Like many of you I have rolled through the Black Hills of South Dakota with the wind in my face…
Whether a weekend warrior eager for a brief interlude of escapist revelry or it’s a way of life — I think all would agree that rolling through the “hills” offers up an incredible experience. From rolling plains to majestic mountains — sometimes you have to pull over just to take it all in. It’s not only a magical place to visit because of its beauty, but also because of its “roots” to the Native Americans who live there. Most are Dakota, Lakota or Nakota people and known collectively as the Sioux. The Sioux nation traces its roots to the “Oceti Sakowin” (Seven Council Fires) and traditional stories place the nations birth in the Black Hills where customs hold the forces of nature as holy.
Having lived in “NoDak” during a more violent time, I’m reminded of Anishinabe decent, a person from the Dakota/Lakota Nations who has been imprisoned since 1976. His name is Leonard Peltier. Peltier is serving two life sentences for the deaths of FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams during a June 26, 1975, standoff on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
I previously blogged about Leonard Peltier HERE and the significance of the song “Sacrifice” from the album “Contact from the Underworld Red Boy” by Robbie Robertson. Peltier was convicted in Fargo, N.D., in 1977 and recently was denied parole after having a full parole hearing for the first time in 15 years at the Lewisburg, Pa., federal prison where he is being held. Some feel he is an unrepentant, cold-blooded murderer who executed two FBI special agents and has neither accepted responsibility for the murders nor shown any remorse. However, others feel the FBI had no substantive evidence in the trial, essentially framed him and he has unsuccessfully appealed his conviction numerous times.
Leonard Peltier
For many Native Americans, Peltier’s imprisonment has come to stand not only for unjust violence waged against Native Americans but also for the theft of the life of a man who has handled his 33 years in jail with dignity and grace. If you take the time and look deeper into Peltier’s legal situation — compare the 64-year olds poor health and then contrast it with the recent “compassionate grounds” release of the Lockerbie bomber — one can only assume that the public outrage likely didn’t help his chances in the parole hearing. His best chance now of getting out of prison alive is to receive a pardon or clemency from the president of the U.S. However, that is unlikely, as Mr. Obama would rather spend time reaching out to Muslims and celebrate Islamic holy month by hosting a Ramadan dinner than address the plight of Native Americans. To be fair, Mr. Obama did present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Joe Medicine Crow — High Bird in Washington last month. Photo HERE.
I’m not on a mission to convince anyone of Peltier’s guilt or innocence. Remember, this all started with a song and I’ve not turned activist fighting for the overturn of the U.S. constitutional court rulings that affirmed the confiscation of Native American lands. I’m a motorcycle enthusiast who enjoys the Black Hills and appreciates the freedom to take in a week of open roads. There is more information related to freeing Peltier HERE or if compelled, you can write him at:
Leonard Peltier
#89637-132
USP-Lewisburg
US Penitentiary
PO Box 1000
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Lastly, in doing the research for this post I run across Arron Huey. A photo journalist with images that are truly captivating of the Pine Ridge Indian reservation. His work was featured in Perpignan at the last Vis d’Or Photojournalism Festival.
Photo courtesy of LDOC and Travel South Dakota web site.
Northwest Harley Blog 