Paulina (Paiute leader)

Paulina (c. 1840s – 1868) was a prominent Northern Paiute war leader who led resistance against the United States military and settlers in the Oregon Territory and later the state of Oregon. He is primarily associated with the Snake War (1864-1868), a conflict fueled by increasing encroachment on Paiute lands and the depletion of their resources by white settlers and miners.

Paulina's early life is not well documented, but he emerged as a skilled and charismatic leader during a period of increasing tension between the Paiute people and the expanding American presence. He was known for his strategic cunning and ability to unite disparate Paiute bands, including the Walpapi and Yahuskin.

During the Snake War, Paulina led numerous raids on settlements, wagon trains, and military outposts, aiming to disrupt white settlement and defend Paiute territory. His knowledge of the terrain and guerilla tactics made him a formidable opponent for the U.S. Army. He operated primarily in southeastern Oregon, eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho, and northern Nevada.

Despite his initial successes, the war eventually turned against the Paiute. The U.S. Army, with superior resources and manpower, relentlessly pursued Paulina and his warriors. In 1868, Paulina was killed in a skirmish with soldiers near the Owyhee River in present-day Oregon. His death marked a turning point in the Snake War, and resistance gradually diminished as the U.S. military asserted control over the region.

Paulina is remembered as a significant figure in Paiute history, representing the resistance against the dispossession of their land and the preservation of their way of life. While viewed by some contemporary observers as a ruthless outlaw, he is regarded by many Paiute people as a courageous defender of their ancestral territory and a symbol of their enduring spirit.