Native American activist and member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) Leonard Peltier is finally home, after two consecutive terms of life imprisonment commuted to indefinite house arrest by President Joe Biden on January 20, in one of Biden’s last acts of his presidency.

AIM is a grassroots movement founded in 1968 to address systemic issues facing Native Americans.

According to a statement from Biden, “The commutation enabled Peltier to spend his remaining days in home confinement but will not pardon him for his underlying crimes.”

Peltier is from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota near Manitoba, Canada, border. He was released from federal prison in Florida on February 18 after nearly 50 years.

A celebration of Peltier’s release was held a few days later on February 22 at Meldon Fulwilder’s residence in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Peltier called in on Facetime to surprise supporters who were at the gathering.

“I want to say to you, thank you very much. I heard every word you all [said] to try to get me out. I’m very, very grateful,” Peltier told supporters. “I can’t express that enough. You’re good people. You’re good allies. We all love you as brothers and sisters. I can’t say enough.”

Activist Norman Brown (Diné) spoke at the gathering about Peltier’s years behind bars.

“What an incredible spirit that is to wake up each day knowing that you can’t see the stars or see the sunrise,” said Brown. “You can’t feel the rain. You can’t feel that wind. You can’t walk on Mother Earth. Regardless of all that, he stood strong for us. Now, it’s our turn to continue with that fight for our lands, for our way of life, for our [languages].”

Over the years, Peltier’s supporters in the SRPMIC have held prayer gatherings for Peltier’s release. On June 9, 2024, the night before Peltier was to stand before a parole board, Fulwilder and other supporters gathered to hear speakers and traditional singers with a prayer potluck.

This time around, there is something for supporters to celebrate. Even if Peltier is not free to travel outside of his home, there was a sense of relief among supporters in the Community.

Louise “Gurley” Shaw said she could feel the energy of all the people who were at the gathering.

“They had a powwow drum. That was powerful and strong,” said Shaw, who felt empowered by seeing and hearing Peltier on the phone.

Other performances at the gathering included O’odham singers (social), San Lucy Dancers, Pascua Yaqui Deer Dancers, Grupo Yolloincuahutli “Heart of the Eagle”, Aaron White and Keith Secola.

SRPMIC member Orleen Mercado was delighted to see children on the ground at the event being “just dusty, dirty and so full of fun and acceptance.”

Mercado said that something special happened to her at the gathering. She saw how the dogs interacted with the kids and how wildlife existed in the space.

“I don’t know if anyone noticed how many times hawks were circling above us during that time,” said Mercado. “It was a complete unity of people and the land. A lot of times I go to gatherings, and [you] see people there…talking in little groups here and there… but at this event, everyone was sitting in a common area.”

Her son Koda Mercado said that hearing Peltier speak to Community members was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “It was a pretty significant event for me. Very eye-opening,” he said.

Peltier was convicted of aiding and abetting in the murder of two federal officers during a shooting on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation on June 26, 1975. To this day, Peltier has maintained his innocence.

The shootout was a continuation of political violence that gained steam because of the circumstances leading up to the 71-day Wounded Knee occupation of 1973. When Richard Wilson was elected as tribal chairman, many members of the tribe criticized his leadership and what they felt was corruption. Wilson formed a private militia called Guardians of the Oglala Nation (GOONs), who clashed with tribal members and AIM members on the reservation.

In 1975, Peltier and a small group of AIM members were asked by members of the Reservation to set up camp on a ranch owned by the Jumping Bull family, where the shooting took place.

Salt River Connection

Many people in the Community and in the Phoenix area may not be aware of the close connection Peltier has with the Community, SRPMIC elder Meldon Fulwilder said.

When they were younger, several elders from the Community were involved in American Indian Movement activities that occurred before the incidents that led to Peltier’s imprisonment.

Fulwilder and many other elders in the Community have known Peltier on a personal level for decades. The other elders include Angelo “Angel” Martinez (bot), Spencer “Bone” Fulwilder, Jeremiah Eschief (bot), David Montiel, Alida “Earth Feather” Montiel (bot), Leon Manuel, Valentino “Buddy” Burns and Brandon “Chatham” Scott (bot).

Fulwilder said he met Peltier while traveling to a sun dance in the 1970’s. Fulwilder had just stayed at Camp Red Wind in California with a medicine man who helped provide a sober space and educate young Native Americans on traditional ways.

“From Camp Red Wind, we were able to go to different places like sun dances and traveled to as far as Washington to help set up places for gatherings,” recalled Fulwilder. “…during that time, I don’t even know how, but I ran into Leonard, and we just became part of his group of guys that he had with him.”

Fulwilder remembers Peltier sticking up for him and other people he was with while they were both at Leonard Crow Dog’s camp.

“I got to know him because we were traveling together. I would talk to him and all that,” said Fulwilder.

Fulwilder said that he didn’t get to talk to Peltier at this recent gathering because so much was going on that he didn’t even think about it.

But he understood Peltier’s message that it’s the youth’s turn to step up and get an education so they can make a difference in their communities. “It’s going to be even rougher now, with who we’ve got in office,” he said, referring to the Trump administration. “If they’re going to go after mineral rights, and they’re going to be hitting the reservations, then there might be another Standing Rock somewhere.”