ES 499 Final Presentation:  Economic Issues Facing the Paiute Community

Summary by Edie Blakely

The key to many social problems is the economy.Harney County consistently has the first or second highest unemployment rate in the State of Oregon.Low socio-economic status is a leading factor in social problems such as alcoholism, domestic abuse, and lack of housing.

Harney County, The Burns Paiute Tribe, and the Burns community share the common goal of economic stability. There have been some great successes: cattle ranching and the casino are examples of thriving economic ventures that contribute to the local economy. Several stake holders are contributing to the community by supporting the local economy for example buying products locally whenever possible.

The Burns Paiute people have been responsible for promoting the local economy and are considered assets to Harney County.The Burns Paiute Tribe has enjoyed remarkable success in developing funding.For example, they have made connections with Bonneville Power Administration and Oregon Fish and Wildlife that have resulted in some jointly-funded ventures.

Some areas that need work include: downtown development and the need for economic diversification.

There was a resounding commitment from all stake holder's that economic development is a priority. That without considerable attention to this fundamental social issue the community will not be able to attract new members or support the current population. 

Economic development may be enhanced through eliminating the duplication of services throughout the community and continuing to develop new economic opportunities such as high tech industry.
 

The ES 499 Learning Process

Of all the courses I have taken at Oregon State University, I believe that ES 499 has been the most difficult, and, in some ways, the most fulfilling course I have taken. I believe that this was largely due to the unconventional approach to learning used in this course, which emphasized the methods of active listening just as much as the topic of the Burns/Paiute community.

Admittedly, when I first heard that we were going to learn "Active Listening" skills, I was very skeptical as to how useful these skills would be, and I didn't really believe that I had anything to learn. I felt that my experiences as a reporter, a writer, a student of both political science and psychology, and just as a college student in general, were enough to qualify me as an "Active Listener" already, whatever that meant.

I was wrong.

The 23 students in ES 499 often spent 18-hour days working in an on-the-go class room. The rest of the time, we ate, slept, and studied together, with trips to the bathroom as our only source of privacy. Not surprisingly, this lead to conflicts ranging from minor personality differences to full out emotional backlash. At one point, it was unclear whether or not everyone would be able to finish the course.

Strangely, when this conflict reached a peak, it presented us all with an opportunity. When all our differences were laid out on the table in the form of something concrete, it helped us see with clear eyes what every group must eventually decide: Do we accept each other as human beings, or do we go our separate ways?

I won't lie. Not everyone decided the same way at first. In some cases, it was simply luck that held us together. The process of becoming a group wasn't pretty, or fun, or romantic in any sense. It was draining, painful, and just generally upsetting. On the other hand, I imagine that every group goes through some similar test, and I don't believe that the price we paid for being a group was all that bad in the ultimate scheme of things.

At least it was worth it.

We each learned something about ourselves and about humanity. We all made new friends, and we learned what it means to be a friend. We learned what it means to listen without waiting for your turn to speak, and why it's important. We learned how to talk to people without conveying assumptions about them. We learned how to press people for more information without putting them off. We learned what no other class, or book, or lecture could teach us: How to respect fellow human beings.

More Information:

Harney County Government

Economic development in Harney County

The Harney County Chamber of Commerce

Harney County Plan

The Southeast Regional Alliance

Harney County Economic Indicators

U.S. Census information on Harney County

An Example of property values in Harney County

Land Management of Steens Mountain

On Native American Casinos in Oregon

Bureau of Indian Affairs contact information:

This page was created by Nicholas Heydenrych and Edie Blakley