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| Peltier speaks to family and supporters at home on Turtle Mountain on Wednesday. Watch at https://www.kfyrtv.com/2025/02/19/live-leonard-peltiers-return-north-dakota/ |
Peltier describes how they tried to kill him in prison, while serving 49 years for something he did not do
Article by Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Feb. 19, 2025
BELCOURT, North Dakota -- Leonard Peltier was honored with an Eagle Staff, Star Quilt and Drum Song, as he was welcomed home to Turtle Mountain. Deeply moved by the support, Peltier described how they tried to kill him in prison, and how he survived during his long struggle for justice.
"I spent 49 years straight in prison for something that I didn't do, and was not really legally convicted of," Peltier said, speaking at the Sky Dancer Casino in Belcourt, a day after his release from federal prison.
"There were four of us that were charged with killing two FBI agents. One guy wasn't even in the state that was charged, Jimmy Eagle. My co-defendants were found not guilty by reasons of self-defense."
"They were able to prove and show what the government was doing. They killed over 60 Lakota people, all you have to do is look up the Church Investigation Committee, and they found 62 Natives were killed."
"So they said, 'Put the full weight of the American government on Leonard Peliter, we need a conviction, this is our last time to get a conviction,' when I was no more guilty than my co-defendants."
"So, I spent 49 years, I didn't think I was going to make it, I'm 80 years old now. I was a young man when I went in, I was 32," Peltier said after being presented with a Star Blanket by the Turtle Mountain Tribe, and an Eagle Staff by Minneapolis AIM.
"So, I spent 49 years, I didn't think I was going to make it, I'm 80 years old now. I was a young man when I went in, I was 32," Peltier said after being presented with a Star Blanket by the Turtle Mountain Tribe, and an Eagle Staff by Minneapolis AIM.
"I'm proud of the positions I've taken to help fight for our rights for survival."
Peltier shared how he was 13 when he attended protests for the rights of his people in 1958, and he praised how well the Turtle Mountain Tribe is doing now.
"It's amazing what has happened in 50 years."
"My dad didn't want me to be there, but I went anyway, and we stopped termination here for the Turtle Mountain Chippewa."
Peltier described how he was placed in a sensory deprivation cell in prison, in total darkness with nothing but a blanket, indefinitely. Then, those prison cells were declared illegal and inhumane by the Supreme Court.
"I was supposed to die in that cell, but the Supreme Court saved me."
"I'm still alive," Peltier said, describing a dangerous medical procedure while he was in prison, when he was given blood transfusions and was in a coma for 14 hours. The medical center said it was a mistake.
"And I said, 'You're not going to kill me, like I'm not going to just lay back and let you kill me. To hell with you,' and I stood up and would not let them operate on me."
"It was not easy."
Peltier said from the beginning, the people came to his rescue, with support coming from 800 tribes.
Speaking on Wednesday, Peltier said it was hard to keep from crying, he was so deeply moved by the support.
"I'm so proud of your showing up and the support you've given me, I'm having a hard time keeping myself from crying. I’m also a strong warrior. And a strong warrior can’t be up here crying in front of his people, so I'm not going to cry.”
"I was totally shocked," he said, and was surprised when he saw the people lined up to welcome him home.
"I've got some restrictions, but it's a lot better than a cell."
Peltier said at 80 years old, the parole board gave him another 15 years on June 10, 2025. It was a hit.
"It was a death sentence."
"How am I going to do another 15 years without the medical treatment I need."
Peltier said that is when he decided to go the route of seeking clemency with home confinement.
Peltier described how he was placed in a sensory deprivation cell in prison, in total darkness with nothing but a blanket, indefinitely. Then, those prison cells were declared illegal and inhumane by the Supreme Court.
"I was supposed to die in that cell, but the Supreme Court saved me."
"They tried all kinds of different things, but I bet them."
"I'm still alive," Peltier said, describing a dangerous medical procedure while he was in prison, when he was given blood transfusions and was in a coma for 14 hours. The medical center said it was a mistake.
"In the Illinois medical center they had me in multiple blood transfusions," Peltier said. "They had me in a coma for 14 hours. Then they told me later, they said, 'we might have made a mistake there but I got a number of ideas, let us try this.'
"It was not easy."
Peltier said from the beginning, the people came to his rescue, with support coming from 800 tribes.
“From day one, from the first hour I was arrested, Indian people came to my rescue, from all over the country."
"They've been behind me ever since."
The sacrifice was worth it, he said.
”I made sure all Indian issues were the top subject in all my protests and all my activism to bring these issues to light around the world,” Peltier said.
The celebration on Wednesday began with the Turtle Mountain Tribe honoring Peltier with a Star Quilt as they welcomed their relative home, a day his relatives thought would never come.
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| Turtle Mountain Chairman Jamie Azure and tribal councilmen honor Peltier with a Star Quilt. |
Turtle Mountain Chairman Jamie Azure, joined by tribal councilmen, welcomed Peltier home, speaking on the strength and resilience shown by Peltier. Azure spoke of Peltier's ability to bring people together.
"We always say the Drum is the Heartbeat of Turtle Mountain."
"Turtle Mountain is the heart of Turtle Island," Chairman Azure said, speaking of the sound of the drums as Peltier was released from Coleman Prison in Florida and during his journey home on Tuesday.
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| Minneapolis AIM presented Peltier with an Eagle Staff |
Peltier was presented with an Eagle Staff brought by Minneapolis AIM, an Eagle Staff that traveled on the AIM's Walk for Justice, to Washington and the Jumping Bull Ranch.
"This is the resistance you inspired," Rachel Dionne-Thunder said as she presented Peltier with the staff, "We want to present you with the Staff, so that it goes home with you."
Chairman Azure said he was in disbelief when he found out Peltier was granted clemency from former President Joe Biden last month.
”I heard in the previous two presidents it was almost close to happening, then it didn’t happen. My heart kind of went out to family and Leonard himself for getting so close then never getting over that hump,” Azure said.
Chairman Azure said he was in disbelief when he found out Peltier was granted clemency from former President Joe Biden last month.
”I heard in the previous two presidents it was almost close to happening, then it didn’t happen. My heart kind of went out to family and Leonard himself for getting so close then never getting over that hump,” Azure said.
Watch: Leonard Peltier speaks to his home community on Wednesday
Full event: 1 hour and six minutes
KFYR live:
More at Censored News
Leonard Peltier leaves prison: Photos as Leonard leaves Coleman Prison
Peltier is Home: Photos by Inila Wakan Janis
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| Peltier honored with a Star Quilt by Turtle Mountain Tribe. |
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| Peltier honored with a Drum Song. |
About Censored News
Censored News was created by Brenda Norrell, when she was censored and terminated as a longtime staff reporter at Indian Country Today in 2006. Norrell has been a reporter in Indian Country for 43 years, beginning at Navajo Times during the 18 years that she lived on the Navajo Nation. She was a correspondent for Lakota Times, Associated Press and USA Today. Today, Censored News is a collective in its 19th year as a service to Indigenous Peoples, with no ads or revenues.
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