The Long Talk with Leonard Peltier: From boarding school to the good fight, and home again

 

https://www.democracynow.org/2025/9/19/leonard_peltier_interview_democracy_now_exclusive

The Long Talk with Leonard Peltier: From boarding school to the good fight, and home again

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Sept. 19, 2025

TURTLE MOUNTAIN, North Dakota -- From boarding school to the fishing rights struggle in the Northwest, to the Trail of Broken Treaties and Wounded Knee, Leonard Peltier fought the good fight, and after 49 years and two months in prison, it brought him home again.

Speaking with Amy Goodman at Democracy Now! from his home on Turtle Mountain, Peltier shares the reality of being in prison. Even before his long imprisonment, the battle for justice propelled him forward.

Peltier thought he would die in prison.

Recounting his life, Peltier remembers the starvation in his homeland as the U.S. attempted termination and the threat of death by the U.S. military for those at Wounded Knee. Peltier remembers being arrested with Marlon Brando, the injustice that imprisoned him, and his life and his struggles today.

Listen:

“I’m Not Going to Give Up”: Leonard Peltier on Indigenous Rights, His Half-Century in Prison & Coming Home -- Democracy Now!

https://www.democracynow.org/2025/9/19/leonard_peltier_interview_democracy_now_exclusive

Amy Goodman speaks with Leonard Peltier at his home on Turtle Mountain, on the day after his 81st birthday. Remembering the brutality of boarding school, Peltier says, the purpose of boarding schools is "to take the Indian out of the Indians." The danger continues, Peltier adds. "Look at what they’re doing in Palestine, killing women, children, babies, unborn babies. That’s what they did to us, man. And here it is still happening."

Takeover of BIA in Washington 1972 during Trail of Broken Treaties.

Peltier remembers helping organize the United Tribes of All Indians, the battle for hunting and fishing rights, and Treaties, and the takeover of Fort Lawton in Washington State -- before he joined the American Indian Movement. Peltier describes the GOON Squad and the Reign of Terror on Pine Ridge and how AIM stood up to them. At Wounded Knee, Nixon was going to wipe them out. 

Censored News

Leonard Peltier's Message Read at Conclusion of United Nations Session in Geneva

Leonard Peltier's message was read before closing prayers at the U.N. Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples this morning in Geneva. Screenshot by Censored News.

"Our brother Leonard Peltier is one of the many victims of a covert war waged by governments against the American Indian Movement, the AIM, and its supporters," Mario Agreda Uzeda said before reading Peltier's message, adding that Peltier is in prison for a crime that he did not commit. "For as long as Leonard Peltier is in prison, we all are." Agreda said a campaign for freedom for Leonard Peltier is beginning in Spain. 

Leonard Peltier's Words Conclude United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Geneva

'No one can break the Spirit of a Sundancer'

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, July 12, 2024

French translation by Christine Prat

GENEVA -- The words of Leonard Peltier concluded the U.N. Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples week-long session in Geneva this morning.

"I could not foresee that fifty years later that I would be entombed in a lock-down nightmare. I was chosen to be the sacrifice to cover up the crimes committed against our people," Peltier said in a message to the United Nations session.

Julian Assange: Truth ultimately is all we have

Julian Assange's letter from Belmarsh prison:

I have been isolated from all ability to prepare to defend myself, no laptop, no internet, no computer, no library so far, but even if I do get access it will be just for half an hour with everyone else once a week. Just two visits a month and it takes weeks to get someone on the call list and the Catch-22 in getting their details to be security screened. Then all calls except lawyer are recorded and are a maximum 10 minutes and in a limited 30 minutes each day in which all prisoners compete for the phone. And credit? Just a few pounds a week and no one can call in.

