Boozhoo (Hello in Ojibwe),
I am Native American from the Mohican Tribe. My Indian name is Wabun Anung in Ojibwe which means Morning Star. I have been disabled for 23 years with PTSD and Bipolar Disorder. My disability is so severe my doctor told me I was totally and permanently disabled that I would never work again for the rest of my life. I felt she gave me a death sentence.
It started when I was put on suicide watch at 16 by my social worker because I was sexually assaulted starting as a 1 year old baby in diapers all the way til I was 15 years old by my father who worked for Milwaukee Public Schools. At 16 years old I was placed in foster care where I was sexually assaulted again by a 26 year old foster brother.
When I was 23 my ex boyfriend beat me up while I was pregnant causing a miscarriage. I then I had a major breakdown and was diagnosed with PTSD because the doctor said I experienced too much trauma in my life. From then I had 20 major mental breakdowns requiring long hospitalizations. The longest at one time was 90 days hospitalization. That was when my doctor said I was totally and permanantly disabled and would never work again.
Since then I have been fighting to overcome that diagnosis. I worked for free at Spring City Corner Clubhouse which tries to rehabilitate disabled people for work. I went to the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation for several years.
I became a Certified Peer Support Specialist trained in answering suicide calls. A Certified Peer Support and Wellness Specialist is someone with a mental disability who uses their experience and training to empower others with disabilities to focus on recovery. I earned a BA in Business & Management from Alverno College. Currently, I am a MA New Media Journalism Graduate Student from Full Sail University. Everyday I struggle to overcome my totally and permanently disabled diagnosis.
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Do you love Native American Arts? This Spring March 20, 2019 the Artist's Way Circle hosted by White Turtle Rainbow (Native American Media Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is kicking off a 3 month journey exploring all sorts of Native American creativity online at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/artistwaycircleThere will be 6 two week cycles starting March 20 through June 14, 2019. We will be using Artist's Way book by Julia Cameron for inspiration. Emphasis on this journey is exploring Native American Art, Music, Writing, Dance, plus so much more each week this Spring 2019!
White Turtle Rainbow supports the nonprofit Native Hope which started the #StorytellingHeals movement on Indigenous People's Day. Native Hope encourages Native Americans finding their indigenous voice through storytelling, creativity, and media.
Everyone is welcome! Share & Invite your friends!
Chi Megwetch (Thank you very much in Ojibwe).
Wenona Gardner
White Turtle Rainbow
Stockbridge-Munsee band of Mohican Tribe
Artist's Way Facilitator for 23 years.
Member of the Native American Journalist Association
My GoFundMe campaign is at:
http://gofundme.com/WenonaLeeGardnerMy website is at:
http://azurebreeze.wordpress.com 
