Indigenous Perspectives on the Occupation of Malheur: Comparing Contemporary Responses from Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Sources
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Date
2018-06
Authors
Sam, Doug M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
On 2 January 2016, armed militants led by Ammon Bundy seized the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Oregon and began a month-long occupation of the refuge as part of a revived movement to pressure the federal government into transferring public lands to state and local authorities. Narratives surrounding this event center on the interests of the occupying militants vs. those of the public. This occludes the perspectives of Indigenous Americans, particularly the Northern Paiute of the Burns Paiute Tribe whose ancestors have lived in the area since time immemorial. Comparing responses contemporary to the occupation from Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices, this study frames the Malheur Occupation outside of the settler-colonial context in which it is couched. Indigenous peoples responded in a distinct, independent manner from either the occupiers or the public at large. This has often been ignored or given reduced importance in the general discourse over public lands in the American West. However, recognition of the Indigenous perspective is imperative to a comprehensive and decolonized understanding of this significant event in the American West.
Description
100 pages. Presented to the Departments of Environmental Studies and Geography and the Robert D. Clark Honors College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science June 2018
Keywords
Geography, Northern Paiute, American West, Malheur Occupation, Native Americans, Public lands, Sagebrush Rebellion