About Last Real Indians…

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

We begin to “go viral”  right away in 2012, in those days there was no such thing as a live-feed 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 the beginning of on the ground action via social media organizing for Indian Country.

Last Real Indians also embraced the space-commandeering movement known as Idle No More while creating successes on its own.

Native Lives Matter was created in December of  to synergize with the recently established Black Lives Matter movement which was spurred by the unjust murders of Treyvon Martin, Mike Brown and Eric Garner among countless nameless others. Because LRI had organized in Rapid City, SD before it was only right that it hosted the inaugural Native Lives Matter rally which sought to bring awareness to the obscene disparities and deaths of Natives in that city. LRI was not aware that Allen Locke was at the NLM rally until after he too was shot 5 times about the chest and neck in front of his partner and children.

Keystone XL opponents set up a road block and notified LRI moments prior. LRI was able to publish a story in real time with the action pushing the notion of independent guerrilla to new levels with respect to Indian Country; it was one of the first time we had gone viral because of the power of the content in addition to the exclusivity LRI possessed.

Pe Sla: the LRI platform was vital in boosting the first-of-its kind crowdfunding effort to save a sacred site. LRI was able to raise and contribute 1Million dollars to the protection of a sacred site which was placed into common Tribal ownership. This was the first time in history 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.

Heating the Rez: In response to a freezing death on the Standing Rock nation, LRI was used to raise money and awareness in an attempt to change the heating systems of families on the reservation to a fuel source which Native people could control the means of production. The 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 Oceti camp was provided for during Dec. of 2016 to the raiding of the camps on February 23, 2017.

LRI is committed to boosting other causes and providing a platform for guerillas, intellectuals, writers, authors, journalists, lawyers and professionals of all walks to say what they need without fear of censorship.  

LRI is adapting the Indigenous experience to evolve the struggles we are born into. We need to strengthen our organizing ability while monetizing certain aspects so we can continue to fight the good fight. We are navigating capitalism; trying to respiritualize the world. It’s not really their fault 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 story-tellers 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.  

Our editors

Chase Iron Eyes is an attorney for the Lakota People's Law Project who was raised on the Standing Rock Nation and now lives on the Oglala Lakota Nation (Pine Ridge Reservation). Chase is working to liberate Indigenous Nations by deconstructing the ongoing colonial oppression executed against Indigenous Nations and empowering others to pick up the fight to respiritualize our collective experience which has been chemicalized by the same colonial forces of extractive capital separating humans from their sacred. 

Chase co-founded the Last Real Indians media movement to give voice to the voiceless, presence to the unseen and action to prophecy. 

Chase is the spokesperson for the Leonard Peltier freedom campaign as well as the public relations liason for Julian Bear Runner, the president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.  

Chase is married to Dr. Sara Jumping Eagle and they are raising their family in Lakota Treaty lands.