On Wednesday, April 2, Lakota Law Director Chase Iron Eyes hosted State of the Nations: A Lakota Law Membership Circle Event. This important conversation featured heartfelt presentations from two very special guests — Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Chairwoman, Charlene Nijmeh, and Vice President of the Nation of Hawaii, Brandon Maka’awa’awa. We took a deep dive on tribal sovereignty in the Trump era. We looked how solidarity between Indigenous nations and legal and activism-centered avenues can position all of us more strongly. It was an epic gathering, and we're so grateful to our presenters for their passion and insight.

On Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. PST (8 p.m. EST), Lakota Law Director Chase Iron Eyes hosted Restoring Tradition Through Transition: A Lakota Law Membership Circle Event. We discussed our transition to full Indigenous leadership under the Sacred Defense Fund, our takes on the state of Turtle Island following the U.S. election, and much more.

On Wednesday, Feb. 28, Lakota Law Director Chase Iron Eyes hosted a panel of young people from across the Oceti Sakowin to hear about their lives, loves, and concerns growing up on the rez. Lakota Law's Tokata Iron Eyes and Dov Korff-Korn also joined to talk about current program priorities.

On Thursday, August 24, Co-Director Chase Iron Eyes hosted a panel of Lakota Law staff including his daughter, spokesperson and organizer Tokata Iron Eyes, our newest staff attorney, Dov Korff-Korn, and our new social media maven, Nadia Brewer. Together, they mapped out the "New Directions" we are heading in for Lakota Law, Indian Country, and Turtle Island.

On Thursday, April 20, Lakota Law Standing Rock Organizer Phyllis Young and Co-Director Chase Iron Eyes shared personal insights into their experiences as activists, gave the inside scoop on Lakota Law’s current campaigns, and looked together toward the future of Native America.

On Tuesday, March 8, we hosted Lakota Law’s first membership event of 2022! Folks from all Lakota Law membership circles gathered on Zoom to hear our co-director and lead counsel, Chase Iron Eyes, Cheyenne River Organizer Madonna Thunder Hawk, and our newest team member, Madonna's granddaughter Decora Hawk, recap the impact you helped create in 2021 and discuss our vision for this year. Great things are in the works, and we look forward to seeing you at the next event to report back!

On Thursday, September 9 we took an inside look at the Line 3 pipeline resistance. Members from all circles of Lakota Law gathered on Zoom to hear firsthand accounts of water protectors involved in direct action with Camp Migizi in Minnesota. Lakota Law co-director Chase Iron Eyes and videographer Witko Clifford provided insights about their experiences battling the construction of Enbridge’s tar sands pipeline. Sarah Rose Harper, Lakota Law’s new online community manager, outlined the role social media plays in activist movements and shared the best ways you can help support these efforts online.

We came together on Zoom on Friday, May 7, joined by Standing Rock organizer Phyllis Young and McLaughlin, SD city councilmember Hoksila White Mountain for an all-circles virtual member event. We heard updates about Lakota Law’s kinship care home on Standing Rock and our forthcoming teen center that will provide safe and culturally enriching activities for youth. Two of Standing Rock’s respected leaders detailed how your support provides these essential services.

Your first Membership Circle Event of 2021 took place on Feb. 25. Lakota Law leaders Madonna Thunder Hawk and Chase Iron Eyes brought you up to date on organizing efforts in the Dakotas. Madonna and Chase answered your questions about DAPL, COVID, kinship care, and more. And we were joined by a special guest speaker, Melanie Thompson, who shared her experience as a Standing Rock phone banker making a difference in the 2020 election cycle by calling Native and swing state voters.

Your second members-only events took place on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Madonna Thunder Hawk and Chase Iron Eyes led a lively discussion about why many Native people have rebranded Thanksgiving as Thankstaking. We talked about the spirit of giving in Lakota culture, celebrated our Vote 2020 success, and looked forward to finishing the year strong by renewing our partnership with Standing Rock with another GOTV effort for the Georgia run-off election.

Your membership kicked off with this special, virtual forum with our Lakota Law leaders in September! Members of every circle were invited to join and hear from Madonna Thunder Hawk, Chase Iron Eyes, and Lakota People’s Law Project chief counsel Daniel Sheehan.

You got an inside look into our current work around pipeline resistance, protecting Native voting rights, supporting tribal COVID checkpoints, and our Native-run kinship home on Standing Rock Nation.

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Recordings of Inner Circle Conversations are not made available publicly. To participate in one of these intimate discussions with Lakota leaders, join the Protector, Wisdom, or Vision Circle here: https://action.lakotalaw.org/membership.

If you have any questions, please contact membership@lakotalaw.org.