Our New Mission

The Last Real Indians Native News Desk provides accurate reporting and multimedia integration from the Indigenous world for the benefit of all. We are 100% Indigenous owned, and we strongly promote Indigenous editorial agency. We believe it is important to address all facets of the Indigenous experience, from local community issues to society-wide inequity and injustice. We believe that publishing Indigenous voices who adhere to rigorous journalistic standards is essential to the advancement of our international dialog. 

We aspire to make a positive difference in the world by bridging the divide between Indigenous communities and the mainstream consciousness. We provide a completely independent space for Indigenous authors, journalists and content creators to defend human rights and civil liberties, with the end goal of providing a better future for our next generations.

Editorial Independence

Last Real Indians Native News Desk is a publication and program of the 501(c)3 nonprofit Sacred Defense Fund. Last Real Indians enjoys complete editorial independence from our parent organization and from funding sources, including private donors. Our journalistic oversight will come from an independent, majority Indigenous editorial board. This will allow us to provide exclusive, rigorously researched and clearly delineated news content and opinions. Our staff and independently contracted Indigenous authors and creators are free from outside influence and seek only to bring truthful, compelling content from Indigenous communities to the wider world.

Our Leadership Team

Origins

Last Real Indians (LRI) was formed as a warrior nerd collective January 1, 2012. We chose this day to honor the Zapatista, who made a choice to seek liberation and choose a relationship with the land or death rather than see their beloved country turned over to the corporate-extractive state via the North American Free Trade Agreement.

We began to “go viral”  right away in 2012. In those days there was no such thing as a live-feeds or memes. You didn’t have to pay for reach, and people’s attention spans would last 1000 words; it was the good old days.

LRI was partly responsible for beginning on-the-ground action via social media organizing for Indian Country.

The founders of Last Real Indians also embraced the “Idle No More” movement and multi-racial equity, establishing Native Lives Matter as a sister movement to Black Lives Matter, spurred by the unjust murders of Treyvon Martin, Mike Brown, Eric Garner and countless others. LRI organized and hosted the inaugural Native Lives Matter rally in Rapid City, SD, which sought to bring awareness to the obscene disparities that existed for and deaths of Natives in that city.

Later, Keystone XL pipeline opponents set up a road block and notified LRI. LRI was able to publish a story in real time, helping to advance the awareness of independent direct action to new levels with respect to Indian Country. This was one of the first times we went viral. The power of the exclusive content was undeniable.

The LRI platform was also vital in boosting the first-of-its kind crowdfunding effort to save a Lakota sacred site — Pe Sla in the Black Hills. LRI was able to raise and contribute $1 million for its protection and help place it into common tribal ownership. This was the first time in history that Sioux tribes came together for a common purchase. The world was able to witness the depth with which we still hold our covenants with the world’s sacred sites.

In response to a freezing death on the Standing Rock Nation, LRI created our Heating the Rez campaign. We raised money and awareness in an attempt to change the heating systems of families on the reservation to a fuel source which Native people could both use and control the means of production. Pellet-style heating stoves were all installed as a part of this project in 20 elder and low income homes.

#NoDAPL live-streaming and humanitarian aid: In response to an ongoing act of corporate military trespass and aggression, LRI was in position to assist with media production and the supply of provisions to make sure the Oceti resistance camp was provided for between Dec. of 2016 and raiding of the camps on February 23, 2017. 

Throughout its history, prior to the launch of the LRI Native News Desk, LRI has always been committed to boosting causes and providing a platform for resistors, intellectuals, writers, authors, journalists, lawyers and professionals of all walks to say what they need without fear of censorship.  

Now, LRI is focused on providing news about the Indigenous world by Indigenous authors. We adapt the Indigenous experience to evolve the struggles we are born into. We will continue strengthening our newsgathering and reporting abilities and fighting the good fight. We are navigating capitalism, trying to respiritualize the world through conscientious reporting of Indigenous perspectives.

It’s not anyone’s fault if they were born into ignorance, separation, fear and racism. The world is being born into archetypes and foundations which do not connect them to their spirit or to the sacred universe.

Most people judge and are unwilling to dig deeper and think critically. The storytellers who recognize the importance of their roles bear a responsibility to deliver digestible material for the benefit of Mother Earth and humanity. LRI will be here as long as we are useful.