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Narragansett Tribe locked in dispute over longtime chief sachem

Monday, December 12, 2016

Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas is seen at a Narragansett Tribe powwow in Rhode Island. Photo by morningstar401 / Tumblr

Members of the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island say they impeached their longtime leader but Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas isn't recognizing their action.

The impeachment vote came after citizens found out Thomas, who has held office for nearly 20 years, was maintaining a second home in Florida. They say tribal law requires the chief to live in their aboriginal territory.

"He should live either in Rhode Island or within a 50 mile radius," council member Randy Noka, another longtime leader, told The Westerly Sun.

The standoff resulted in Domingo Monroe, another council member, filing a lawsuit against Thomas in federal court. The complaint alleges the chief is a "resident' of Charlotte County in Florida.

"Thomas continues to conduct tribal business, including but not limited to: illegally creating tribal government groups and appointing members of the tribe to such groups, relinquishing certain powers of a Chief Sachem to members of the tribe not eligible to have such powers, and receiving and authorizing the expenditure of tribal funds," the November 17 complaint states.

Complicating matters is another dispute over the nine-member council. Two seats are vacant and some are calling for elections while John Brown, the tribe's medicine man, told The Sun that the positions can be filled by appointment.