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The Cathedral and Leonard Peltier’s Eagle

The Cathedral and Leonard Peltier
Leonard Peltier, circa 1985, AC# 449: American Indian Movement photograph collection, National Museum of the American Indian Archives.

On January 19, 2025, President Joe Biden commuted Leonard Peltier’s sentence. He will be free to serve the remainder of his sentence at home under home confinement. Leonard has served 50 years of two consecutive life sentences in various institutions. His home will be with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota. For forty years, there has been a connection between the Cathedral and Leonard Peltier’s eagle.

Leonard’s sentence, was the result of a shoot-out near the Pine Ridge reservation in June of 1975, where two FBI agents were killed. Leonard, who has always maintained his innocence, was convicted of these killings. Many in law enforcement fought against any type of clemency for Peltier. Many others, including the Dalai Lama, Pope Francis and former Attorney General Ramsey Clark fought for it, as did many human rights organizations worldwide and Dean James Parks Morton. We are reminded that there are always three sides to every story.

Dean Morton
Dean James Parks Morton – Image Mary Bloom

In 1985, Dean Morton assembled a group supporting Leonard’s freedom at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Among them was Steve Robideau, President of the American Indian Movement, Chief Billy Redwing Tayac and civil rights attorney William Kunstler.

The Cathedral Forum on Leanard Peltier
In this photo, Steve Robideau, Dean Morton, Chief Billy Redwing Tayac and standing William Kunstler. January, 1985. – Image courtesy Pamela Morton

The Carving

Leading up to the gathering, Dean Morton approached Master Carver Nick Fairplay and asked him to carve something representing Leonard to go on the Cathedral. Nick had recently carved an eagle to go up on the Southwest Tower and was about to begin on another creature for the same size stone to be near it.

The Cathedral and Leonard Peltier's Eagle
Detail of the first eagle carving on a canopy stone carved by Nicholas Fairplay on June 3, 1985.

Fairplay decided on a second eagle to go with the first, but this time with the face of Leonard Peltier. He was provided a photograph and went to work.

The Cathedral and Leonard Peltier's Eagle
This is an eagle carving with the head of Leonard Peltier. Nicholas Fairplay’s carving is on a canopy stone, seen in a niche on June 3, 1985. Image Robert F. Rodriguez
Nick Fairplay With Peltier Eagle
Nick Fairplay with Peltier Eagle. Image courtesy of Pamela Morton
Fairplay showing Peltier Eagle to Arlene and Steve Robideau for the first time.
Fairplay showing Peltier Eagle to Arlene and Steve Robideau for the first time. Image courtesy of Pamela Morton

The Forum concluded with a ceremony at the altar of the Cathedral featuring Native American customs and traditional Anglican rituals.

The Cathedral and Leonard Peltiers' Eagle
L-R, Chief Billy Redwing Tayac, Steve Robideau Tayac, Steve Robideau, Dean James Morton preparing the bundles at the altar. January 6, 1985. – Image courtesy of Pamela Morton

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  • White House Press Release, The White House, January 20, 2025, Statement from President Joe Biden.
  • With Companions for the Journey, James Parks Morton, An Annotated Memoir, Pamela Morton and Polly Barton, 2021.
  • Special thanks to Pamela Morton for the many images of the Cathedral events and Nick Fairplay’s involement.
  • Thank you to Divine Stone co-author for the historic images of the canopy stones.

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