This dissertation reflects the tribal history of the descendents of the Paiute Indians of the former Malheur Indian Reservation in southeastern Oregon. Conflict ensued between this Native group and Europeans and Euro-Americans shortly after whites entered the Great Basin region. As increasing numbers of white explorers, fur trappers, miners, and settlers infringed upon the territory of these groups of Indians, who had recognized this land as their territorial homeland since time immemorial. Conflict increased until the outbreak of the Bannock War in 1878. The majority of the Malheur Indians fled the reservation and joined forces with the Bannock.

After the war ended, the military forcibly removed the entire Malheur Reservation population to the Yakima Reservation in Washington Territory. For the next three to five years, the former Malheur Indians longed to return to their homeland; however, white settlers and cattlemen pressured the government to restore the lands of the Malheur Reservation back to the public domain. As a result, the Indians had no home to return to. Small groups of these Indians moved to various areas in Oregon, Nevada, California, and Idaho.

One group returned to the areas outside of Burns, Oregon. The Indian Office generally ignored this group of Paiutes living near Burns until Father Heuel, a Catholic priest, entered their lives in 1925. With the help and guidance of Heuel, the Burns Paiutes struggled to survive. Starvation, disease, and extreme poverty plagued these Paiutes until 1928 when the Indian Office established Old Camp along the old city dump at Burns. Father Heuel informed the Indian Office and government officials about the health, education, and housing problems persisting among the Paiutes living near Burns, and he persevered until they agreed to provide additional assistance. In 1935 the government purchased additional acreage, and the Burns Paiutes relocated to New Village in 1938.

During the 1930s, Father Heuel began the process of filing suit on behalf of the former Malheur Indians against the government for the loss of their reservation. Beginning in 1946, the Indian Claims Commission determined on the former Malheur Indians' case with a settlement reached years later.