Tell Congress to stop KXL
Watch our meeting with AOC, and stand with the Oglala Sioux Tribe to protect sacred water from Keystone XL.
Justice for the Lakota People
We partner with the Lakota to help renew Indigenous culture and secure Native autonomy and self-determination.
Ongoing Campaigns
Dedicated to reversing the slow genocide of the Lakota People and destruction of their culture, the Lakota People’s Law Project partners with Native communities to protect sacred lands, safeguard human rights, promote sustainability, reunite indigenous families, and much more.
Preventing Pipelines
Preventing Pipelines
The coming of the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines have fulfilled the Lakota prophecy of a terrible black snake meant to bring harm to the people of Turtle Island. Our organizers stand on the front lines every day to protect the sacred systems of Unci Maka—our Grandmother Earth.
Providing Flood Relief
Providing Flood Relief
In March and April, Winter Storms Ulmer and Wesley ripped through the American Midwest, flooding the Pine Ridge Reservation and displacing thousands of tribal members. We're working with Oglala Sioux Tribe President Julian Bear Runner to provide essential relief to the Oglala Lakota Nation.
Greening Standing Rock
Greening Standing Rock
We’re working on promoting energy independence on Standing Rock and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Through our efforts to #GreenTheRez, we aim to provide a renewable energy blueprint for other tribal nations to follow.Long-Term Partners
For over a decade we’ve been standing strong with the Lakota to end the long history of treaty violations and systemic corruption that has resulted in the loss of their most sacred lands and the epidemic of children being removed from their families and traditions.
Court upholds North Dakota Law Designed to Disenfranchise Native Voters
Truthout covers the decision by a the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to let North Dakota continue to disenfranchise members of its Native populations.
The Capital Journal Covers Lakota leaders' Call to Oppose DAPL Expansion
Read the story here.
Lakota Leaders Demand a Hearing on the Proposed Doubling of Oil DAPL Carries
Join leaders from the Standing Rock, Rosebud, Oglala and Cheyenne River nations in telling North Dakota's Public Service Commission to hold a hearing on doubling the oil flowing across Lakota lands through the Dakota Access pipeline.
Media Coverage of Pine Ridge Marriage Equality
Several major media outlets reported our story on Felipa De Leon, Muffie Mousseau, and their successful effort to pass a marriage equality law for the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
Equality for All on Pine Ridge!
Marriage equality is law on Pine Ridge after Oglala Sioux Tribe members Felipa De Leon and Monique "Muffie" Mousseau led the charge. Now LPLP is supporting them as they focus on passage of a hate crime statute.
Bismarck Tribune Editorial Board Backs Call for DAPL Expansion Oversight
The Bismarck Tribune Editorial Board has backed the call for a public hearing on any potential DAPL expansion.
LPLP Calls for Public Oversight of DAPL Expansion
LPLP joins many activists and organizations calling for public oversight of a proposed DAPL expansion.
Public News Service Covers #GreenTheRez
LPLP organizer Phyllis Young is leading the effort to #GreenTheRez and replace fossil fuel dependence at Standing Rock. Read the story from PNS.
Trump Declares Public Assistance Disaster for the Oglala Lakota Nation
We did it! In just one day, more than 1,100 of you sent a letter to President Trump telling him to declare a public assistance disaster for the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The White House listened, and now the tribe will receive FEMA assistance that can help rebuild Pine Ridge.
A Meeting of the Minds
LPLP joins Oglala Sioux Tribe President Julian Bear Runner's delegation to D.C. to meet with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) about Keystone XL, the Green New Deal, and our climate crisis.
Meeting with AOC
We Join OST President Julian Bear Runner’s Delegation to Meet with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Discuss KXL and the Need to Collaborate for Positive Change.
Justice for Clarence Leading Fighter
On Apr. 14, a 32-year old Lakota man named Clarence Leading Fighter was shot twice and killed by a Rushville, Nebraska sheriff’s deputy in the doorway of a Catholic Church. Now, an eye witness has disputed police accounts of the shooting, saying that Leading Fighter was already incapacitated when he was shot. Sign onto our action demanding a federal investigation.
