Indians occupy Umatilla tribal center

Occupy protest arrives at Umatilla Indian ReservationInspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement, protesters have camped out at a tribal center in eastern Oregon, objecting to severance packages for their board of trustees and calling for expanding their charter school.

The protest began Tuesday with about 20 people in the tribal council chambers. By this morning six campers remained outside the government building of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the East Oregonian reported.

One of their signs read "Occupy" with a raised fist and another read "Support education." They vowed to stay put at least a day more.Comment:  Early in the Occupy movement, I said Indians should occupy tribal governments if they aren't responding to people's wishes. I'm glad to see someone is trying this approach.

For more on the subject, see Occupation Albuquerque Renamed and Indians Say "Unoccupy America."