Lakota People’s Law Project

Lakota People’s Law Project
Name	Lakota People’s Law Project
Formation	2016
Type	Nonprofit legal advocacy organization
Headquarters	Pine Ridge
Leader title	Founder
Leader name	Chase Iron Eyes

Lakota People’s Law Project The Lakota People’s Law Project is a legal advocacy organization focused on Lakota, Oglala, and other Indigenous rights on the Pine Ridge Reservation, engaging in litigation, policy advocacy, and public education. Founded amid disputes over tribal policing, federal oversight, and treaty enforcement, the organization operates at the intersection of tribal sovereignty, criminal justice reform, and human rights advocacy. It works with tribal governments, civil rights groups, and national legal organizations to challenge state and federal actions affecting Lakota communities.

History and Founding

The group was established in 2016 after controversies involving the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the Oglala Lakota County, and law enforcement practices tied to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, drawing inspiration from legal efforts such as those in Cherokee Nation v. Georgia and historical movements like the American Indian Movement and leaders including Russell Means and Leonard Peltier. Founders referenced precedents from cases involving the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, and litigation related to the Indian Child Welfare Act while engaging advocates from organizations such as the Native American Rights Fund, the ACLU, and the National Congress of American Indians. Early actions connected to disputes over jurisdiction echoed themes from the Wounded Knee occupations and invoked treaties such as the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868) and decisions like United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians.

Mission and Legal Advocacy

The organization frames its mission around protecting Lakota rights under the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868), defending tribal sovereignty asserted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and challenging criminal jurisdiction issues under frameworks such as the Major Crimes Act and rulings like McGirt v. Oklahoma. It pursues litigation against local entities including Bureau of Indian Affairs actors and county officials while partnering with national litigants such as the Native American Rights Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the American Civil Liberties Union. Advocacy strategies draw on precedents from cases like Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe and Montana v. United States and coordinate with Indigenous advocacy networks including First Nations Development Institute, National Indigenous Women's Resource Center, and Resistance movements tied to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Notable Cases and Campaigns

Notable campaigns have included litigation challenging tribal council actions in Oglala Lakota County and lawsuits addressing policing and arrest warrants influencing cases similar to historical suits like United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians and contemporary actions involving the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The group has supported defendants in criminal matters that invoked decisions such as Ex parte Crow Dog and referenced civil rights litigation akin to Brown v. Board of Education in strategy. Public campaigns included collaborations with activists associated with NoDAPL protests at Standing Rock, media efforts linked to journalists from outlets like Indian Country Today, and joint initiatives with human rights bodies such as the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

Leadership has featured attorneys and organizers with ties to tribal governance in the Oglala Sioux Tribe and advocates who previously worked with the Native American Rights Fund and the South Dakota NAACP. The founder and public spokesperson often engaged with legal scholars from institutions like the University of South Dakota School of Law, partnered with litigators experienced in tribal law from firms connected to the American Bar Association Native American sections, and coordinated with elected officials from South Dakota and tribal councils in Rapid City and Pine Ridge. Governance structures have included advisory boards with representation from tribal elders, veterans of movements like the American Indian Movement, and policy experts from entities such as the National Congress of American Indians.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources have included donations from individual supporters, grants from philanthropic organizations similar to the Ford Foundation and the Native American Rights Fund, and partnerships with civil rights groups including the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Collaborations extended to media partners like Indian Country Today and academic partners from universities such as the South Dakota State University and University of South Dakota, along with networks involving the National Congress of American Indians and grassroots groups active in campaigns reminiscent of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe resistance.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters credit the organization with elevating issues on tribal sovereignty comparable to the impact of landmark litigation like United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians and influencing policy debates similar to those spurred by the Indian Child Welfare Act litigation, while critics have raised concerns echoing disputes seen in tribal politics histories such as controversies within the Oglala Sioux Tribe and debates over outside advocacy reminiscent of tensions during the Wounded Knee occupations. The organization’s actions have intersected with federal agencies including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Justice, prompting discussion in tribal forums and coverage by outlets such as Indian Country Today and national media reporting on Indigenous legal issues.

Category:Native American organizations Category:Legal advocacy organizations