Burns Paiute Tribe

Southeastern Oregon has been home to the Wadatika Band of the Northern Paiute Tribe for over 10,000 years. The Burns Paiute excelled at creating woven sandals, baskets and rope from sagebrush, fish nets and animal traps, and woven blankets from rabbit fur.

The Paiute people believe that the Paiutes have lived in this area since before the Cascade Mountains were formed as they have learned from their stories and legends. Recent researchers, on the other hand, believe that about 1,000 years ago an influx of Paiute-speaking people came from the south and migrated throughout the Great Basin. They brought with them not only their language but also certain types of atlatl and spear points, and brownware pottery. Pottery was not found in the Great Basin before this time. However, the people of the Burns Paiute Tribe were basket makers and did not make pottery. According to the researchers, the language spoken here before the arrival of the Paiute is unknown. This, however, contradicts the Paiute stories and legends that are handed down from generation to generation which tell of the Paiute people living in the Great Basin for thousands and thousands of years.

Today, traditional dancing, drumming, and crafts are continuously celebrated. Check out the tribe’s Old Camp Casino where you will be entertained for hours on end with Vegas-style slot machines, three poker tables, 300 available bingo seats, and a sports bar with live entertainment.