An eight-part documentary series
Land and identity at the sharpening edge of American discontent
The Film
When two Oregon ranchers face prison for public land arson, a band of anti-government extremists seize a nearby federal outpost in protest, launching a 41-day armed and deadly occupation. Long-held conflicts around land and identity resurface as the Ammon Bundy-led takeover sparks bitter division in a frontier community caught in the crosshairs. In a vivid and intimately told account of protest and resistance, tenacity and grit, Refuge explores the inspiring and troubled legacy of the American West—and deepening divides in our democracy on the cusp of a national election—offering both cautionary tale and critical point of hope.
Your contribution brings this important story to light. Thank you!
Comments About Refuge
“Wow! You have us hooked! The refuge occupation — that was just the beginning.”
“I forgot how much it hurt. And the rumblings are still there given the situation this nation is in. THANK YOU!”
“A deep dig into the Bundy occupation as a moment not only in high desert history but with national and international ramifications. It’s a cautionary tale as to what would unfold in that year’s (2016) election and beyond.”
“The entire cast in Refuge is authentic and deeply honest. They are people you’d like to know; conversations you’d like to sit in on.”
“Each episode has me at the edge of my seat. What happens next?”
“These were extraordinarily emotional times…and the tenor of that from the inside is what makes Refuge a real standout.”
Contact us: sue(at)hareinthegate.com or richard(at)hareinthegate.com