"Oregon Militia Nuts Hold Paiute History, Artifacts Hostage"

[struggle4progress]

5. Oregon Militia Standoff Spotlights Federal-Tribal Quandary over Artifacts

ISAAC PARK FEBRUARY 3, 2016

... Burns Paiute leaders and prominent archeologists have compared the Oregon extremists to the Islamic State militants who have destroyed countless ancient sites in Iraq and Syria, plundered valuable archeological collections, and sold artifacts to raise funds for their operations.

They want federal authorities to act fast to investigate whether the militia has removed anything from the buildings after the group displayed an obvious interest in the collections ... LaVoy Finicum, the Oregon militia’s de facto spokesman, posted a video that showed the occupiers rummaging through Paiute artifacts in one of the federal buildings. In the video, Finicum complained about the storage conditions at the site.

“We’re concerned about the way artifacts have been stored here … and so we’re reaching out to the Paiute Tribe to say we need to open up some communication,” Finicum said. “We’re looking for a liaison because we want to make sure that these things are returned to the rightful owners.”

Tribal Chairperson Charlotte Rodrique ... fears that Burns Paiute artifacts and burial grounds might still be in danger as the situation grows more desperate for the four militia members who remain at the refuge. “What’s to say that someone won’t sell these artifacts in the black market?” she says ...

http://prospect.org/article/oregon-militia-standoff-spotlights-federal-tribal-quandary-over-artifacts