Lakota Youth Horseback Search and Rescue Mission
Yes Magazine Covers the story of Lakota youth banding together for a horseback search and rescue mission at Pine Ridge in the wake of Winter Storm Ulmer.
OST Tells Governor Noem She's Not Welcome at Pine Ridge
The Oglala Sioux Tribal Council votes to tell South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem she's not welcome at the Pine Ridge Reservation. Her support of "riot boosting" laws unfairly target tribes and their allies who oppose new oil infrastructure on treaty lands.
Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien Covers Pine Ridge Flooding
On Matter of Fact, Soledad O'Brien covers the effects of flooding on two Pine Ridge families in the aftermath of Winter Storms Ulmer and Wesley.
Essential Flood Relief Needs on Pine Ridge
Skilled labor and essential items are still needed in the wake of floods at the Pine Ridge Reservation. Your generosity and support can aid the Oglala Sioux Tribe in recovery efforts after Winter Storm Ulmer.
Tell Congress to Stop KXL
Tell the House Environmental Oversight Committee to investigate Trump's continued fast-tracking of pipelines through Indian Country. Your voice can stop the desecration of sacred land and water!
Talking Circles Explore Ways to Fix the Native Incarceration Epidemic
Native Sun News covered our Day of Empathy talking circles to discuss and find solutions to the Native incarceration epidemic.
Support Criminal Justice Reform for Native People
Email your elected officials and tell them to support legislation to change a criminal justice system that unfairly targets Native Americans.
Santa Cruz Screening of Warrior Women
The Lakota People's Law Project proudly presents a Santa Cruz screening of the award-winning documentary, Warrior Women, with special guest Madonna Thunder Hawk on Mar. 15 at the Resource Center for Nonviolence.
LPLP Legal Team: Suit Against WaPo is an Attack on the First Amendment
On Jan. 19, a Kentucky law firm files suit against The Washington Post for defamation of Nick Sandmann in its coverage of the events at the Lincoln Memorial. LPLP's legal team breaks down this vicious attack on the First Amendment.
People Magazine Covers LPLP's Rebuttal to Flawed Investigation
People Magazine covers LPLP's response when a flawed 'independent investigative report" commissioned by lawyers for the Covington Diocese and Covington Catholic High School hits the news cycle.
LPLP and Nathan Phillips Respond to Flawed Investigative Report
The report seeks to minimize student culpability ahead of a lawsuit filing against the Washington Post. It fails to tell the whole story.
Join Indigenous Leaders in Supporting a Green New Deal
Send a letter to your elected officials calling on their support for a robust Green New Deal with a strong Indigenous focus.
Thank You for Helping #StandingRockTheVote
In our video we share our gratitude to all who helped get out the Native vote on Standing Rock.
Check out our campaign page for news stories and video content covering the coalition effort to get out the vote in North Dakota.
ABC News Nightline Video of #StandingRockTheVote Effort
Our sincere thanks to ABC Nightline for its excellent coverage of the Lakota People's Law Project, Four Directions, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the coordinated effort to help Tribal members get the assistance they need to vote.
MSNBC and PRI Report on Native Voter Suppression in North Dakota and Our Work at Standing Rock
The Lakota People’s Law Project, Four Directions, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe are mounting a ground campaign to enroll Native voters before the the election and to make sure they get to the polls on election day. In our new video, you’ll see our team on the ground, making a difference. As the election approaches, we’ll continue to increase our presence so we can make the biggest impact possible on Nov. 5.
Video and Resources: You CAN Vote in North Dakota
North Dakota’s new voter ID law means that many of North Dakota’s tribal residents need new identification in order to vote. This page can help you get a new ID, official papers, and a ride to the polls. You can vote this November. Click to see a video message from Standing Rock elder Phyllis Young and the number to call for voter assistance.
Defend Indigenous Women. Reform Alaskan Sex Crime Laws.
Stand in solidarity with Native women everywhere and with all survivors of sexual assault as we join together to inspire change. Please tell Alaska’s lawmakers that their state must stop protecting violent sex offenders and start safeguarding Native—and all—women.
