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 in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents.

Peltier, who has always maintained his innocence in the killing of two FBI agents 50 years ago, was released Tuesday from a federal prison in Florida.

Mr. Peltier was convicted in the killing of two F.B.I. agents. An order from former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. will allow him to serve his remaining time under home confinement.