Leonard Peltier on Indigenous Rights, Decades in Prison, and His Fight for Justice

Release and Home Confinement

• 🏠 Leonard Peltier was released from federal prison to home confinement after nearly 50 years, following a commutation of his sentence by President Biden.
• ⛓️ Despite release, Peltier describes his current situation as a different type of prison due to restrictive conditions and the need for permission for even simple errands.
• 🌍 His release followed a global campaign involving tribal leaders, the United Nations, and prominent figures like the Pope and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Childhood and Boarding Schools

• 🏫 Peltier recounts his childhood, including being placed in a boarding school where Indigenous children were subjected to brutal conditions, including having their hair cut, being forbidden to speak their language, and being exposed to DDT.
• ✊ He considered these boarding schools his first imprisonment, finding their rules more restrictive than prison.

The Fight for Indigenous Rights and AIM

• ✊ Peltier discusses his involvement in the American Indian Movement (AIM) and the broader struggle for Indigenous rights, highlighting historical resistance against government policies like termination.
• ⚔️ He details the Trail of Broken Treaties in 1972, a protest aimed at forcing the government to honor its treaty obligations.
• 💥 The Wounded Knee occupation in 1973 is described as a response to unfulfilled promises and terrorization by a mercenary group, with the US government deploying significant military force.

Legal Battles and Injustice

• ⚖️ Peltier maintains his innocence for the 1975 killing of two FBI agents, stating his trial was marred by FBI and prosecutorial misconduct, including coerced testimony and suppressed evidence.
• 🗣️ He specifically addresses the coerced testimony of Myrtle Poor Bear, who later recanted her statement, and the later admission by former prosecutor James Reynolds that Peltier's conviction was unjust.
• 💔 The decades of imprisonment were fueled by Peltier's anger over the injustice against him and his people, refusing to accept responsibility or bow down to the government.

Legacy and Continued Struggle

• 🌟 Peltier is a symbol of Indigenous power globally, hoping to use his influence to benefit his people who still face threats to their identity, culture, and religion.
• 🌱 He emphasizes that the fight for Indigenous rights is ongoing, stating, "The struggle still goes on for me. I'm not going to give up."
• 🌎 Peltier sees a strong connection between Indigenous voices and the climate movement, noting their long-standing commitment to environmental protection.