‘We Don’t Want Bloodshed’: Armed White Militants in Oregon v. Paiute Tribe

‘We Don’t Want Bloodshed’: Armed White Militants in Oregon v. Paiute Tribe
Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/01/12/we-dont-want-bloodshed-armed-white-militants-oregon-v-paiute-tribe-163046

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A man stands guard after members of several organizations arrived at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon on Saturday.


Yet more armed, white militants, members of the Pacific Patriots Network arrived in Burns, Oregon this weekend. They claimed to be there to prevent another Ruby Ridge or Waco by providing a buffer between Ammon Bundy, son of Nevada rancher who drove BLM officers off his land with guns in 2014, and law enforcement. Carrying guns, they presented a resolution to the FBI and local law enforcement calling for the return of land to the people of Harney County—and surprisingly, recommended co-management with the Burns Paiute Tribe.

Burns Paiute tribal chairperson Charlotte Roderique has stated to the media her irritation with Bundy and his “militia” supporters goal of “giving back the land to ranchers.” “It’s been validated we’ve been here since 15,000 years ago,” she told ICTMN. “These people are ignorant of the history and that they don’t think about the statements they are making. They are misinformed.”

The Northern Paiutes signed a treaty with the U.S. Government in 1868 that was not ratified and the land, including that of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge remains unceded tribal territory. The refuge was once part of the 1.78 million acre Malheur Indian reservation. Constant attacks and encroachment of their lands by white settlers led to the Bannock Indian War, which the Northern Paiute bands lost. In retribution, 500 tribal members were forcibly marched in January of 1879 350 miles to present-day Yakama Nation—many shackled together in knee-deep snow. When they were able to return years later they found their lands were sold off to white settlers and corporations.

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Some animosity towards Native people can be seen in the Harney County Committee of Safety, a local group Bundy started which refers to Natives as “savages" in their statement of purpose:


(From the Harney County Committee of Safety website.)
(From the Harney County Committee of Safety website.)

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Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/01/12/we-dont-want-bloodshed-armed-white-militants-oregon-v-paiute-tribe-163046