Justice for the Lakota People
Tell Biden: Free Leonard Peltier!
American Indian Movement (AIM) activist Leonard Peltier was convicted on false evidence in 1975 and sentenced to two life sentences. He’s been a political prisoner in a federal penitentiary since 1977. It’s long past time for the White House to grant him clemency. Tell the president: do the right thing, and free Leonard Peltier! You can learn more here.
Winning Lakota Justice
For over a decade, we’ve been standing strong with the Lakota to counteract treaty violations, protect sovereignty, and confront systemic racism. We're helping to safeguard sacred lands and water, end the epidemic of children being removed from their families and traditions, and amplify Native voices.
- September 22, 2022
Standing Rock and Lakota Law Launch Rez the Vote 2022
It's time to get out the Native Vote in 2022! Through our innovative Rezball3 nation-to-nation basketball tournament on Oct. 22-23, we're getting tribal nations together and to the polls. It's an exciting, first-of-it's kind event, to be live-streamed at give.lakotalaw.org.
- May 26, 2022
A Big Win for Native Voting Rights
A federal judge in South Dakota ruled in our favor that the state has repeatedly violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). The judgment in this case, in which Lakota Law is a plaintiff, is a giant step forward in the battle to make sure Native voices are properly heard at the ballot box — especially in a state where Native Peoples make up nine percent of the population.
- May 25, 2022
Lakota Law Launches Indigenous Community Showcase
Indigenous people are doing amazing things in the world, and we’re spotlighting Indigenous high school and college athletes, educators, community heroes, and everyday all-stars. This is a place to raise up the actions and accomplishments of people in our communities! If you’d like to nominate a special individual from Lakota country or beyond who more people should know about, please head to our Action Center by clicking below.
- March 2, 2022
Army meets with Great Sioux Nation to Discuss DAPL
Tribal input is finally asked for by U.S. government officials.
- February 28, 2022
Supreme Court Takes Up ICWA Case
Justices are expected to hear arguments on whether to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act this fall.
- September 17, 2021
Big Oil Lawyers and Four States Including Texas Challenge the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns this critical law, it could be the first domino in a series of events that ultimately threaten tribal sovereignty.
- July 8, 2021
LPLP Joins Lawsuit Against South Dakota
Along with the Rosebud and Oglala Nations, we're suing South Dakota over its failures to abide by the National Voting Rights Act.
- June 2, 2021
Hundreds of Native Children's Bodies Discovered at Canadian Boarding Schools
It's time to examine the real U.S. history and take steps toward truth and healing!
- March 15, 2021
Senate Confirms Deb Haaland as U.S. Secretary of the Interior
The 35th-generation New Mexican makes history as the first Indigenous Cabinet secretary U.S. history. Finally, a Native person will oversee the federal government's relationships with tribal nations and stewardship of public lands.
- January 20, 2021
Biden Cancels KXL
President Biden revokes the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline on his first day in office, fulfilling his campaign promise and taking an important step with respect to Native nations and climate responsibility.
- October 27, 2020
AP and CPI Cover our Vote 2020 Effort at Standing Rock
LPLP partners with Standing Rock Nation to get out the vote on the rez and in battleground states amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Associated Press and Center for Public Integrity are on the story.
- March 25, 2020
Standing Rock Wins a Big Victory as Judge Revokes DAPL's Federal Permits.
You can send a message of solidarity and congratulations to the tribe!
- December 26, 2019
Kinship Care on Standing Rock Nation
The Lakota People's Law Project opens a new foster home at Standing Rock to provide Native-run kinship care for kids in need.
- November 13, 2019
Thousands Join Tribes' Opposition to Dakota Access Pipeline Expansion
LPLP attends the North Dakota Public Service Commission public hearing to oppose DAPL expansion. Over the past two months, LPLP and tens of thousands of supporters have joined the Standing Rock, Cheyenne River, Rosebud, and Oglala Sioux nations in demanding the hearing and asking that the Commission deny the dangerous plan to double DAPL's oil capacity.
- October 9, 2019
Greta Thunberg Visits Lakota Territory
LPLP is overjoyed to join the Oglala and Standing Rock Nations in welcoming teenaged Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg to Lakota Country. LPLP, Red Cloud Indian School, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe host a climate panel at Pine Ridge with Greta and Tokata Iron Eyes. The two also lead a panel at Standing Rock and a march in Rapid City.
- September 4, 2019
Pine Ridge Passes Marriage Equality and Anti-Hate Legislation
Muffie Mousseau and Felipa De Leon lead the charge for LGTBQ2S-positive change to the Pine Ridge Reservation. LPLP helps document and publicize their tireless efforts to convince the Oglala Nation Tribal Council to pass a landmark marriage equality statute on Pine Ridge and South Dakota's first anti-hate legislation.
