The Burns Paiute Tribe Wednesday denounced the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife headquarters.
Tribal council members said the militants are desecrating sacred traditional property and need to leave. The wildlife refuge is within the Paiute tribes’ ancestral territory in Southeast Oregon.
Tribal chair Charlotte Rodrique says she's offended by armed occupiers saying they want to return the land to its rightful owners.
RODRIQUE: "You know, who are the rightful owners? It just really rubs me the wrong way that we have a bunch of misinformed people in here making statements going on national TV making statements that have no foundation— they're not the original owners."
She says the tribe has a positive relationship with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and considers the refuge managers partners in helping protect the tribe's cultural artifacts.
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