Feb 6th Statement from Leonard Peltier

Greetings my Friends, Relatives and Supporters;

I know I always say it this way,  “ Friends, Relatives and Supporters” and all that, but in reality you are ALL my relatives. I know when we sweat lodge we always say “all my relations” and when we come out we say “all my relations” and at the end of my letters I say Mitakuye Oyasin and that means “all my relations” .  I am deeply, deeply thankful for you, my relatives.

So many of these days have come and gone, and it probably seems like I say the same things over and over but you have to realize that for 38 years, everyday for me is much the same; over and over and over and over, and for many of the indigenous people, their struggles against this world of technology and corporations is the same over and over and over. 

I watch the news and it says the Christians against the Muslims and the Chinese against the Tibetans and relative against relative in some of these countries.  I cannot help but think,  “how does this keep happening??”  I know for a fact that the average Muslim in his homeland has nothing against a Christian, nor Christian against a Muslim in regards to their religion.  In America, Native people have nothing against non-native people for religious reasons.  I guess what I am trying to say is what we have in common is a belief in the right to pursue happiness in a respectful way, and I know the average person here in America has no reason to quarrel with any person in another land for religious reasons. 

Can you imagine your children fighting with each other over how they would talk to you or respect you or seek your attention?  It would hurt your heart deeply if they were killing one another for these reasons.  What I am trying to say to you is, don’t let corporations and money- seekers destroy our commonality using religion as the excuse to take our lands and our resources.   All too often people wanting the resources of another people send in soldiers to destroy the infastructure of a people.   A lot of times they will attack one group in the name of another, and then attack the other group in the name of the one most recently attacked causing, a divide.  This not only happens in nations but it happens on the most fundamental levels of organizations seeking to liberate themselves from oppression. There are those who would spread rumors, attempting to discredit and try to divide people from each other but we must keep in mind what we want to achieve and cultivate our friendships and respect for one another.

We must respect the efforts of others, and remember that words can bring joy and they can also bring pain and disunity.  I am saying these things because for me, at this juncture of my life, I am involved in probably my last possible chance at freedom.   The people I have gathered around me are people I know and trust.  They are my choice, and I want that to be respected.

Throughout Indian country and throughout the world there are people who struggle for freedom daily.  America has more people in prison than all the rest of the world put together. The judicial system in America most obviously has become an industry, and not a tool for seeking justice. 

These things that we face will not change unless we, the common people, stand in unison against these wicked affronts to our right to pursue happiness and live in a world that is not governed by ethics based on obtaining wealth.  I’d like to say things that would make you laugh and be encouraging and when you gather together remembering the cause that I am evidence of, the cause of putting an end to violations of your constitutional rights.  I want you to be cheerful and happy but I also want you to know quite truthfully that throughout the history of mankind, defending freedom and justice must be done in every generation.

I am 69 years old and I have done the best I could from where I am at, and I will continue to do so, and I encourage you to do so. 

Many people in the course of a lifetime and in the pursuit of spirituality may come to a belief, or perhaps I should say, a realization that there is something in their life that they are called to do. If, for some reason, you have never had such a feeling, and you wanted to know what that was all about, you could, without any pursuit of spirituality, just using common sense, look around at the possibilities that face us. The depletion of our natural world, the loss of drinking water, clean air, natural foods, and you will find cause to be involved in protecting those things and preventing the further destruction of our natural Earth and nature. 
You could become involved in trying to save some of the endangered species, you could look at a newborn baby and ask yourself, “what future awaits them?” If this suicidal destruction of our natural Earth continues- we may not destroy the Earth,  but we could end up destroying the nature that we were designed to live within. 

I think is is important that within your thinking if you want to do something to make things better, you should make up your mind if you are willing to do it all by yourself or not, and then do the very best you can and I know others will join you who have the same insight and spiritual feelings that you have developed. 

We were created and born within a circle of life and all nature in that circle of life is dependent upon one another.   We must join together and repair that circle of life within our family and community circles.  We, as a common people, as descendants of other indigenous peoples no matter where we are from, NEED each other, and if some 69 year old man in prison can end up having his words read to you in a meeting like this, I know, I absolutely know that you can do much better.

