July | 2024 | Water is Life

Today, I write to you to share a little piece of joy. Summer is an important time of year in Lakota Country. Right now, many from the Oceti Sakowin and beyond — including my father, Chase — are reconnecting in a deeply meaningful way with their spiritual identities at the annual Sun Dance ceremony.

And about a month ago, I also felt the power of reconnection with our ancestors, homelands, and tradition of horseback riding at this year’s Memorial Crazy Horse Ride. I invite you to watch our new video, which features footage from the days-long event, background on its meaning, and an interview with Oglala Lakota organizer Kylie Richards Red Willow, a junior political science major and pre-law student at the University of Colorado.

Watch: I interviewed organizer Kylie Red Willow about this year’s Memorial Crazy Horse Ride.

By now, you’re most likely aware of Crazy Horse and his enduring legacy. We recently wrote to you about the battles of the Rosebud and Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn), both of which were won in part thanks to this legendary Ogala Lakota war leader. The annual ride pays tribute to him, the role he played in those and many more confrontations with the U.S. Army, and also our other warriors, many of whom honorably served in the U.S. military over the decades.

Native People, of course, have a complicated and bloody history with the U.S. government, but that hasn’t stopped us from answering the call to serve in large numbers to protect this land, particularly when faced with existential threats like Hitler’s fascism during World War II. You may recall that, at that time, 29 Navajo code talkers in the Marine Corps provided a key to victory in the Pacific.

Today, of course, we still face fascist threats — some right here in our own homelands. Whether it’s the architects of Project 2025 seeking to reinstall Donald Trump as their presidential puppet, or S.D. Gov. Kristi Noem, who recently, offensively invoked the Sun Dance to falsely connect Native communities with Mexican drug cartels, we still have plenty of terrible people to fight.

As you know, we’ll take on those battles, and we won’t stop in the pursuit of justice and equality. When we pray to and ride for our ancestors, who fought so hard so we could be here today, we’re always reminded they expect nothing less.

Wopila tanka — my gratitude, always, for your friendship!
Tokata Iron Eyes
Spokesperson & Organizer
Lakota People’s Law Project

With a heavy heart, I report to you that, once again, American Indian Movement (AIM) activist Leonard Peltier has been denied his freedom. On July 2 — despite the best efforts of a large coalition and so many who lobbied the U.S. Parole Commission to do the right thing by Leonard, behind bars since 1977 and our longest-standing political prisoner — it decided against his release.

That said, options remain — so we must keep the pressure on! We continue to ask the president to grant Leonard clemency and let this legendary justice defender live out his remaining years at home. As we have mentioned to you before, Leonard has serious health issues which the prison cannot properly handle. Time is running out. That’s why we hope you’ll send your message to the president and share this action today.

It’s long past time for the president to free Leonard Peltier. Please send your message and share this action.

Understand that Leonard’s case is a classic miscarriage of justice. Leonard, a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota and a Dakota, was a key member of AIM — which pushed back hard in the 1970s against violence in our communities perpetrated under the auspices of federal law enforcement. Thus, the government went after him hard and, despite a host of problems with his trial, he’s now serving two life sentences as a scapegoat.

Problems with his conviction include a lack of eyewitnesses, recanted testimony from other witnesses, and withheld ballistics evidence. The prosecuting attorney is now on record saying Leonard should be freed — and a host of other justice advocates, including Amnesty International and the Dalai Lama, agree.

Leonard’s freedom is an issue of Indigenous sovereignty, as embodied by a single man. A good human being has now spent nearly 50 years behind bars, essentially because he’s Native and once made for a convenient example. Enough is enough! Please send your message to President Biden. Ask him to do the right thing, show empathy to a misunderstood elder with a good heart, and grant clemency to Leonard Peltier.

Wopila tanka — thank you for showing your love and respect.
Chase Iron Eyes
Director and Lead Counsel
The Lakota People’s Law Project