While the most just outcome would have been a full pardon, Peltier’s release after 49 years of incarceration is an undeniable victory. It speaks to the possibilities of collective Indigenous power. Peltier’s story is a microcosm of the systemic injustice Native people have endured—a reminder of the United States’ dedication to exploiting, incarcerating, and attempting to erase Indigenous peoples. As more truths emerged about these institutions’ devastating impact on Indigenous peoples that fueled generations of trauma, Biden’s perspective began to shift. The federal government’s formal acknowledgment of these historical injustices helped pave the way for Peltier’s release.