One Nation, Two Worlds: Series on Narragansett Tribe

National
One Nation, Two Worlds: Series on Narragansett Tribe
Tuesday, August 3, 2004

The Providence Journal is running a series "One Nation, Two World" on the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island.

Part 1 looked at Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas. A college dropout and former janitor, Thomas has served the tribe for 14 years. His main issue these days is the tribe's casino bid, a battle that has its roots in the early 1980s, when two factions of the tribe split on whether to enter gaming.

Part 2 recounted the history behind King Philip's War. Narragansett Chief Philip fought the English and several other tribes for control of southern New England. The tribe suffered significant losses, leading to enslavement and exploitation, explained in Part 3.

Issues facing urban Indians have been included in all three parts so far. Most of Rhode Island's Indian population lives in urban areas like Providence, the state's biggest city. Many are members of the Narragansett Tribe. Of the tribe's 2,700 members, only about 1,000 live on the reservation, considered largely unsuitable for development.