Visiting Grandpa, Leonard Peltier, in Prison

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I want to thank you all for making this wonderful trip possible, Last Friday I flew from Fargo to Orlando to visit Uncle. I met Waha family in Orlando and we drove to Coleman to get ready for our visit on Saturday. On Saturday we were at the prison bright and early 7:30 a.m., signed in and were told that the girls were dressed wrong for the visit. So off we went to Walmart and had to buy new shirts and closed toed shoes! Amazing what the guards find to pick at to slow down our visit. It was almost 10:30 by the time we got to the visiting room and then had to wait another half-hour for then to bring Leonard. Leonard was so happy to see his daughter in law Emily and his sweet granddaughters. Kobe, Kadeem and Kaleigha. The girls were a bit shy the first day but the second day they were excited and asked their grandpa many questions and he loved answering them. He is always telling stories of the past, and his past as a young man. He also told them about the struggles of his grandparents and great grandparents and how strong they were to survive so much racism and abuse from people in the near-by towns as well as the BIA agents who ran the reservations in the 30’s and 40’s. We also talked about my position as the Art Director as I will be staying in Fargo as the main office goes to Florida. Sadly, he can’t paint right now because he is recovering and he is unable to lift his hands in the painting position. He is worried that he will be unable to donate paintings to the committee. I would really like everyone to take a look at the paintings that are available on our website and see what you can afford. These paintings are the basis for our fundraising for his legal team. And I am concerned that without your generous donations we will be unable to raise the necessary funds that the lawyers are requesting. Given his health I am concerned that this heart surgery has shortened his life and we need to get him released as soon as possible. On Sunday we talked about his health, he is still recovering from his heart surgery, and yet they have moved him from the handicapped cell into a make believe elder unit where he is in a double bunked cell. Thank goodness he has the bottom bunk, but his cellie, who has the top bunk is in his late 60’ has a hard time getting to his top bunk. How can this be an ELDER UNIT with these conditions for older and sick inmates. These conditions need to be addressed because Leonard is 73 and had major surgery. We, as free people, are able to go home and rest, go to the doctor whenever we feel ill, and usually have someone to nurse us back to health. But Uncle doesn’t have that luxury. all, we had a great visit for about 4 hours and then around 2:00 pm the guards rushed us all out as there was an incident in the yard, and immediately ended visiting. Leonard wants me to be sure and thank all the supporters for their help in making this visit possible and give a shout out to the Rosenberg Fund for Children for their support! For all our friends in New York, the New York Support Committee is having an event tomorrow. And you can find the information on our website under News. We hope you can attend as all fundraising is important at this time to help build Leonard’s new legal team. We hope to have the new office in Florida open by early November and look forward to sharing that information with you. Leonard is very excited about the ILPDC coming there, as it will remove his stress at being so far from his committee. Anything you like to contribute to help with this endeavor will be greatly appreciated. Just hit paypal on our website. Peace and Respect, Kari Ann ©2017 ILPDC | PO BOX 329, Fargo ND 58107 Web Version  Preferences  Forward  Unsubscribe  Powered by GoDaddy Email Marketing ®

Leonard Peltier had triple by-pass surgery

Good morning friends and family, Sept. 2 2017 I just talked to Leonard, And unkown to us he was just released from the hospital and this is his messa

Good morning friends and family, Sept. 2 2017 I just talked to Leonard, And unkown to us he was just released from the hospital and this is his message to all his supporters and friends.

VIDEO Leonard Peltier 'I Will' Clemency Campaign Part 8

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To watch video, click on arrow in center of image below:

https://youtu.be/aeIY5UnsiSA

Yaqui Water Rights Defender Released from Prison

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
English and Dutch
Dutch translation by Alice Holemans, NAIS
http://www.denaisgazet.be/nieuws/yaqui-waterrechten-activist-vrijgelaten-uit-de-gevangenis

After a year of false imprisonment, Yaqui water rights defender Mario Luna was released from prison. Earlier a judge ordered the release of Mario, tribal secretary of Vicam Yaqui, and Mexico refused. 

