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Standing Rock activist Chase Iron Eyes to speak at Niagara Falls Indigenous Peoples Day celebration

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Mon, Sep 20th 2021 10:45 am

The Atlantis School For Gifted Youngsters will host Niagara Falls first Indigenous Peoples Day celebration Oct. 8-9, featuring internationally renowned Standing Rock activist Chase Iron Eyes and Lakota Wisdom Keeper Chief Bear Cross of the Ghost Nation.

This two-day celebration will consist of three events:

•From 4-5 p.m. Friday, a speaking engagement at the Niagara Falls Public Library on "Sacred America: Breaking 500 Years of Silence." Following a brief Invocation by Chief Bear Cross, Chase Iron Eyes will discuss the power of Indigenous culture, sovereignty and lessons from Standing Rock. This event will be free and open to the public. 

•From 11-11:15 a.m. Saturday, an official press conference at the Veterans Monument at Hyde Park in Niagara Falls. Chase Iron Eyes will briefly speak on the history of Wounded Knee and plight of the Lakota People.

•From 2-4 p.m. Saturday, a VIP meet-and-greet with Chase Iron Eyes and Chief Bear Cross at an undisclosed location. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online at https://ipd2021.eventbrite.com.

Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center visitor experience specialist and community liaison Saladin Allah said, "In the spirit of solidarity and in celebration of the original people of North America, Indigenous Peoples Day was created to honor the past, present and futures of indigenous peoples, acknowledge the legacy of colonialism, and to raise awareness of its present-day impact on their communities. To celebrate Niagara Falls' first annual Indigenous Peoples Day, we are honored to have Six Nations members, Seneca Mothers, internationally renowned Standing Rock Activist Chase Iron Eyes and Lakota Wisdom Keeper Chief Bear Cross of the Ghost Nation here to celebrate their rich cultural legacy."

Chase Iron Eyes is an activist lawyer for the Lakota People’s Law Project. He was raised on the Standing Rock Nation and now lives on the Oglala Lakota Nation (Pine Ridge Reservation). Chase co-founded the Last Real Indians media model of frontline reporting in addition to an uncensored critique of the present-day issues to give voice to the voiceless, presence to the unseen and action to prophecy. He is also a spokesperson for the Leonard Peltier freedom campaign as well as the public relations liaison 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.

Chief Bear Cross, Wisdom Keeper of the Lakota People, is the Leader of the Ghost Nation. He received his war bonnet from Spiritual Leader Leonard Crow Dog, who led the takeover of the town of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1973 (known as the Wounded Knee Incident). 

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