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Tuesday 12/02/2003 4:07:27am
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Press Release:
URGENT AND IMMEDIATE
Oneida Nation, INC. Rejects Peaceful Resolution:
Will Evict Indian Families on 32 Acre Territory
The Oneida Nation of New York Inc. continues to reject peaceful resolutions offered by the residents of the 32 Acre Indian Territory to resolve a long-standing dispute which would enable them to remain living on territory.
The Territory residents, most of whom are single maternal parents only wish to remain living in peace among their community which they have done for several generations. After attempts to unite the people for the restoration of a traditional and democratic government many Oneida people were ostracized and have been denied, jobs, education assistance and any other benefit or programs given only to members “In good standing”.
Over the past three years the Oneida Nation Inc.(under the control of Arthur Raymond Halbritter) has sought to impose a set of arbitrary housing code(s) and ordinance(s) designed to fail only homes on the territory even though the homes are not significantly different than many homes throughout the region including other lands owned by the Nation. Residents have insisted rules are thinly disguised to forcibly evict any Oneida opposed to the current regime. This was later admitted as fact by an Oneida Nation attorney.
To date, 14 families have been removed from the Territory with four more set to be evicted in the next few days. Families were told that bulldozers were in place.
The Territory residents have sought to repair or replace their current homes, all of which met or would meet New York State housing codes, but have had their efforts prohibited under threats of arrest and imprisonment. Danielle Patterson Schenandoah, a single mother, was forcibly removed from her home by over 20 Nation police officers in October, 2002 and incarcerated 350 miles away in Pennsylvania.
Previous evictions have been carried out by the 50 plus non-Native officers of the Oneida Nation. Efforts to reach a equitable and peaceful resolution of the crisis have been flatly rejected. It is understood that all proposals for a peaceful resolution have been personally vetoed by Halbritter. Instead they have provided a list of locations for Oneida people to relocate to shelters or low income housing in the city of Syracuse and only offered them with three months rent. Oneida territory residents filed paperwork for homes owned by the Oneida Nation. They were told “No Housing is available by the Oneida Nation..and the Oneida Nation is not negotiating”.
The families will receive nothing for the loss of their homes, the displacement and interruption of their children’s lives and education, the costs incurred in moving or the destruction of their personal property.
On November 18, once again, attorneys told the Territory families they could expect the demolition of their homes at any time. Applications for replacement homes have been denied.
Territory Residents do not plan to vacate their homes.
Contacts:
Diane Schenandoah (315) 363-6248
Vicky Schenandoah (315) 361-5301
Residents are represented by pro bono attorney Donald Daines (609) 734-6335 |
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