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Phil Fontaine, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) of Canada and top officials of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) of the United States today, January 20, 2000, met with Native American activist and Indigenous icon, Leonard Peltier inside Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas.

Phil Fontaine, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) of Canada and top officials of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) of the United States today met with Native American activist and Indigenous icon, Leonard Peltier inside Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas. The two groups are the largest Native American Organizations in North America, representing the majority of tribes on the continent.

The National Chief has written letters to both the President of the United States, Mr. William Clinton, and the Attorney General, Ms. Janet Reno, asking them to act on this case and release Mr. Peltier from prison. "Mr. Peltier has been incarcerated for an incredible amount of time when you consider the facts of the case. There is no justification for keeping Leonard imprisoned any longer. He must be freed if we are to believe that justice in America is fair for all", added National Chief Phil Fontaine.

The AFN is meeting with lawyers from Canada and the United States who are deeply involved in the effort to obtain justice for Leonard Peltier. They will look at avenues and options to secure his freedom in the short term.

Leonard Peltier, who has been in prison for almost twenty-four years, is considered by Amnesty International to be a political prisoner who should be "immediately and unconditionally released." "Mr. Peltier's release by way of parole or grant of clemency is essential in reaching our common goals of ending injustices against all indigenous peoples," said AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine, in a recent letter of support. Mr. Peltier was convicted for the first-degree murders of two FBI agents and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. Supporters say he is innocent of the crime. Though the US Government says they cannot prove who actually shot the agents, they say Mr. Peltier's incarceration is justified.

Last July, the AFN and NCAI held an historical joint conference in Vancouver, BC. During the conference, both organizations passed resolutions in support of Mr. Peltier's release. Last November, officials of both groups met jointly with representatives of Attorney General, Janet Reno and urged her to recommend that President Clinton grant Executive Clemency to Leonard Peltier. Now the organizations are furthering their efforts by meeting with Leonard Peltier himself to further develop strategies for his release.