Leonard Peltier, who has been in prison since 1976, is scheduled to be released Feb. 18 to serve the rest of his life sentence in home confinement.

Former President Joe Biden commuted Peltier’s sentence as one of his last acts as President on Jan. 20. Seminole Tribe of Florida tribal member Martha Tommie cried when she heard the news. Over the years, Tommie has joined fellow Seminoles and other Natives in calling for Peltier’s release at protest/prayer ceremonies outside Coleman Federal Correctional Institution in Sumterville, Florida, where he was imprisoned.

“Our prayers were answered. It might not have been on our time as we wanted it to be, but it was on the Creator’s time,” Tommie said. “He needs to be home with his family and his people.”

Peltier (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians) was found guilty of the murders of two FBI agents during an uprising on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota in 1975, for which he is serving two life sentences. Many supporters and human rights organizations believe his conviction was tainted due to questionable evidence.

Peltier, 80, suffers from severe health ailments and has spent the majority of his life in prison.

“Tribal Nations, Nobel Peace laureates, former law enforcement officials (including the former U.S. Attorney whose office oversaw Mr. Peltier’s prosecution and appeal), dozens of lawmakers, and human rights organizations strongly support granting Mr. Peltier clemency, citing his advanced age, illnesses, his close ties to and leadership in the Native American community, and the substantial length of time he has already spent in prison,” Biden’s statement read.

Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo), who was the first Native American cabinet secretary, said in a statement that she supports the commutation.

“His release from prison signifies a measure of justice that has long evaded so many Native Americans for so many decades. I am grateful that Leonard can now go home to his family. I applaud President Biden for this action and understanding what this means to Indian Country,” Haaland said.

The day the commutation was announced, members of the NDN Collective, an Indigenous rights group in South Dakota, met outside Coleman and spoke to Peltier on a cell phone. After asking if there was a message he wanted to send out, they relayed his response to the public.

“Tell everybody in Indian country and all the supporters around the world I am very, very grateful for what you’ve done. You got me one step home. Home confinement is going to be a million times better than what I’m living in. I’ll be able to get good medical treatment, I’ll be able to see my friends and I’ll be able to get my shoulders fixed. I can start painting again. It’s gonna be, it’ll be like freedom. It’ll be just as good as freedom. It don’t matter if I have to stay in the house, but the whole nation should be home confinement. That’s my home,” Peltier said.