Video: Legal Tools from Standing Rock
In our new video, chief counsel Daniel Sheehan details how our legal strategy and the evidence we collected for the Chase Iron Eyes trial can help other pipeline protesters understand and expose the tactics of police, oil companies, and militarized security firms. We’re compiling and making these tools available to anyone arrested for protecting sacred land and water.
Press Release: All Serious Charges Dropped Against Iron Eyes
Read our press release detailing victory in our legal defense of Chase Iron Eyes. North Dakota prosecutors dropped both serious charges against Chase—alleged criminal trespass and incitement of a riot. Many thanks to all the kind and generous supporters who made this victory possible!
Protect Free Speech: Tell Trump, We Are Not Terrorists
Policies violating the constitutional rights of activists and Indigenous people must end. Tell the president and his allies to stop treating demonstrators like terrorists. Please watch our video and sign our letter to Trump—then share it with your networks to ensure our voices are heard loud and clear.
Milestones in Landmark Trial
Three short videos give you insight into critical developments occurring during the Chase Iron Eyes #NoDAPL case. Despite constant obstruction by prosecutors and opposing counsel, our team creates valuable records during discovery that will live in the public record to assist future water and land protectors. Chase's trial may be over, but we continue to stand in solidarity with activists everywhere. We'll never slow down in our mission to expose the truth.
Update: Standing Rock #GreenTheRez Campaign—12,000 petitions and counting!
Standing Rock is the third poorest community in the United States, and yet its people pay some of the highest electricity rates in the Dakotas. Watch this video to learn about progress in our campaign to #GreenTheRez and gain energy sovereignty for Standing Rock!
Protect Water, Take the #NestlePledge
Nestle, the world's largest food and beverage company, hoards water from sensitive ecosystems and makes billions in profit as disaster capitalists. Take our #NestlePledge and join the movement to #BoycottNestle and ALL its products. Signify to Nestle that #WaterIsLife. You can learn more about the history of Nestle’s unethical and predatory business practices here.
Power of Partnership
LPLP organizer Phyllis Young goes to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to network with luminaries who can help #GreenTheRez. Phyllis and Chase Iron Eyes discuss the power that partnerships with MIT, tribal leadership, and LPLP supporters like you give to the movement for energy sovereignty at Standing Rock.
Depositions Begin!
In June, our legal team begins deposing law enforcement, private security, and oil company officials to gather evidence for the Chase Iron Eyes defense. Watch our video to learn more!
State Must Hand Over Withheld Evidence in Iron Eyes Case
At a crucial hearing during the Chase Iron Eyes #NoDAPL trial, Judge Lee Christofferson admonishes the North Dakota state’s prosecutor for withholding evidence. The judge also grants Chase Iron Eyes' legal team authority to subpoena Tiger Swan, the private military security firm hired by Energy Transfer Partners. To learn more, watch the video below!
Sign the Petition to #GreenTheRez
Your voice supports energy independence for Standing Rock and sustainable solutions that can make the Dakotas greener and cleaner. 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. Renewable energy can deliver reasonable rates and local tribal control over the power supply to Standing Rock.
#DropDAPLCharges for Water Protectors
Leaked documents reveal that a private security firm hired by DAPL parent company Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) targeted, surveilled, and provoked the peaceful and prayerful water protectors at Standing Rock. Sign the petition asking North Dakota to drop all charges against the peaceful and prayerful water protectors of Standing Rock.
Federal Judge Rules Environmental Review of DAPL Insufficient
Pipeline Battle Shifts to 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.
#NoDAPL Fight Begins
In the spring, members of the LPLP team — including lead counsel Chase Iron Eyes and tribal liaison Madonna Thunder Hawk — become involved in resistance camps on 1851 Oceti Sakowin Treaty land formed to stop the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL). LPLP provides media support on the ground and begins circulating petitions in opposition to DAPL, which violates Lakota treaty rights and threatens Standing Rock‘s water supply.
“Native Lives Matter”: LPLP Work Expands
A Solution is Proposed
Lakota People's Law Project is Formed
"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.'"