Thank you for the wonderful article of the Whirling Rainbow Foundation’s “Holy Ground” CD Release Concert in the Jan. 7 edition. We were thrilled to have Homer residents step into our performance with their musical talent just a few days prior to the event. Thanks to our great community.

As an Austrian board member, I have volunteered for  four years for this Homer based nonprofit and its global peace, healing and sustainability work. Within these four years, my personal life not only transformed in ways that I could not have possibly imagined, but I was fortunate to witness the impact of the Alaska foundation’s work across the world. 

In total, I have traveled 14 countries with the project and seen its extensive work with indigenous tribes and western cultures. The newly released CD was recorded during the “2013 GrandMother Drum Europe Tour.” I was the Europe tour manager, orchestrating venues in nine countries over six months and driving a total of 20,000 miles. 

The main purpose of the tour were reconciliation ceremonies at the concentration camps of my homelands, and between Israeli and German speaking people on the 80th year of Hitler coming into power. Not only did we have Austrian and Israeli musicians on tour with us, but the symbol of unity between both cultures became the building of a 3-foot Community Drum that had a crystal mounted in the shape of Austria. The Community Drum is now with our Israeli peace workers, keeping the pulse of forgiveness. 

Another highlight was facilitating Austrian seniors in healing sessions, who for the first time ever opened up about the trauma of World War II. We are delighted to have moved our nonprofit from Palmer to Homer and to serve this community. 

Michaela Ashaneya Baumgartner

The Whirling Rainbow Foundation