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Minnesota Native News is a weekly radio segment covering ideas and events relevant to Minnesota’s Native American communities. Made possible by the Minnesota Art's and Cultural Heritage fund
[Music: Minnesota Native News Theme]
Marie Rock [ANCHOR]: Welcome to Minnesota Native New. I'm Marie Rock. This week, we're sharing a special extended conversation with voices you've heard in earlier reports. Here's Emma Needham's interview with Korina Barry and Holly Cook Macarro of NDN Collective.
Emma Needham: I just wanted to thank you both for your time and energy talking about this really exciting story.
Korina Barry: Well, Boozhoo … Nindizhinikaaz Anishinaabemong, Makwa nindoodem … nindonjibaa. My name is Korina Barry. I am Leech Lake Anishinaabe, calling in from St. Paul, Minnesota today. I am the Managing Director of Indian Action with NDN Collective. Miigwech for having me.
Holly Cook Macarro: Thank you. Aaniin, boozhoo. I'm Holly Cook Macarro, I'm from the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe in northern Minnesota, and I do Government Affairs for NDN Collective.
Emma Needham: Thank you for that. I was wondering, for our listeners, if you might be able to give a little more background information on what's the difference between like a pardon, clemency and like, how one would define like commutation of a sentence.
Holly Cook Macarro: Clemency, it's a pardon, a commutation, a reprieve. A commutation merely commutes the remainder of a sentence to time served and then allows them to go free. So the terms of Leonard's grant of executive clemency was a commutation of the remainder of his sentence, but with the requirement that he serve out the remainder of his sentence in home confinement, it is for the remainder of his life. So he's in his 49th year from prison. It would have been 50 years on March 2 of 2025. He was one of three principally charged with the murders of agents Coler and Williams. When the government's case fell apart. They changed the charges for Leonard, and he was convicted of aiding and abetting. His trial was separate from Dino Butler and Bob Robideau, the two who were principally charged in their trial, they were found not guilty for reasons of self-defense. And then Leonard was convicted of aiding and abetting them, which was always one of our principal arguments about the justice in this case, that who did he aid and abet, if those were principally charged or found out guilty when he was convicted? There's always been charges of the racism of the judge in this instance, from you know, what he allowed and didn't allow in trial, and then the fact that his sentence Leonard to do consecutive life sentences, not to run concurrently.
Emma Needham: Thank you for explaining that. Korina, did you have anything to add to that?
Korina Barry: Just highlighting the levels of injustice, you know, related to Leonard's case and ongoing imprisonment. We're still sorting out why he has to serve another 30 days, you know, when he's very unwell. And then, like Holly said, then the home confinement piece. So I think there's still layers here of sorting through, what is justice?
Emma Needham: What does Leonard Peltier have to face now?
Korina Barry: You know, once he returns to his homelands of Turtle Mountain, and then he's in his home, like, what is the extent of that home confinement? He can go home and like that is freedom for him, you know, and that's enough, and absolutely honor that, but there is still a piece of his freedom that they're trying to hold in keeping him combined at home. People might not know or understand the level of institutionalization, isolation that Leonard has experienced being incarcerated in prison for nearly five decades. And then for him to be released and to experience a completely different world in many ways. You know, like so, much has changed that coming out is going to be just one massive, over stimulating experience. What does that spiritual and cultural support look like for him, on top of the medical care that he needs?
Emma Needham: What is one thing about Leonard Peltier case that you'd like to share?
Korina Barry: The understanding the reality that this has been a multi-generational fight – multiple generations, literally – that have fought for his freedom and to bring truth to the injustice that he's been living through. And I have a two-year-old daughter, Miskwaades, a summer or two ago, you know, like with Holly and our team, and I had her strapped on me and a baby carrier, and we're in front of the White House doing an action. When I picked her up yesterday, I was able to tell her as now little over a two-year-old, "Hey, Uncle Leonard's coming home. And you are a part of that." Like, she is a part of the last generation that fought for his freedom.
Holly Cook Macarro: There's so much with Leonard, right? The thing that has stood out to me as I've gotten to know Leonard over these past years being part of his advocacy team, is his persistent optimism, even though we had some serious setbacks, and Leonard has remained hopeful for nearly five decades, and I think sets an example both for how to lead and stand by what you believe in.
Marie Rock: That's all we for this week's episode. Join us next time for more voices and stories that inform, uplift, and shape our communities, right here on Minnesota Native News.
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Marie Rock: Minnesota Native News is produced by AMPERS: Diverse Radio for Minnesota's Communities. Made possibly by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.