- June 6, 2019
AOC Welcomes Oglala Nation President Bear Runner and LPLP to Washington
LPLP joins Oglala Sioux Tribe President Julian Bear Runner's D.C. delegation to meet with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) about Keystone XL, the climate crisis, and the Green New Deal.
- April 9, 2019
LPLP Assists the Oglala Lakota Nation with Flood Relief
From April to June 2019, in the wake of massive flooding, LPLP provides organizing and media support to facilitate flood relief for the Pine Ridge Reservation. This work culminates in two landmark disaster declarations and badly needed aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
- October 25, 2018
Standing Rock The Vote!
North Dakota implements a restrictive voter ID law meant to disenfranchise Native voters. The Lakota People’s Law Project, Four Directions, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe fight back with a ground campaign to enroll tribal citizens and get them to the polls on election day. Standing Rock issues 727 new IDs and more than doubles its turnout from the prior midterm election.
- Voter transport during Standing Rock the Vote campaign. Bus owned by Sacred Stone camp.
- August 21, 2018
North Dakota Drops Charges Against Chase Iron Eyes
After LPLP's legal team begins deposing law enforcement personnel, North Dakota prosecutors drop both serious charges against Chase Iron Eyes—alleged criminal trespass and incitement of a riot. Many thanks to all the kind and generous supporters who made this victory possible!
- June 13, 2018
#NestlePledge: LPLP Joins the Nestle Boycott
Citing Nestle's unethical business practices, LPLP launches the #NestlePledge and joins the movement to #BoycottNestle and its products. #WaterIsLife
- April 14, 2018
#GreenTheRez: Renewable Solutions and Energy Independence for Standing Rock
LPLP's Phyllis Young spearheads the campaign for energy independence on Standing Rock. Sustainable solutions, new statewide renewable standards, and incentives for green projects can move the Dakotas, which still rely on coal for 70 percent of their energy, away from dependence on fossil fuels.
- November 5, 2017
LPLP Petitions North Dakota to #DropDAPLCharges for Water Protectors
Leaked documents reveal that a private security firm hired by DAPL parent company Energy Transfer Partners targeted, surveilled, and provoked the peaceful and prayerful water protectors at Standing Rock. LPLP's campaign—which ultimately gathers over 55,000 signatures—calls on the state of North Dakota to drop the charges of water protectors arrested during #NoDAPL.
- Drop DAPL Charges petition signers included on Sitting Bull art installation in Fort Yates, ND.
- January 1, 2017
Pipeline Battles Shift to the Courts
After militarized police raid the newly-established Last Child Camp and arrest Chase Iron Eyes, LPLP Chief Counsel Daniel Sheehan steps in to organize Chase's defense. LPLP also provides litigation support to several tribes’ fights in Washington, D.C. against DAPL.
- April 1, 2016
The #NoDAPL Fight Begins
In the spring, members of the LPLP team—including lead counsel Chase Iron Eyes and tribal liaison Madonna Thunder Hawk—join the resistance camps on Oceti Sakowin treaty land to stop the Dakota Access pipeline. In addition to providing organizing, logistical, and media support, LPLP petitions to prevent the pipeline from violating Lakota treaty rights and threatening Standing Rock‘s water supply.
- Oceti Sakowin prayer camp, Sept. 2016.
- December 1, 2015
“Native Lives Matter”: LPLP Tackles Indigenous Justice
LPLP’s “Native Lives Matter” report details the unequal treatment of Native Americans by the U.S. criminal justice system. It also exposes some disturbing facts: a higher percentage of Native Americans are jailed and killed than any other ethnic community.
- February 9, 2013
Nine Tribes Join LPLP to Put Forward ICWA Solutions
LPLP and the Coalition of Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Directors send reports to Congress confirming the charges of pharmaceutical drug overuse in South Dakota Foster Care, as featured on NPR. In May, the Standing Rock and Oglala Sioux Tribes join with LPLP to host the historic BIA Great Plains ICWA Summit addressing Lakota foster care concerns. The state refuses to attend.
"South Dakota is still trafficking our children, Lakota children, Indian children, and they get millions of federal dollars every year for their so-called 'child welfare services.'"
–Madonna Thunder Hawk
- August 1, 2004
The Lakota People's Law Project Launches
In 2004, a group of Lakota grandmothers asks the Romero Institute to investigate dangers to Native children in their homelands. Systematically removed from their families by South Dakota Social Services, drugged in foster care, and prone to suicide, these children are the latest victims in the slow-genocide of the Lakota people and their culture.