The Wadatika Band of Northern Paiute have called the Harney Basin home since time immemorial. Known as the “Wada Seed Eaters,” the Wadatika have carried resilience through centuries of hardship and survival. In the 1800s, Tribal members were forcibly marched more than 300 miles through snow, yet many returned home, laying the foundation for future generations. Today, the Tribe still stands — with over half of its members under the age of 18, a sign of a strong and growing future.
On September 11, 2025, history did not repeat itself. Instead, the Wadatika people and leaders from across the Basin stood together in unity at the Harney County Chamber of Commerce.
At the signing of the Harney Basin Water Petition were:
- Burns Paiute Tribal Council: Chairwoman Tracy Kennedy, Vice Chairman Anthony Purcella, Council Member Andrew Beers
- Burns Paiute Tribe: General Manager Christopher Hicks
- Oregon State Representative: Mark Owens
- Harney County: Judge Bill Hart
- Hines City: Council Representatives Roger Hodge, Hilda Allison, Misty Shepherd; City Administrator Roxanne Worley; Mayor Nikki Morgan
- Burns City: Administrator Judy Irwin
- Malheur National Wildlife Refuge: Manager Jess Wencik
Together, these Tribal, city, county, and federal leaders declared one message: the Basin must protect its water, its people, and its future — in unity.
Why This Matters
✅ Protects Sovereignty – Shields Burns Paiute water rights from state regulation and ensures sovereignty is not waived.
✅ Secures the Basin’s Future – Creates a path toward co-stewardship where Tribes, cities, counties, and the state share responsibility as equals.
✅ Unites Communities – Affirms that Tribal sovereignty and Basin survival are inseparable; one cannot exist without the other.
This petition is more than signatures on a page. It is a promise that the Wadatika will not be written out of this Basin again. It is a stand for sovereignty, water, and survival for the next seven generations.
🖊️ Community members living in the Harney Basin are invited to sign the petition at the Burns Paiute Tribal Administration Building. Add your voice to this moment in history.
💧 We are Harney Strong. Paiute Strong. Wadatika Strong.