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/articulo/estados/2015/09/23/sale-libre-mario-luna-vocero-de-la-tribu-yaqui

Censored News traveled to Sonora, Mexico, and provided live coverage when Vicam Yaqui began the long highway barricade in defense of their water rights to Rio Yaqui.
Mexico built an aqueduct to divert water from Rio Yaqui to the City of Hermosillo.
During the Vicam Yaqui highway barricade in the community, Mario was spokesman for Vicam Yaqui Pueblo. Yaqui Spokesmen Mario Luna and Fernando Jimenez Guiterrez were abducted and imprisoned.
Jimenez was released in August.
The National Indigenous Congress and Zapatistas support the defense of Yaqui water rights.

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/11/yaqui-vicam-pueblo-international.html?m=1http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/11/yaqui-vicam-pueblo-international.html
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Peltier's Statement on 40th Anniversary of Incident of Oglala

26 June 2015

Greetings to you, my relatives and friends.

This is the first time that my dear sister Roselyn will not be there for me, but I know she is there in spirit as she has gone on her journey. I have seen pictures of the gathering over the years and can still see her sitting there under the trees with our relatives… I will always miss her and be grateful to her for all she did for me and for our people.

This year I am most concerned with our children and the taking of their own lives. This is very sad to me, as it is to you, and I know there are many reasons for them to feel such despair and hopelessness. But I can only ask and encourage all of us to double our efforts to show them love and support, and let them know that we will always look after them and protect them. That includes asking big brothers and sisters to look after the younger ones. They are our future and have to be protected and to learn to be the protectors. This is not something we can live with, we need to all work to change this.

And this year it is even more urgent that we come together to protect our sovereignty. There are so many issues to face and fight. We continue to fight for our Black Hills and to stop the XL pipeline from poisoning our water and our land, and I stand with the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota Nations, and all people of like mind in this fight.

The destruction of our Mother Earth by the heavy and toxic Tar Sands oil, fracking, gas and oil drilling and uranium mining is unacceptable to me and to us. We are supposed to be protecting these things even as others try to push us aside. I honor all of our relatives who are on the front lines of this fight.

And after all that I have seen in these 40 years behind bars, I was still shocked to see what they are trying to do to the Apache people at Oak Flats. This cannot be tolerated. It is not only a blatant money grab at the expense of a tribe’s Sacred site, but it is an effort to push us back in the direction of termination by ignoring our rights as sovereign nations. This we will not tolerate. Nothing is sacred to these people and they will continue to try to bulldoze us out of the way without even a single thought to our coming generations if we do not continue to stand up and oppose them. We must be ready for anything or we will lose all that we have gained in the last 40 years.

The continued use of racist mascots is something that we can never accept as Indigenous peoples and we need to all continue to push to end that racist practice.

As for me, time is something I have learned a lot about in these years in prison. And now I can see that time is slipping away from me and I know that if I do not get out under this President I will almost certainly die here in prison.

I have been able to survive with the hope you have given to me and your prayers and I am grateful for that support from all of you.

I continue to pray for the family of my brother Joe Stuntz and for all those who paid such a dear price in those bitter times 40 years ago.
And I pray for the families of all our people who have suffered so much and continue to suffer now.

I thank all of you for coming today and I know how hot it can be there. And especially to all the runners and walkers I offer my gratitude.

I send my Love to the people of the Lakota Nations and to all Native Nations,

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse…

Doksha,

Leonard Peltier

Tom Poor Bear urges NCAI advocacy for Leonard Peltier

Leonard Peltier with Oglala Vice President Tom Poor Bear during a recent visit.
Photo courtesy Oglala Commemoration, published with permission at Censored News.

Poor Bear urges NCAI to help bring Peltier home

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/10/tom-poor-bear-urges-ncai-advocacy-for.html

Oglala Sioux Vice President Thomas Poor Bear urged the National Congress of American Indians to strengthen its advocacy for imprisoned Native American activist Leonard Peltier and bring him home. Poor Bear’s letter to NCAI comes after a visit to Peltier in Coleman prison in central Florida.

