Wherever you go among indigenous peoples on this continent, there will be signs or stickers or buttons, demanding freedom for Leonard Peltier. It should have been done a decade ago, it should have been done decades before then.
For centuries, the United States has made Native Spirituality and Religion, illegal on these lands. They have hunted Medicine People, destroyed hidden ceremonies, and targeted spiritual leaders. Many of the Elders I’ve had the honor of spending time with, are covered in scars and broken bones and shattered teeth, from the torture they have endured at the hands of the Federal Government, for practicing their religion.
It wasn’t until 1978, with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, that things began to change. Two years after Leonard had been arrested, framed, and falsely accused by the United States.
He was sent to the Boarding Schools at age 9, a place many now understand to be concentration camps. Places built to steal languages, traditions, civilizations and lives, through brutal force, subjugation and often torture. He was then relocated to the city, to face the cold realities of american capitalism and soon became a member of AIM, the American Indian Movement.
In 1972, he helped occupy the BIA Office in DC during the Trail of Broken treaties, working to re-establish sovereignty for Native Nations, and re-open Nation to Nation dialogue with the United States.
The FBI responded with what has been called a “reign of terror”. When they arrived in Pine Ridge, there were more than 150 feds, local police, and armed good ol’ boys who wanted a piece of the action.
When the bullets stopped flying, two feds and Joe Stuntz, a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, were gone. Leonard was convicted, along with two others. The other two were released by an all white jury, who after seeing the evidence of the war the FBI had been waging upon Native peoples, declared their response to clearly be - self defense.
The Feds had other plans for Peltier. He was convicted of two life sentences. When he appealed, it was clear there was no evidence he had shot the federal officers, so the government claimed he had “aided and abetted” those who did. The challenge of course, is there’s very little to convict someone of, for aiding and abetting self defense.
At the sentencing hearing, Peltier said these words. “I have done nothing to feel guilty about. The only thing I am guilty of, and which I was convicted for, was of being Chippewa and Sioux blood, and for believing our sacred religion.”
Nevertheless, the FBI has held Peltier in prison ever since, despite millions of voices around the world, who have called for his release. The time is now.
Sendin respect to all of you relatives out there. Love y’all
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