Northern Narragansett Tribe facts for kids
 |
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 500 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States (Rhode Island) | |
| Languages | |
| English | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Narragansett, Niantic, Pequot, Mohegan, African Americans |
The Northern Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island is a group of Native American people in Rhode Island. They are not officially recognized by the United States government or the state of Rhode Island. This tribe was started by people who used to be members of the main Narragansett Tribe, which is recognized by the government. These members were removed from the official tribal lists in 1993 and 2006. In 2010, the Northern Narragansett Tribe became a non-profit organization, which means they can do good work for their community without making money.
The Tribe's History
The first time a large group of Narragansett tribal members were removed from the official list was in 1993. About 91 people were removed then. One of these people was Otis Bliss, who later became the founder and sachem (or leader) of the Northern Narragansett Tribe.
In 2006, another 119 members were removed. This group included Yvette Champlain, who was a member of the tribal council at the time. Some people believe these removals happened because of disagreements over money and resources that the recognized tribe received. Experts who study Native American tribes say that similar situations have happened in other tribes across the country. These issues can be caused by family disagreements or by new money coming in, for example, from tribal casinos.
The people who were removed in 1993 had been trying for many years to get back on the official tribal list, but they were not successful. When the 2006 removals happened, it encouraged these members to form a new tribe. Their goal was to try and get their status as American Indians recognized again.
The new tribe was officially formed in 2006, mostly thanks to the leadership of Sachem Otis Bliss. Their first tribal meeting was held on November 18, 2006. The tribe officially became a legal organization on February 15, 2007. However, as mentioned, this tribe is not yet recognized by the federal government or the state government.
How the Tribe is Governed
The main office for the Northern Narragansett Tribe is in Providence, Rhode Island. The tribal council was created in 2007. It includes general council members and several special roles:
- Sachem: This is the main leader, a role held by Otis Bliss since the tribe began.
- First Council
- Second Council
- Prophet
- Medicine Person
- Genealogist: This person studies family histories and relationships.
Who Can Be a Member
The Northern Narragansett Tribe has about 500 members. To become a member, you need to show that you are a direct descendant of someone the tribe recognizes as Narragansett. Unlike the federally recognized Narragansett Tribe, this tribe does not only limit membership to descendants of the 1880 Narragansett Roll (an old list of tribal members).
Even though their membership process is not as strict as the federally recognized tribe's, the Northern Narragansett Tribe still checks facts carefully. They require birth certificates to prove family connections.
Many members of the tribe had a lower income after they were removed from the federally recognized tribe. This is because they used to rely on benefits and support from the recognized tribe. Today, there are no people who are 100% Narragansett by blood. Most tribal members have a mix of Narragansett heritage along with European or African ancestry.
