Turtle Mountain Chippewa Celebrates Leonard Peltier’s Return Home After 49 Years in Federal Prison

Last week, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians hosted a welcome home celebration for Leonard Peltier, 80, who spent 49 years in maximum security federal prison for the convictions of a two FBI agents were fatally shot in the summer of 1975. His release is a result of a commutation signed by former President Joseph Biden in his last hour of his presidency on January 20, 2025, where Peltier will serve the rest of his sentence in home confinement. Peltier, a Turtle Mountain Chippewa citizen and an American Indian Movement activist, was arrested in Canada, in February 1976, and extradited to the U.S. from a shooting incident on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation that left FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams dead on June 26, 1975. On June 1, 1977, Peltier was convicted for two counts of first-degree murder of the FBI agents and was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.

Indigenous Leaders Call for the Compassionate Release of Leonard Peltier

In light of the severe health conditions and medical needs of longtime Indigenous political prisoner Leonard Peltier, NDN Collective and Native Organizers Alliance are asking Attorney General Merrick Garland to free Peltier through compassionate release.

Current affairsLast Real IndiansJune 14, 2024Leonard Peltier

Leonard Peltier Turns 79 & Here’s How You Can Help

Leonard Peltier is the longest serving Indigenous political prisoner in the history of the United States, having served nearly 50 years in federal prison.

FeaturedLast Real IndiansSeptember 11, 2023Leonard Peltier

DNC Native Caucus calls for the release of Leonard Peltier

The Democratic National Committee Native American Caucus calls on President Biden to release political prisoner Leonard Peltier.

Dear President Biden: Release Leonard Peltier

Dear President Biden, Attorney General Garland, Director Carvajal, and Director Keller:

We write to request the expedited release of American Indian elder Leonard Peltier, who is 77 years old and who has served more than 44 years in federal prison, some in solitary confinement, in numerous prisons across the United States.