‘Free Leonard Peltier’ Filmmakers on How Recently Released Activist Continues His Fight for Indigenous Communities: ‘His Fire Is Undiminished’

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At this year’s Sundance Film Festival, it was no easy task to find a more relevant film than “Free Leonard Peltier,” directed by Jesse Short Bull and David France. As a movie enthusiast, I found myself deeply moved by their documentary about the Native American activist who has been imprisoned for almost five decades due to a murder charge of two federal agents – a crime he firmly maintains his innocence of.

Just as the documentary filmmakers were preparing for its Park City premiere, Peltier was granted clemency by President Joe Biden just before he left office. This unexpected development forced the filmmakers to quickly revise their documentary, adding fresh content at the last minute.

According to France, as Biden’s presidency was about to end with just 14 minutes remaining, the announcement originated from the White House. We watched it unfold on our mobile devices since Trump’s inauguration had already started. Biden was already in the room, and speeches and songs were underway. Suddenly, we received the news.

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France reports that, with only 14 minutes left until Biden’s presidency ended, a statement emerged from the White House. We observed this on our cell phones because Trump’s inauguration had already begun. Biden was already inside, and speeches and music were being performed. Then, we learned the news.

This week at Thessaloniki Documentary Festival’s international competition, the film ‘Free Leonard Peltier’ unfolds. It’s a long-term portrayal of an activist who, as a prominent figure in the American Indian Movement (AIM), dedicated his life to revealing the unjust actions taken by the U.S. government against Native American communities. Joe Leydon from EbMaster describes it as a “persuasively well-researched and frequently infuriating documentary,” providing a “powerful history lesson.” The filmmaker aims, according to France, to present Leonard Peltier’s story to a new generation.

To be honest, it’s not my first encounter with the Native American activist on the silver screen: The 1992 drama “Thunderheart,” directed by Michael Apted and inspired by the events leading to his imprisonment, as well as Apted’s documentary “Incident at Oglala,” narrated by Robert Redford and released in the same year, were likely known to audiences who came before me, shedding light on the intricacies of his contentious case.

On June 26, 1975, FBI agents armed with firearms stormed the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Wounded Knee, South Dakota. This action resulted in a gunfight that tragically took the lives of two FBI agents, Jack R. Coler and Ronald A. Williams, as well as Native American activist Joe Stuntz. The authorities claimed that Peltier shot them at close range; however, his legal team and supporters argue he did not fire the shots and was instead wrongfully accused and convicted in a biased trial orchestrated by the government. This unfair trial is described by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker France (“How to Survive a Plague”) as a “true tragedy and miscarriage of justice.

The documentary titled “Free Leonard Peltier” employs interviews, historical recordings, and artificially intelligent simulations to retell the events that occurred at Wounded Knee. However, this film doesn’t just focus on the specific incident involving Leonard Peltier; it also places his trial and struggle within a wider context of injustices against Native American communities. This includes the tragic 1890 massacre at the same site where over 300 Lakota men, women, and children were brutally killed by federal forces. Two years prior to Peltier’s imprisonment, there was a takeover of Wounded Knee led by Native American activists under the leadership of AIM, resulting in a prolonged occupation. On the anniversary of this standoff, Short Bull addressed EbMaster, referring to it as “Liberation Day.

Born approximately 50 miles from Pine Ridge in South Dakota, Short Bull, a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe, alongside Laura Tomaselli co-directed the documentary “Lakota Nation vs. United States.” This film chronicles the persistent attempts by the government to unlawfully acquire Native American land over several decades. Growing up, it was the actions of Leonard Peltier and his contemporaries that significantly contributed to Short Bull’s understanding and appreciation of his Lakota heritage. These efforts helped preserve beliefs and traditions that were at risk of disappearing altogether.

Leonard’s generation was the one that began to comprehend the things that were eroded during the era of assimilation. This generation yearned to preserve what remained unchanged, he notes. I appreciate Leonard’s generation and the hardships they endured.

Although significant progress has been made in addressing some of the past injustices inflicted by the government upon Indigenous communities, Short Bull points out that “there are still numerous issues persisting today,” which he finds disheartening. He continues, “There will continue to be more individuals like me who fight for our land and culture.

On February 18, Peltier departed a federal prison in Central Florida. Now 80 years old, with poor health and partial blindness, he will complete his two life sentences under house arrest in North Dakota. However, it’s stated that his endeavors are far from concluded.

Short Bull emphasizes that his commitment to bringing about change, ensuring safety, and fostering love within our community remains strong,” he said. “He’s determined to keep moving forward and continue being an active participant.

France remarks, “His determination remains unwavering.” It’s truly astonishing, he continues, “that despite the harsh treatment he endured for 49 long years and being stripped of almost everything, he never lost his fighting spirit.

The Thessaloniki Intl. Documentary Festival takes place March 6 – 16.

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2025-03-09 14:47