Tree Love Collective presents benefit show for Standing Rock, Oceti Sakowin Camp


Tree Love Collective set up stage in solidarity with protesters at Standing Rock for an non-profit night of live entertainment, art, and “Good Vibes”.

Held in Centennial Hall, the Standing Rock benefit show, named “We Are Water,” featured two bands, two live DJs and art raffles. Otherwise a free event, the event asked for a recommended $10 donation.

Gordie Morton, Tree Lover Collective founder and Central Michigan University alumnus, said more than $1,500 was raised for the Oceti Sakowin Camp.

“I get incredible vibes and smiles. I am just kind of disconnecting from school and hanging out with some really nice people,” Grand Rapids junior Luke Bera said.

Located at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, North Dakota, Oceti Sakowin Camp is the unified encampment of Water Protectors. The campers are dedicated to protecting the native land and water from the threats implied by the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The Dakota Access Pipeline is the latest 30-inch diameter pipeline expected to join crude oil production areas in North Dakota to refining areas in Patoka, Illinois. As a 1,172-mile long pipeline funded by natural gas and propane company, Energy Transfer Partners (ETP), the DAPL skyrockets environmental concerns.

“Raising money for Standing Rock is just such an amazing thing for us to do,” Flushing freshman Emily Jones said. “We’ve won a couple of battles with Standing Rock with moving and rerouting the pipeline, but there is so many more things to fight for. We really need to stand up for our environment and this is something that is super important for us.”

The DAPL guarantees a severe threat to the Missouri River due to the high tendency of leakage in underground pipelines along with further investment into US dependency on fossil fuels.

To aid in the cancellation of the pipe, the art collective dedicated the evening to what Hannah Rose, a Flushing senior and art director, described as “partying with a purpose.”

“I believe it’s really important we protect our water and our environment,” Rose said. “I am really grateful for the people out there being our Water Protectors and actively showing the truth, and being journalistic in mind and trying to reveal what’s actually happening. When it comes down to our earth we have to take care of it.”

The musical lineup included performances by Sektor Z, Symbiosis, Desmond Jones and Funk-A.

“The music alone is what really brings us all together. I feel like music is ultimately one of the biggest influences on our generation,” Livonia junior Jesse Culp.

Symbiosis, a band with an emphasis on electric guitar solos and improvising, debuted an original lineup. Prior to leaving the stage, the group thanked audiences for “donating (to) such a beautiful cause.”

Desmond Jones, , a funk band set in Grand Rapids, arrived with Advocates of Change materials.

Advocates of Change, who supplied the event’s art raffle, is an non-profit organization founded in 2014 that accompanies various bands throughout their tours. At each event, the organization bases fundraising and community services off the needs and charities of the location. Funding to be donated is collected by raffling off artwork donated by fans of the band being represented.

“These are very important times in our life and it’s very cool for us to play music for them,” vocalist John Nowak said.

The visual artists at the venue live created and sold prints, handcrafted jewelry, woodwork and canvas work.

Grand Haven senior Megan Ferguson showcased and sold prints produced using recycled materials. Her art, derived from nature and inspired by humanitarian ideas and “Mother Earth”, gave way for her encouraging peaceful change.

“We can get the word out about peaceful change,” Ferguson said.

We Are Water was used as a way to not only make a financial impact on something important to a college-oriented audience, but to show support to Water Protectors and “Fight the power.”

“The stopping of the Dakota Access Pipeline is really important-it’s really just a beautiful, modern civil disobedience. It’s great to be a part of the resistance,” Livonia senior Drew Graham said. “There’s a lot of government forces and corporate influencing this and it’s great to stand up against it and vote with your dollar.”  

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About Samantha Shriber

Samantha Shriber is a staff reporter at Central Michigan Life and is a Saint Clair Shores ...

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