‘Broken Walls’ plans Iditarod Trail tour

The Native American band Broken Walls, which performed in Wasilla in November 2010 and has been nominated six times for Aboriginal Music Awards, will return to the state for a special Iditarod event.

Band member Bill Pagaran, a Tlingit from Palmer, said the group is raising $20,000 to charter two planes to carry the band’s three members and their assorted gear to villages along the Iditarod Trail Feb. 28 to March 6.

The band plans to visit Fairbanks, Tanana, McGrath, Kaltag, Unalakleet, White Mountain and Nome, Pagaran said. And its performances and interactions with rural Alaska communities will focus on suicide prevention efforts, he said.

Broken Walls will be in Fairbanks Feb. 24 to 27, and on the Iditarod Trail Feb. 28 to March 6.

Band member Jonathan Maracle is a Mohawk of Tyendinaga Territory, Ontario, Canada, and performs lead vocals, guitar, wind flute and big drum. Kris Delorenzi is from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and performs on bass, vocals and big drum. And Pagaran performs on drums, percussion, big drum and vocals.

For more information, or to contribute to the fund-raiser, call Bill Pagaran at 745-8294 or 355-2282.

Contact Heather A. Resz at heather.resz@frontiersman.com or 352-2268.