"I will be able to heal with my children and Mother Earth again," Danielle Schenendoah Patterson said to me last Sunday, July 20, 2003. We were sitting on the steps of her new home in Canastota, NY, an old farmhouse in need of many repairs, that she is now renting. She is just eight miles off Territory, eight miles from where her home was demolished with all her belongings in it, eight miles from her 71-year-old mother Maisie Shenandoah, the Oneida Wolf Clan Mother, and the rest of her "Traditional" family.

As we sat there on her front porch, a crew of people, who came from places like NH, NB, AR, OH, TX, CA, PA, etc., were busily trying to get the house ready for inspection. Several men were working on the outside of the house while a few more were checking out the wiring. Painting parties worked fervently to give the inside a much needed face lift and two of Danielle’s uncles Joe and Jerry Shenandoah were laying new floor in the kitchen. We used donated brushes, rollers, paint, tools, etc. to aid us in dressing up the rooms. We even mixed paints to fashion different looks. Peter and Ann from NH guided the children in painting the rooms, as they were enthusiastic about helping too. In one room we ran into a small problem and Barb from PA mentioned, "How about using a Border." Needless to say the room took on a new shine and Danielle was thrilled. This in turn got Danielle’s one daughter, Jolene, eager to do her room.

She wanted her room purple and then picked out a seascape border to match.

Food, clothing, household items, etc. were also brought by many in hopes of recreating a stable home for Danielle and her three children, Jolene, Clarice and Preston. Around back behind the farmhouse in the rear of the field stood "Tent City" where most of us stayed while we were there, some longer then others. A few young men, with a group that goes around the country helping people in need, were busily digging a pit for a fire that was planned later that evening for the Social. Leah, a very nice young woman, kept the food table stocked so that when we needed a break, we could grab a water and a nibble.

Danielle’s focus was not on what has happened; instead, it was on the dream of what can happen with the setup of her new home. The most important part to her was getting her children back. I asked her some questions that she spoke briefly on. The harassments of the past to her and her family and to the demolition of her home and the pending demolition of her remaining family’s homes (I just received word that her mother Maisie’s home is scheduled for demolition on August 20). Her words to me were, "None of this should have happened by "ANY LAW." She also stated that she would like to see the justice of the "Great Law" returned to the People. (If you would like to know more of what she and her family have been through you can log on to Google and type in her name or any of her family for the background. You can also type in Authur Ray Halbritter and much more will come up as well.) I asked her if the above reasons were a part of why this new home was so important, to have a safe place for the Elders to come to. She nodded her head yes, and said, "I want to bring my mother home."

Danielle’s father died when she was three. "I was the youngest, she said, and mom raised the six of us by herself." She remembered that when she was nine, her mother took a stand on an issue of the People and continued to be very active during her growing up years. This gave Danielle the incentive and perseverance to do the same. Although Danielle’s fight could be considered lost by some, her plans to regroup and teach all people would prove differently.

"There was a time we lived in peace because we lived in harmony," she said. "We had obedience to Creator." She plans to teach these Traditional lessons and to teach seminars to all people of all ages. She also plans to host classes, on working relationships with the Mother (Mother Earth), in her new home which is an old Organic Farm. She will be earning her Organic Farming Certificate in two months. Her dreams also consist of making her home an Art & Communication Center, to assist people from all cultures, thereby creating unity. Danielle has also successfully spoken at some Major Universities, such as NYU, Columbia, MA, Brown, Syracuse, Trenton and more, on the sharing of cultural knowledge and looks forward to doing more.

For a woman who was beaten, told she would end up like Anna Mae Aquash, taken out of state to a PA jail without being arrested for anything, her home totally demolished and then had the bill sent to her for the damages done, had her children taken from her because she had no place to live, has watched her family suffer through their own GOON attacks. I found a woman with a warm smile, full of love and laughter and gratitude, a soft and humble lady, alive with hope and ambition to correct the wrongs in a good and positive way. She is a powerful force of a woman and all she can be. Never tiring, never giving up, picking up the pieces one by one and with true traditional Indian Attitude and Courage, she is starting over again.

Author’s personal note and request: Anyone who knows of the Oneida Wolf Clan’s ordeals or for that matter any of the Indian Nation’s Traditionals, who are also facing the threat of expulsion or extinction by someone or something, knows that the time to ACT is NOW before we lose all these wonderful Elders, our teachers, traditions and Sacred Ways.

Danielle and her family are far from being safe. The homes that are left are being monitored and have cameras on them; the phones are tapped and the mail is rifled or sometimes mysteriously disappears.

Even though quite a few people showed up to help last weekend and those who couldn’t sent items or donations, there is still much needed by as many who can or dare to. I am asking those of you who can, please drop her a letter of support or a contribution. With all that is happening she has also lost her income, temporarily.

Danielle asked for nothing in her interview with me, except for one thing, a request. I felt it was for all of us of Indian lineage or of heart.

"Please come home and help your People – they need you."

Since this was written some good news to share from Danielle:

SKEN^:KWO GREETINGS ALL!

Although there are few minor repairs that still need to be done, the house looks great! The best news is the kids are going to be at the house tonight at 5:30, I am grateful that the creator has seen me through all of this whole ordeal and finally my children and I are reunited. I would like to thank everyone who have been very helpful, as I surely know that there is no way I could have done what we have without the help of great people who contributed their time, hearts, helping hands, prayers, and materials. In light of this wonderful blessing and time of healing, I would like to say thank you to all of you.

Ny'Wen, ~Thank you,

Sken:non~Peace,

Danielle Schenandoah Patterson
PO BOX 450
Oneida, NY 13421