STATEMENT OF LEONARD PELTIER

 

Aho my friends and supporters with the Treaty Council,

 

I want to thank you all very much for the support you have given me over the years as I sit in solitary confinement and reflect over the past month’s events, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude to each and every one of you who have so diligently stood by me in this time of crisis.

 

As you already know by now, on June 30, 2005, I was transferred from Leavenworth Facility, to Terre Haute USP Facility. I was transferred without a notification to my attorney, Barry Bachrach, and my family. Upon my arrival to Terre Haute I was placed in solitary confinement and was told that I would remain in solitary confinement until my personal file arrived. My personal file/ information has arrived but I remain in solitary confinement for security reasons.

 

I am presently confined to a cell that is approximately 8’X8’ that has a window that is covered from the outside with an elaborate shield that allows me to see 2-3 inches of the sky out of the top and 2-3 inches of the ground. All prisoners are supposed to get at least one hour of sunlight or outdoors and so I am taken from my cell to what is called a Recreation Room (Rec Cage), and the only sun or outdoors that you see is from some windows High in this large Recreation Room ( Rec Cage) with some air holes in them. I am able to walk up and down in the Recreation Room and this fulfills the one hour of sunlight or outdoors recreation time.  A month in solitary is beginning to take a toll on me but your letters give me much hope and encouragement.

 

I wish to thank you very much for considering a resolution on my behalf. The resolution is a great piece of work and I thank all of you who had a hand in preparing it.  It heartens me to know that the Council works hard on seeking justice not only for me, but on issues affecting all of our peoples. I had hoped to have my attorney, Barry Bachrach, make a presentation to you updating you on the things that are being done on my behalf and how your support is needed now more than ever. However, it is essential I meet with him and so he will be here with me on Friday, the day that my issues will be discussed. Yet, he has indicated to me that he is there any time you need him to assist in my issues as well as in any way you need him to help our people.

 

 Len Foster, my long time spiritual advisor and good friend, has offered to read my statement to you. He is a remarkable man and I am blessed to have him thank you for thinking of me and supporting me. Someday soon I hope that I will be able to personally thank you all for your support and work hard for our people. That day will come soon if we come together and work as one. Only through combining our strengths will our people become stronger and achieve what is rightfully ours- justice, fairness, and the ability to live our traditional lives without discrimination and the racism that runs rampant in the world.  We can do this. We have powerful voices that must be heard.

 

There are many things being done for me by the legal team and the LPDC. The LPDC has recently been reconstituted and I believe that we have a powerful team with whom you can all work. I have asked Russ Redner, to be the Executive Director of the LPDC, both Nationally and Internationally. Russ is a brother and has been a long time ally and is one of the original people to create the LPDC. Please work with him and support him! He and his wife, Paula, bring a renewed energy to the LPDC. It is essential that Russ, my legal team, Barry Bachrach and Mike Kuzma, and the new team at the LPDC be supported so that I may finally become free and accomplish the things that need to be done for my people.

 

You are all important wonderful people. Go forward and push for the rights to which are people are entitled, for the way of life we deserve. It will be done. Together we will do it. I pray to join you and become part of the oneness which will empower us to achieve the goals you have established and will establish.

 

 

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,

 

Leonard Peltier