“It is no secret to anyone who has followed Leonard’s almost 40-year ordeal that this is truly his last chance at Freedom. If President Obama leaves office without granting clemency to Leonard, he will almost certainly die in prison,” Poor Bear told NCAI, the largest organization of Native American Nations in the US.

Poor Bear said it was the first time that he has seen Peltier in 40 years. Although he did not know what to expect, Poor Bear said Peltier was smiling and happy to see him. 

Poor Bear pointed out that the US prison system has violated its own rules by keeping Peltier at a distance of more than 500 miles from his family. Currently, Peltier is 2,000 miles away from family members and in poor health, with diabetes and other health problems.

Poor Bear said Peltier spoke little of his own health problems and instead spoke of ways to give hope to Native young people in order to stop the suicides and hopelessness. “I was touched by that. It was clear that he has never stopped thinking about trying to make things better for our people,” Poor Bear said.

Together, Peltier and Poor Bear remembered the early fishing rights struggle at Franks Landing and other places in Indian country where American Indians stood up for their rights, including Fort Lawton and Wisconsin.

Poor Bear said he prays that Peltier will be able to come home again to the Dakotas and Black Hills, where he can live out his days in peace.

“He stood up for us at a very dark time in our history and we cannot, and will not, turn our backs on him now,” Poor Bear said.

Censored News is a service to Indigenous Peoples and grassroots human rights efforts.
www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

Also see Censored News original coverage of the Peltier Tribunal in Green Bay, Wis., in October 2013

Peltier Tribunal conclusion: Judges Findings
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/10/peltier-tribunal-judges-findings.html
Day 3 Peltier Tribunal: Findings and Testimony, Manny Pino uranium mining genocide
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/10/peltier-tribunal-live-day-3.html
Day 2: Peltier Tribunal Lenny Foster and Dorothy Ninham, Visits to Peltier in prison, Native prisoner rights
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/10/live-day-2-peltier-tribunal-thursday.html
Day 1: Peltier Tribunal Reign of Terror on Pine Ridge, Peltier calls Tribunal
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/10/peltier-tribunal-live-oct-2-4-2013.html
Dakota written testimony by Chris Mato Nunpa, Dakota historian and professor
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/10/dakota-genocide-chris-mato-nun
pa.html

Please share this link: http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/10/tom-poor-bear-urges-ncai-advocacy-for.html

Justice for Leonard Peltier statement read to UN Human Rights Council Geneva

This statement was read to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva today, Friday, July 12, 2013 Human Rights Council Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Sixth session United Nations, Geneva, 8-12 July 2013 Agenda item 5. Study on access to justice in the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples. Joint statement submitted by : Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee (LPDOC Regional Chapters European network), Committee in solidarity with Indigenous peoples of the Americas (CSIA-Nitassinan), International Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Incomindios),  Abeitskreis Indianer Nordamerikas (AKIN) ; Arbeitsgruppe Indianer und Menschenrechte (AGIM) Speaker : Edith PATROUILLEAU Mr Chairperson, Access to justice intersects with human rights in a number of ways. It is itself a fundamental right as set out in Article 8 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.”. The right to justice for indigenous peoples and individuals is also protected under international law, such as under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the ILO Convention 169 and the Declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Censored Radio: Carnes fasting at White House

UPDATE from Ben Carnes: Dehydration

Censored Radio: Ben Carnes live from the White House
By Brenda Norrell
Photo by Kitty Carnes

