Protestors in OR take down cameras believed to be installed by federal

Apparently, 62-year-old Kenneth Medenbach was arrested while sitting in a federal vehicle (presumably taken from his newfound home at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge).

“If we all keep a calm about us everything will be OK”, said Brenda Pointere, who was coming out of a Burns restaurant.

Their transformation of federal property has earned the ire of the Burns Paiute Tribe, whose leaders demanded criminal charges be brought against Ammon Bundy’s group, fearing that priceless artifacts have been defaced and ancient burial grounds desecrated since their January 2 takeover.

“I’m watching to see what the federal law enforcement does with this situation, because they have a treaty obligation to all Native Americans that when anything that has to do with native people is infringed by a white man – and it says “white man” in most of the treaties – the federal government is obligated to protect the rights of native people”.

Authorities have shown considerable patience with the occupation by a small band of self-proclaimed “militia” in Oregon. “We’re going to really miss him”.

In a 29-page motion filed as part of his federal case, Medenbach claimed he and other Oregonians had no obligation to comply with BLM rules because they were unconstitutional. Some are angry with what many consider overly restrictive policies on federal lands but aren’t enthused about the armed group that took over the refuge.

After the news conference, the group drove in a convoy to a ranch near the refuge and tore down a stretch of government-erected fence.

Bundy said Friday that he and his group have no interest in the Burns Paiute Tribe artifacts and will deliver them to the Native Americans if requested to do so. Still, though the tribe disagrees with the Bundy occupation, Kennedy said it has had some advantages.

A lawyer for Hammond family has said that the occupiers do not speak for the family. “More often than not, when they are caught, it’s connected to drug running or seeking quick money on eBay”.

But if the wildlife refuge falls out of federal control, he said he expected no-trespassing signs to go up.

This isn’t the first time Medenbach has had a run-in with federal officials. “Any movement of cattle onto the Refuge or other activities that are not specifically authorized by USFWS constitutes trespassing”.

“The good thing about it [is] now the whole world knows about the Burns Paiute Tribe”, Kennedy said. Tribe Chairwoman Charlotte Rodrique sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service urging federal prosecution, if warranted. More than 4,000 tribal artifacts are housed and cared for on the property, including spears and stone tools, some dating almost 10,000 years.