Leonard Peltier: The
Humanitarian
Contributions
Despite
his imprisonment, which poses numerous barriers, Mr.
Peltier has made remarkable contributions to humanitarian and
charitable causes.
Leonard Peltier has played a key role in getting people from different
tribes, with a history of animosity, to come together in peace. He
advocates for peaceful resolution of all issues that deal with Native
Americans and respect for the rights of others.
Leonard Peltier has worked with Dr. Steward Selkin on a pilot program on the
Rosebud Reservation, the Leonard Peltier Health Care Reform Package, to
document needs and requirements for delivery and care. The ultimate intent
of the program is to fundamentally alter health care delivery on
reservations throughout the U.S.
He has worked with Professor Jeffery Timmons on a program to stimulate
reservation-based economics and investments in Native American business
enterprises, including a component to teach business ownership and operation to the young people of First Nations.
In 1992, Leonard Peltier established a scholarship at New York
University for Native American students seeking law degrees. He also was
instrumental in the establishment and funding of a Native American
newspaper by and for Native young people in Washington State. In addition
to having raised two of his grandchildren from prison, Leonard Peltier has
been a sponsoring father of two children through ChildReach, one in El
Salvador and the other in Guatemala. Every year, he sponsors a Christmas
gift drive for the children of Pine Ridge. Peltier also serves on
the Board of the Rosenberg Fund for Children.
Leonard Peltier organized an emergency food drive for the people of Pohlo, Mexico, in response to the Acteal Massacre. He
also frequently
contributes to Head Start programs and domestic violence shelters to
help address funding shortfalls.
Peltier has helped several Indian prisoners rehabilitate themselves by
advocating a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle while encouraging pride
and knowledge in their culture and traditions. He also has worked to develop
prisoner art programs thereby increasing prisoners' self-confidence.
Donations
Leonard Peltier donates his artwork to several human rights
and social
welfare organizations to help them raise funds. Most recently,
recipients have included the American Civil Liberties Union; Trail of Hope (a Native American
conference dealing with drug and alcohol addiction); World Peace and Prayer
Day; the First Nation Student Association; and the Buffalo Trust Fund.
In March 2010, Peltier organized an art benefit on behalf of
earthquake victims in Haiti.
Honors
Leonard Peltier has been widely recognized for his humanitarian works,
winning honors including but not limited to:
-
1986 Human Rights Commission of Spain International Human
Rights Prize;
-
1993 North Star Frederick
Douglas Award;
-
2003 Federation of Labour
(Ontario, Canada) Humanist of the Year Award;
-
2004 Silver Arrow Award for Lifetime
Achievement;
-
2009 First Red Nation Humanitarian Award;
-
2010 Kwame Ture Lifetime
Achievement Award;
-
2010 Fighters for Justice Award;
and
-
2011 Mario Benedetti Foundation
(Uruguay) - First International Human Rights Prize.
In 2009, for the sixth consecutive year, Leonard Peltier
also was
nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
|
Humanist of the Year Award
1993 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
North Star
Frederick Douglass
Award
1993 |
|
|
|
|
|
Silver Arrow Award
for
Lifetime Achievement
2004 |
|
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum
of the American Indian
Honor Wall
2003 |
| |
 |
|
Kwame Ture
Lifetime Achievement Award
2010 |
|
 |
|
Mario Benedetti Foundation
First International Human Rights Prize
2011 |