Ben Carnes is fasting in Lafayette Park across from the White House in solidarity with freedom for Leonard Peltier. Peltier is a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians who has been held as a political prisoner of the Government of the United States of America for over 33 years.
Carnes, Choctaw from Oklahoma, speaks on Censored Blog Radio, while fasting for justice for Leonard Peltier outside the White House. Wanbli also joins the show live by phone with more details on Peltier's case and the appeal to Obama for freedom for Peltier. Carnes and Wanbli speak of FBI misconduct, assassination attempts on Peltier, the beating of Peltier in a Pennsylvania prison in 2008 and more than 500 years of genocide for Indian people. Calling for clemency, Wanbli said Obama promised Peltier's release during his campaign. On today's show, the music is by Keith Secola, with poet Cleo Apache, recorded live at the Havasupai Gathering to Halt Uranium Mining in the Grand Canyon by Earthcycles.
Wanbli said, "Carnes is standing there in fast and in prayer for 7 days in the hopes of gaining attention of the President of the United States of America to the plight of Leonard. During his fast he will not take food or water and he will remain in a prayerful attitude for the next 7 days. Those who make stands to fight injustice such as Ben is doing should have all of our respect and prayers. There are many who make smoke and kick up dust but few who actually have the will to make a stand such as this."
Wanbli said Obama could see Carnes if he would look out the window. Carnes began his fast Saturday and will continue to fast through Sept. 12. Amnesty International has already called for the immediate release of Peltier.
CW Gayle, Choctaw, thanked Carnes. "Halito! Ben. Many years ago my friend Rocque Duenas was standing vigil for Leonard in the very place you are. Rocque was a tribal fisherman in Washington, this was 1978. You carry the torch," Gayle said in a message.
UPDATE:
I wanted to announce that on Wednesday afternoon, I ceased the liquid portion of my fast due to dehydration. I had taken that as far as I could without endangering my health. Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, when I relieved my self, I experienced a burning sensation and around Noon Wednesday, I began to feel as if my kidneys were tightening up. I made an attempt to contact a physician, but after a period of time with receiving a response.
At 2:40 PM (Eastern), I consumed some liquids to hydrate myself. It was a promise I made to Chief Tayac when he visited me at Lafayette Park. He told me that day that I needed to hydrate myself. He said, “You are a Chief! Don’t you dare hit the ground! There are a lot of people depending upon you to be here for them, and if you die what good would that serve them?”
I assured him that when my body told me that I was beginning to have problems, I would take care of myself.
Still, I will continue to fast without food until 8:45 AM Saturday. I can assure you that Leonard would appreciate and respect this decision. He has suffered so much pain and loss of allies and relatives, that it would only grieve him had I continued and possibly caused irreparable harm to my health.
My personal prayer will continue on, and I will continue to conduct myself in a honorable and respectful manner befitting my position. I knew that when I decided to publicly announce to that I am a Sun Dance Chief and would be taking this course of action. I would open myself up to criticisms, but that in itself is a sacrifice I willingly accepted. And there has been none, just messages of respect and support. It was never my intention to promote myself, but to show my love and support for my Sun Dance brother.
I had contacted Arvol Looking Horse about the possibility of coming to DC. He could not since he already had an earlier commitment, but he supported what I was doing and that he would support me through his prayers from over there. I am very thankful to have those prayers from the Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe in this way.
I know that there are many more people who have joined in this fast as an act of solidarity for me and for Leonard. This simple course of action has aroused so much supportive action from around the world. It has done so much more than if we had tried to have everyone come to DC.
Many of you are organizing in your communities and creating so much awareness everywhere and that is so important.
The results of this prayer and sacrifice may not be immediately, I feel something is taking place on a larger spiritual level and we will need to keep that in mind in all that we do for Leonard. We know that we will prevail, and it would have been difficult without your support.Send your cards and letters to Leonard.
Let him know how your event went and let him know that we are all here for him and that we will continue to do all we can to bring him home.In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,Ben Carnes
Listen at Censored News Blog Radio
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell/2009/09/07/Carnes-fasting-White-House
More information:
http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/
Contact:
Ben Carnes:
bencarnes@eaglecouncil.com
Wanbli:
wanbli@gvtc.com
E-mail:
contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info
Brenda Norrell, Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
Censored Blog Talk Radio
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell
Earthcycles
http://www.earthcycles.net/
RADIO STATIONS MAY REBROADCAST
This radio show is available to radio stations around the world at no charge. The mp3 download may be used in whole or part. Please credit Censored News Blog Radio for interviews and Earthcycles for Keith Secola's recording.