Malheur Standoff Puts Science in the Crosshairs

[suffragette]

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/malheur-standoff-puts-science-in-the-crosshairs/

Before it became a flashpoint in an antigovernment protest, the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was a place where dozens of scientists conducted research projects aimed at studying the plants, animals and ancient cultures who lived in eastern Oregon’s high desert. Despite some indication that the ordeal might soon be over, with only four militants still occupying the refuge at press time as the standoff continues into its fourth week, concern that the militia’s activities could have long-term effects on the refuge’s ecosystem and archaeological sites is growing.
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The archaeology work at the refuge became one of the occupiers’ complaints against the government on January 20 when the militia released a video showing one of their leaders, Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, and others inspecting cardboard boxes of stone artifacts that had been recovered from the refuge. Finicum, who was killed in a confrontation with law enforcement officers on Tuesday, expressed dismay over the treatment of the artifacts and asked for a liaison with the Burns Paiute Tribe to discuss returning the artifacts to them. The tribe has responded by enacting a resolution calling on the U.S. Department of the Interior to prosecute the militants to the fullest extent of the law citing federal government’s treaty obligations. “We have a long standing relationship with the tribe,” says Malheur archaeologist Carla Burnside of the Native Americans who are descendants of the land’s original inhabitants, “they are involved in every aspect of the work we do out there.”
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One of the sites that has, until now, been left intact happens to be the headquarters buildings the militants are occupying. They have been using a bulldozer in the area around those structures. The headquarters buildings and prehistoric sites near them are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “If soil is being disturbed out there, it is highly likely that they have impacted prehistoric resources,” Burnside says. Damaging a site listed on the Register is a violation of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 and could add to the list of charges facing the militants.


Bold added by me.
I hope they are prosecuted to the full extent for the damage they have caused.

[joeybee12]

1. I agree...knr

[Hortensis]

2. Absolutely. And they should be required to

reimburse their states the costs of their educations.

[Nitram]

3. Damned clueless knuckle-draggers.

[dmr]

4. This makes my heart ache.

Many, many acts of disrespect, it makes my stomach boil.

I appreciate & respect scientists. It's fascinating to learn of their progress & new accomplishments in all the various studies.

I hope these assholes lose their assets and go to jail for a very long time.

[suffragette]

5. More info here, see the comments section as well

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/01/19/oregon-militia-nuts-hold-paiute-history-artifacts-hostage-163116

The tribe is demanding federal action under both the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 and a "protection against bad men” provision in the treaty the tribe signed with the United States in 1868.

Under ARPA, a federal law authorizing law enforcement and penalties in the defense of archeological sites on public land, removing artifacts is a felony offense. First time offenders can be fined up to $20,000 and imprisoned for up to one year. Second time offenders can be fined up to copy00,000 and imprisoned for up to 5 years.

Bundy supporters have damaged Native American archaeological sites before, most notably, when they drove ATVs through a canyon trail in Utah in protest of protected federal lands trampling the ruins of homes belonging to the ancient Puebloans. Also, the Southern Paiute tribes in Nevada have accused the Bundy family of defacing ancient Paiute petroglyphs in Gold Butte. Incidentally, Southern Paiute community members held a rally last week in Las Vegas in support of the Burns Paiute tribe.

“I understand they took a bulldozer and built a line around the refuge headquarters,” Roderique said. She notes that in the past when a water line was put in at the refuge the tribe’s cultural resources department oversaw the work done to make sure no artifacts or sites were disturbed. “We have a good working relationship with them. That is, the relationship has evolved for the better.”

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In the comments section, one of the 'bad men' tries to claim common ground, even as he talks about recording and securing (so clearly disturbing) the artifacts at the site.