Parkway Theater has received a supplemental JBL SRX series PA system by Wiklander & Associates and Henley Audio; the venue offers a beautiful & great-sounding space for Live Music events. The December 23rd “Benefit for Standing Rock” showcase featured a lineup of up-and-coming Minnesota Hip Hop artists including: deM atlaS, Kill the Vultures, Kristoff Krane and local legends Los Nativos. The event was hosted by Maria Isa and Lady Xok. Each of these artists donated their talent for the fundraising event to help the Standing Rock camp in North Dakota raise funds for winter camping supplies. (Proceeds for this event directly benefit the “Sicangu Oyate” camp, which hosts many grandmothers and women with young children.)

The Standing Rock movement is one of the most important current social/political issues involving both environmental protection and honoring tribal land treaties. In the case of the Dakota Access Pipeline, the Standing Rock Sioux have been able to attract support from hundreds of tribes all over North America, not just in places that would be directly affected. The tribes aren’t just leaning on long-held beliefs about the importance of the natural world. They’re also using long-held resistance strategies, like the encampment itself.

Another fundraising event will be held from 7pm-Midnight on Friday January 6th, at In the Heart of the Beast Theater. This event will feature Drummers and Singers from the Anishinabeg Ogichida Bald Eagle Society, and video from the Tomorrow’s Ancestors Speak project. More information can be found on its Facebook Event Page.

*Photos by Elliot Malcolm