William Shackleford

My REAL name is William Hayes Shackleford and I am a proud member of the Piqua Shawnee Tribe. I work as a Native American activists in Kentucky. My passion is STOPPING grave desecration and fighting for the recognition of ALL Native Americans in Kentucky.

The blog is certainly a surprise and yet sometimes it is a burden and a blessing. I certainly did not expect The Rural Democrat to take off like it has.

All of my political activities are geared toward helping the Native American people of Kentucky. Senator Daniel Mongiardo has helped the Native Peoples and we believe he will continue to help us in the future. That is the honest reason I support the Beshear and Mongiardo campaign. The Native Peoples of Kentucky have real problems and I believe Beshear and Mongiardo will work with us instead of ignoring our people which has been the historical result of decades of hard work.

I served as the President for the Kentucky Native American Indian Council Pine Mountain Region (KNAIC PMR) (Now dissolved) and fought for an ordinance in Harlan County to protect and preserve our Native American Burial sites along the ridges of Pine, Cumberland, and Black Mountains. The ordinance was passed in the summer of 2006 and the organized grave digging along those ridges have been stopped and I credit Senator Daniel Mongiardo for fighting for this ordinance.

The political contacts I do have are few but those I do know I consider friends. The political figures that know me will tell you without hesitation that ALL of my political activities are rooted in the needs of ALL Native Americans in Kentucky. I was born with the ability to be patient and I realize the strategic advantage of that gift. When the time is right I will open up on The Rural Democrat totally to support proposed legislation to protect out Native American Burial Sites.

I am Native American and I live as a Native American and I walk through life as a Native American. I am extremely proud of my heritage and the overwhelming Native American bloodline that was kept secret from me most of my young life. I administer www.ridgetopshawnee.com , My genealogy is sacred and I will continue to fight and help ALL Native Americans. With any type of politics, division is a part of life and the nature of Native American politics in Kentucky is no exception. I believe in unity of all Native Peoples but division has slowed our progress. The need for us to be politically involved is paramount and I will continue to build relationships to further OUR agenda.