful symptoms of settler colonialism and the negative impact on traditional lifestyles and community structures has compounded the impact of alcohol abuse. 

Further, many communities in Indian Country face significant socioeconomic challenges that can inadvertently contribute to increased rates of substance and alcohol abuse. Having had their traditional way of life so abruptly ripped away, native communities typically experience higher rates of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, suicidality, and PTSD. These issues can ultimately lead to severe alcohol use as a form of self-medication.

When creating this partnership with the Blackfeet Nation, it became clear that we needed to take a deeper look at ourselves both as individuals and as festival organizers. Our goal has always been to curate an event that is meaningful; one that connects us and brings us together for a higher purpose. Our early talks with the Blackfeet were impactful to say the least, and during this dialogue we envisioned a festival aimed at fighting a tragic and massively under reported issue in Indian Country; suicide. While discussing the festival design with our partners, we soon realized that an event featuring this higher purpose and one that served alcohol just wasn’t going to work. Through this process, we’ve come to understand new perspectives regarding alcohol and the painful impact it’s had upon Indigenous communities. 

In expressing their belief in our festival and their desire to have a fruitful and meaningful partnership with FITM, many members of the Blackfeet community expressed their profound belief that alcohol exists not just in the physical form, but as a spiritual entity as well. This alcohol spirit has wreaked havoc on Native Americans for centuries and continues to affix itself to families and individuals today. 

Beyond experiencing some of the most incredible musical acts in the industry juxtaposed against a backdrop of mind-melting scenery, one of our shared visions for FITM-Red Eagle is to offer a safe, healing space for our entire community to gather with hopes of generating a different kind of collective spirit……the type of power that’s capable of confronting the darker, more harmful spiritual forces we encounter. As we’ve witnessed during past FITM events, our community is one that cares deeply for one another, which is very rare to experience in most music scenes. A clarity of mind, body, and intention will allow us to collectively confront such malicious forces and shine some bright light on the Suicide Spirit that lurks in Browning, Montana. 

It is for this reason that we took a chance on the idea to have FITM-Red Eagle be a dry event. Our intention is not to alienate the members of our community that have healthy relationships to alcohol, of which there are many. Rather our goal is to elevate and amplify this experience to celebrate reasons to be alive through clear intentions and the synergistic energy of all attendees.