May the Great Spirit bless you and give you strength and friends to  share your labors and happiness with and the knowledge and perseverance to help regain the things that we as citizens of the Earth have lost, and the strength to protect what we have left, and the foresight to prevent any future losses.

I sincerely hope at this time next year I can be at one of these meetings with you and we can have a good time together and until then…
give one another a good hug for me.



Your relative always, in all ways
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse
Leonard Peltier
Mitakuye Oyasin

On gratitude and the Passing of Pete Seeger

Greetings my friends, relatives, supporters:

I want to comment on a couple of different issues one is on a sad note, that Pete Seeger passed away.  When I say sad it is because we will miss the music he gave to the world, and gave to all the people who struggle against the injustices that take place throughout the world and humanity it seemed like he always had a song that would remind us of who we are and what our responsibility was/is to this existence.  I for one will miss him, he has been a strong supporter of the cause for justice in my case throughout many, many years. 

I will definitely miss Pete Seeger.

Whether he goes to heaven, someplace for a while or reincarnates I have no doubt a personality like his will ever be silenced by a mere passing of lifetime.
Thank you for the lifetime you shared with us Pete Seeger.

In keeping with being thankful, every day I wake up I am thankful for the many people who support Native American causes and the causes of all humanity thought the world.
There is no one person or one group that is totally responsible for probably any one thing as we know it.  All life and experience and existence is built upon the foundation of something before it.  I am especially grateful, and I would like to say again to Mr. James Anaya and all the people who worked so hard to facilitate his coming to see me.  It really means a lot, because I know he represents the thoughts and prayers of Native people all across this country that went to his meetings and have shared their concerns in my case, and when I say ALL across this country, I mean the far North into Canada and the far south into South America.  I especially want to thank the International Indian Treaty Council, who worked so hard to help bring this about. I also want  to say a special thanks to all of our Sisters in the movement, in saying that I do mean Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts, and ALL of the courageous women who have worked for so many years and who stand up in their respected communities and are so much an inspiration to the children and to the men.

The women have always been the backbone of any movement throughout the world for they are the givers of life and the ones who have the very first influence on our children.

 With that I will close for now.   Again, thank you Pete Seeger.

 May we all be inspired by Pete Seeger and others like him.

Your friend in the struggle
In the spirit of Crazy Horse
Leonard Peltier
Mitakuye Oyasin

U.N. Special Rapporteur Visits Leonard Peltier in Prison

Media Advisory/Press Release
Immediate Release:  01/24/14
Contact: Peter Clark, (505)301-5423, lpsupport@whoisleonardpeltier.info

 "… new consideration should be given to clemency for Leonard Peltier.”  Professor James Anaya
  On Friday January 24, 2014, United Nations Special Rapporteur, Professor James Anaya visited United States Penitentiary Coleman 1 in Florida, to meet with American Indian political prisoner Leonard Peltier.  Professor Anaya was accompanied by Leonard "Lenny " Foster, member of the Board of Directors of the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC), Supervisor of the Navajo Nations Correction Project, and Spiritual Advisor to Mr. Peltier for nearly 30 years. The historic, nearly four hour meeting began around 9 am. While the discussion Friday morning was meant to focus on executive clemency for Leonard Peltier, the conversation touched on many subjects, as Mr. Peltier was eager to hear the Special Rapporteur’s perspective on the worldwide condition of indigenous peoples.
 In a trial that is widely recognized as a miscarriage of justice, Leonard Peltier was convicted in 1977, in connection with a shootout with US Government forces, where two Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and one young Indian man lost their lives. Every piece of evidence to convict Mr. Peltier has been since proven false.
 Professor Anaya is currently serving his second term as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People. In September 2012, following a series of consultation sessions with Indigenous Peoples throughout the United States, the Special Rapporteur produced  a  “ Country Report  on the Situation of Indigenous Peoples In the United States of America" (A/HRC/21/47/Ad)]. In the report, Professor Anaya called for freedom for Leonard Peltier, and stated:
"Pleas for presidential consideration of clemency…have not borne fruit. This further depletes the already diminished faith in the criminal justice system felt by many indigenous peoples…”
  The effort to engage the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the struggle to address justice for Mr. Peltier began in 2008, during a discussion between Lenny Foster and Alberto Salomando, former attorney for the IITC. Following the visit Lenny Foster stated:
‘The visit today by U.N. Special Rapporteur James Anaya to Leonard Peltier in prison is very significant and historic for us.  We thank him for working..to make this possible. This will support efforts for Executive Clemency for Leonard Peltier and promote reconciliation and justice in this case"
   Leonard Peltier said Friday “if the Constitutional violations that took place in my trial are allowed to stand, it will set precedence for future trials, and jeopardize the freedom and constitutional rights of all Americans."
  Also in attendance of the meeting Friday were:  David Hill, Director of the International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee (ILPDC), Peter Clark, ILPDC Chapter Coordinator and Unoccupyabq.org member.
 David Hill stated “that Americans can no longer afford to tolerate this miscarriage of justice and we shall make every effort to bring these judicial violations to the attention of all Americans, as well as internationally"

