The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
An all-White jury is deliberating the fate of seven people who took part in an armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. The land in and around the refuge used to be a reservation for the Burns Paiute Tribe. But the armed occupants claimed it belonged to the American public and kept authorities at bay for 41 days earlier this year before the standoff ended with numerous arrests and one death. The seven defendants -- a group that includes anti-government ringleaders Ammon Bundy and his brother, Ryan -- are now awaiting the results of their trial. According to news reports, the jury has been able to reach unanimous verdicts on some of the cases but is struggling on others. In 1872, the government set aside 1.2 million acres in and around the refuge as a reservation for the Burns Paiute people. Six years later, the government kicked the tribe off the land and forced its members to march to reservations in Washington following the Bannock War in 1878. The Indian Claims Commission later determined that the tribe should have been compensated for the theft. A settlement put just $743.20 in the hands of each tribal member in 1969, The Oregonian reported earlier this year. Some members want to reopen the judgment, saying they were cheated. Read More on the Story:
One juror questions impartiality of another juror during deliberations in Oregon standoff case (The Oregonian 10/25)
Juror Questioned Over Bias Continues In Malheur Case For Now (Jefferson Public Radio 10/25)
Jurors in Malheur Wildlife standoff trial indicate difficulty reaching consensus (AP 10/25)
Partial Verdict Reached in Takeover of Oregon Wildlife Refuge, Notes Indicate (The New York Times 10/26)
Potential juror bias weighed in conspiracy trial of Oregon militants (Reuters 10/26)
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jury hears opening statements in armed standoff trial (09/14) Trial opens into standoff on land stolen from Burns Paiute Tribe (9/13)
Member of Tulalip Tribes pleads guilty for role in Oregon standoff (06/10)
Secretary Jewell meets with Burns Paiute Tribe and visits refuge (03/22)
Defendants charged for damaging sacred Burns Paiute Tribe site (03/10)
FBI agents failed to disclose shots fired at armed Oregon occupier (03/09)
Young member of Tulalip Tribes indicted for role in Oregon standoff (03/07)
Additional charges expected in armed takeover at wildlife refuge (02/25)
Bundy family members finally charged for 2014 armed standoff (02/18)
Armed occupiers dug road and latrine near tribal sites at refuge (02/17)
Burns Paiute Tribe to help assess damage from armed takeover (02/12)
Armed occupation of wildlife refuge in Oregon ends with arrests (02/11)
Burns Paiute Tribe might seek to reopen judgment for stolen lands (02/08)
Steve Russell: Cowboy legal scholars fail big on federal Indian law (02/02)
Four people remain at refuge in Oregon as FBI defends shooting (01/29)
Leader of armed takeover tells followers to leave federal refuge (1/28)
Steven Newcomb: Federal refuge belongs to Burns Paiute Tribe (1/28)
Siletz Tribe disavows video showing artifacts at refuge in Oregon (1/27)
Steve Russell: Bundys finally ousted from Paiute ancestral lands (1/27)
Leaders of armed takeover at federal refuge arrested after death (1/27)
Burns Paiute Tribe asks DOJ to end occupation of ancestral land (1/26)
Andrew Rosenthal: Armed group pulls stunt with tribal artifacts (1/22)
Jacqueline Keeler: Burns Paiute Tribe concerned about artifacts (1/19)
Cari Carpenter: Sarah Winnemucca sought return of Paiute land (1/18)
Alex Jacobs: White militia sitcom plays out on Indian territory (1/15)
Armed group willing to turn over artifacts to Burns Paiute Tribe (1/15)
Albert Bender: Occupied land still belongs to Burns Paiute Tribe (1/13)
Jacqueline Keeler: Burns Paiute Tribe frustrated by armed group (1/12)
Jim Patterson: Burns Paiute Tribe perseveres despite pressures (1/12)
Steve Russell: Armed 'patriots' at odds with Burns Paiute Tribe (1/11)
Gyasi Ross: Crazy White people have turned into the new Indians (1/8)
Jacqueline Keeler: Paiute ancestors were forced on Trail of Tears (1/8)
Peter d'Errico: Armed White men invade Indian lands in Oregon (1/8)
Federal agencies closed offices in Oregon amid safety concerns (1/8)
House Democrats call for armed group to leave refuge in Oregon (1/7)
Charlotte Rodrique: Land rightfully belongs to Burns Paiute Tribe (1/7)
Burns Paiute Tribe tells armed group to leave ancestral territory (1/7)
Burns Paiute Tribe not happy with armed group on ancestral land (1/6)
Armed group wants more to join protest on ancestral Paiute land (1/5)
Armed group occupies wildlife refuge near reservation in Oregon (1/4)
