Leonard Peltier documentary examines Indigenous activism and legal controversy

The Netflix documentary ‘Free Leonard Peltier’ examines the 1975 double homicide of FBI special agents Ronald Arthur Williams and Jack Ross Coler, and the subsequent legal battles involving Indigenous activists. The film focuses on the prosecution of Leonard Peltier, as well as Robert Eugene ‘Bob’ Robideau and Darrelle ‘Dino’ Butler, both of whom were acquitted of the murders.

Leonard Peltier has spent nearly half a century in prison following a trial marked by significant irregularities. While his conviction remains, his sentence was changed from life imprisonment to house arrest by Joe Biden in 2025. The documentary, directed by David France, connects Peltier’s case to the broader history of colonial violence in the United States and the ongoing struggle for Indigenous land rights and self-determination.