Supporters Celebrated Leonard Peltier's Birthday

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

67th Birthday

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - Some 100 supporters of Leonard Peltier's quest for freedom celebrated his 67th birthday on Monday, September 12 at the Intertribal Friendship House in Oakland, California.

The group enjoyed prayer and food.

Len Foster, Diné, who has served as a spiritual advisor to Peltier prayed in the Diné language for those gathered and for all relations.

Sampson Wolfe, of the Northern California Leonard Peltier support group, encouraged the crowd to keep writing letters and call the White House on behalf of Peltier.

Luta Candelaria and Michael Corral, who together had taken a stand and won at Sogorea Te, commonly known as Glen Cove, sang, played their clappers, and prayed in the Rumsien Ohlone language.

Mary Jane Robertson, KPOO FM radio personality, spoke words of encouragement about how we all must keep supporting Peltier.

Pacific Islander sisters, Fuifuilupe Niumeitolu and Loa Niumeitolu of Hawaii accompanied by traditional drumming recited their own poetry, alternating from one sister to the other in a beautiful and moving performance.

The Mexica Traditional Azteca Dancers, led by Companero Alvaro Tellez and his companion Ms. Irma Pineda, also performed a dance to the four directions and blew his concha shell for the people to hear that Leonard Peltier must be set free!

The international re-known poet, Ms. Lorna Cervantes, a fifth generation Californian of California and American Indian, Chumash, and a professor at SF State University, read her poem, 'Sustenance: A Poem For Leonard Peltier'.

Tony Gonzales, AIM-WEST Director, served as emcee.

Arthur Jacobs, AIM-WEST, contributed to this story.