Leonard Peltier

Although the U.S. has since apologized for such massacres as Sand Creek and Wounded Knee, true compensation and reparation is still rare indeed. A quarter of a century ago, a new wound was inflicted to add to the insult of the Native American people. Leonard Peltier sits in his cell in Leavenworth Prision incarcerated for crimes that many believe he did not commit. His supporters are sure that he has been railroaded as a scapegoat for the murder of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge reservation on June 26, 1975. He has become the ultimate symbol representing Native American suppression.

Peltier was born on September 12, 1944 in Grand Forks, North Dakota to Leo and Alvina Peltier. Four years after his birth he moved with his grandparents to

On September 9, 1975, Leonard Peltier purchased a Plymouth station wagon in Denver, Colorado. Peltier began traveling in a recreational vehicle (RV), accompanied by associates in the recently purchased Plymouth. The FBI provided descriptions of the two vehicles to other law enforcement agencies. An Oregon State Trooper stopped the RV based on the description. Peltier got out of the RV, fired at the trooper, and fled. Agent Coler's handgun was found in a bag with Peltier's fingerprint on it, under the front seat of the RV. Both of the vehicles were loaded with weapons and explosives, as was the vehicle that blew up in Kansas. Some of the weapons had obliterated serial numbers.

Upon becoming inspired by Peltier’s story, Peter Matthiessen did extensive research into the situation. His book, In The Spirit Of Crazy Horse, was first published in 1983. The government took it off the shelves for eight years, citing slander, albeit more likely out of guilt and embarrassment. This caused quite an uproar among truth seekers and the book was republished in 1991, inviting those that desired to learn the true history of this case to do so.

On March 31, 1976 the second affidavit submitted to the Canadian courts was subscribed and sworn by Poor Bear. In this she doesn’t claim to be Peltier’s girlfriend nor does she recall any confession by Peltier. However, she still claims to have witnessed the murders, now remembering them with sufficiently more detail…

Some topics in this essay:
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