I came across This very sad story. A heartbreaking one indeed. It is one of Danielle Shenandoah a Traditional Oneida Woman and Mother who has paid a heavy price for speaking out against having a casino in her territory.
She is not Palestinian but like Palestinians she is indigenous to the land, that land is what is called America Today. One can only look at the indigenous people of North America to see what happens after being colonized and having your land taken. If Genocide don't get you, then systems created and left by the people who colonized will try. One of the attempts is making their leaders become puppets for Governments like United States, and Canada and Israel to name a few.
They become slaves to the Corporate Whores and sometimes manage to become one. In the case of Danielle, it seems the people in charge have forsaken personal values and traditions selling it for the almighty buck. This is the theme behind the Almighty American Dream.
They have become what was once they despised, they have forsaken themselves and sacrificed their values at the corporate alter of greed and became corporate whores.
Traditional people do not support casinos for economic development because of the devastating consequences it has on the lives of the people. Schenandoah is one of those people who had courage and principle to stand up against her Nation and Government, but now is paying the price.
For being very vocal against the casino Schenandoah has been ostracized and punished. Sources say that Danielle is one of several traditional Oneida who was disenrolled. Since then this single mother and her 3 children have had their home bulldozed with the blessing of the United States government, and has had a constant struggle for years to remain together. They receive no insurance, assistance, or other help from the Oneida nation. (see www.oneidasfordemocracy.org for the full struggle of the Oneida traditionals.)
To make things worse, at the end of this past August 2007, Danielles 14 year-old daughter Clarisse was in a serious car accident. She has suffered several extensive injuries including a shattered pelvis, punctured lung, ruptured spleen, split pallet, and broken facial bones with jaw just to name a few.This accident has been a serious setback to the Schenandoah’s progress. Things had started to improve for the family last October when Danielle was able to buy a used trailer and rent land on the Onondaga Reservation. She found a job and enrolled her children in school where they excelled. They did not have much, but they were finally together in their own home. Then came the accident.
Since there is no medical insurance or financial resources, Danielle must now stay home to care for Clarisse. As a result, she is no longer able to work. With no income, they are now in danger of losing everything they fought so hard to get… their home, and most importantly, their life together. She has already been threatened to lose her children and if not for the generosity of some family (who are in the same situation with being disenrolled) they would have been removed from her home.
This single mother and her 3 children need your help to stay together and to cover the growing medical bills. Currently their car is in disrepair and it is getting harder to get Clarisse to the doctors for her many follow up visits and physical therapy appointments. They also have other mounting bills, they are a couple months behind on their land rent, their phone has been shut off, and getting food and clothing for growing children, is a constant worry.
I am appealing to those people out there who live the good mind. Please, if you are at all able to, consider speaking out against this. Write to Media, Let everyone one know about this story
donate.....to this a fund that has been established .... ALL money will go directly to this family.
Click Here to Visit the site and get details has they happen, also there is a Fund Site
to help the family. If you want to get involved please email danielleschenandoahfund@hotmail.com
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