Western Myths and Anger in Oregon

Armed anti-government activists (led by Ammon Bundy among others) are saying the creation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon was “an unconstitutional act” that evicted local ranchers for their lands illegally and thrust the county into economic depression.

"All those claims are quite wrong," says Nancy Langston, professor of environmental history at Michigan Technological University.

She explains what she calls "mythic histories" taking the place of the reality of the past in Oregon, where armed militiamen have taken over a building at a federal wildlife refuge to protest the prosecution of ranchers.