I remember since I was very little I was told to pray for our akicita, to pray for this man who gave his all for his people Leonard Peltier. My mother gave me this sense of pride for all that he gave and all that he is.

Eventually they married and I finally met the person of whom many prayers were always said, and whose name is sang in our many songs everyday. I knew him as father for a short while but within that time I knew the truth of all he said to be real in my heart. He took me as a daughter and gave me a love that had been missing from my life as my real father never gave.

I still pray and hope one day to introduce my now 10 month old son to him so that he to can know the man that still holds a place as father in my heart. I still have pictures from those many prison visits and tears flow down my face everytime that I see them in a frame upon my mothers wall.

Leonard Peltier is innocent in all the lies cast upon him and I wonder if one day everyone will see that. I hope and pray that one day he is free to walk among his people and hear the songs of love and life. I have forever been changed by his gift of fatherly love and I hope one day to make him very proud.
Mashugashon Wiwangwancipiwin Camp