Activists who have called for Leonard Peltier's release for nearly half a century welcomed him home Wednesday.

Native American activist Leonard Peltier was defiant toward the government but grateful to his family and supporters as they welcomed him home to North Dakota, one day after his release from a Florida prison where he had been serving a life sentence

The 80-year-old member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa returned to his North Dakota community on Tuesday.