Recently, in October of 2024, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) published an article about the Irminfolk that we believe misrepresents our organization’s mission, values, and history— going as far as to label us with terms such as “white supremacist” and “neo-Volkish.” The ADL uses these terms associated with criminal activities and acts of terrorism to smear groups it arbitrarily targets— these are accusations that we firmly reject as both baseless and defamatory. The Irminfolk is a religious, cultural and non-profit charity based community dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and practice of Native European spirituality in a way that promotes individual growth and community connection. Unfortunately, the ADL’s portrayal includes careless inaccuracies and unfair assumptions while smearing our religious group. We believe these mischaracterizations not only harm our community’s reputation; but also inhibit our ability to practice our religion freely, a right protected under the U.S. Civil Rights Act, by forcing our adherents to hide their faith from employers and peers.
Correcting the Record on Membership and Values
The Irminfolk was founded in 2007 with a commitment to propagating understanding of Native European Spirituality within a broader spirituality community. Contrary to the ADL’s claims, Irminfolk has never had a membership policy based on ethnicity, and in a search of our records, we have found that terms like “Caucasian” simply do not appear anywhere in our documentation. The Irminfolk has held a longstanding commitment to open-to-the-public participation for those interested in Germanic spirituality.
Our core values emphasize Spiritual development, Hospitality, cultural appreciation, environmental stewardship, and the building of positive relationships within our community. We are not—and have never been—a political or racially motivated group.
Clarifying the Inspiration Behind Our Imagery
The article’s claims about our imagery and symbolism are equally unfounded. The Irminfolk’s visual style, including our flags, medals, and ceremonial items, is influenced by 19th-century Romanticism and the European Arts and Crafts movement, not by 20th-century politics or Nazi-era iconography. For instance:
- Flags and Banners: Our standard is inspired by vexiological study of the Napoleonic Wars (specifically, from the war of 1812) and reflects our love of historical art, not extremist symbols. The Irminfolk’s current flag is based on the standard of the 4th Mariupol Hussars under Empress Elizabeth Petronova (circa 1783), not “nazi era” by 150 years, casting into question how responsible it is to consider the ADL “experts” at all.
- Medals: The medals we use draw inspiration from specimens in our 19th-century collections, stylized to promulgate motifs from our religious beliefs. These medals are cherished for their historical value and connection to heritage.
- Knives and Tools: One of the knives in our collection is modeled after the “Wandervogel Pathfinder Knife,” originally popular within the German scouting movement of the 1880s. For a brief period in the 1930s, this widely beloved style was co-opted by the Nazi regime, but it has remained in use long after, embodying outdoor exploration and craftsmanship. Our version is popular with our wandervogel outdoors program and bears symbols of Irminfolk activity and slogans of our religious beliefs.
These historical influences are part of a Romanticist tradition that celebrates beauty, nature, and craftsmanship—values entirely distinct from any 20th-century political affiliations.
The Purpose of Our Community-Based Currency
We created our own local currency, the Futhmark, as part of a community-driven project to support and encourage local trade, echoing a growing movement worldwide. Small, self-sustaining communities benefit when they can exchange goods and services within a network of trusted relationships. This is not unique to Irminfolk and has no connection to the persecutory delusions and “dog whistles” alleged by the ADL. The Futhmark system embodies the principles of mutual support, reduced dependency on corporate supply chains, and the encouragement of small-scale, local economic activity.
A Call for Responsible Reporting
We encourage the ADL and others to take a more responsible approach when reporting on faith communities like The Irminfolk. Our mission is simple: to honor our heritage and foster a respectful community environment based on the values of hospitality, honor, and integrity. We ask that the media and advocacy groups accurately represent us and refrain from projecting assumptions that do not align with our actions or policies. Further, we request a retraction and apology from the ADL.