David Hill is the Director of the newly formed International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee and recently opened ILPDC Head Quarters near USP Coleman, at 255 Primera Blvd., Suite 160, Lake Mary, FL 32746.
(407)641-5089  www.leonardpeltier.info

On the Passing of Carter Camp a great Warrior and Brother.

Statement from Leonard Peltier on the passing of Carter Camp.
USP Coleman Prison December 31, 2013

Greetings my Relatives, friends and supporters,

This is an open letter to Carter Camp’s family and loved ones.
I have just heard the news of my brother's passing. I want to send a condolence message. I want to begin with how sad this is for me to hear that another one of our elder warriors has passed on. I want people to know that I considered Carter to be one of our GREAT warriors; a man who when called upon would travel great distances to give assistance to native people who needed help.

Carter was known among us as someone who would stand up for what he believed in and put his life on the line if need be. He was an eloquent speaker and political strategist and also known for being quite blunt at times, which is refreshing considering today’s world of where people say one thing and do another. Carter lived his beliefs and honored his family. Carter was a leader, a spokesperson, a teacher, and an inspiration to others, especially when it came to taking a stand for what was right.

NOT once had I ever heard that Carter had RUN FROM A FIGHT.

He will never be forgotten as we will always remember him in our songs and when we sit around our fires while the rocks are heating for our inipi ceremonies.
We will always speak good things about him.

We will miss you Carter, but some of us will see you soon, so be waiting for us.

In the spirit of Crazy Horse
Leonard Peltier
Mitakuye Oyasin

29 December 1890: Wounded Knee Massacre

 

On December 29, the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry surrounded a band of Ghost Dancers under Big Foot, a Lakota Sioux chief, near Wounded Knee Creek and demanded they surrender their weapons. As that was happening, a fight broke out between an Indian and a U.S. soldier and a shot was fired, although it's unclear from which side. A brutal massacre followed, in which it's estimated 150 Indians were killed (some historians put this number at twice as high), nearly half of them women and children. The cavalry lost 25 men.

The conflict at Wounded Knee was originally referred to as a battle, but in reality it was a tragic and avoidable massacre. Surrounded by heavily armed troops, it's unlikely that Big Foot's band would have intentionally started a fight. Some historians speculate that the soldiers of the 7th Cavalry were deliberately taking revenge for the regiment's defeat at Little Bighorn in 1876. Whatever the motives, the massacre ended the Ghost Dance movement and was the last major confrontation in America's deadly war against the Plains Indians.

Congressional Medals of Honor were awarded to many of the cavalrymen who fought at Wounded Knee. Despite the current view that the battle was a massacre of innocents, the Medals still stand. Some native American and other groups and individuals continue to lobby Congress to rescind these "Medals of dis-Honor."