The Narragansett Dawn facts for kids

The Narragansett Dawn was a special newspaper published once a month. It shared the history, culture, and language of the Narragansett people. This newspaper was created in 1935 and 1936, and a total of sixteen issues were printed.

Two important people, Princess Red Wing and Ernest Hazard, started and edited the paper. Both of them were members of the Narragansett tribe. The newspaper was very important because the Narragansett people wanted to keep their history and culture alive. This was especially true after a law called the Indian Reorganization Act changed things for many Native American tribes.

Princess Red Wing often wrote articles in the paper that showed how proud the Narragansett people were. She also responded to people who questioned their heritage. This happened when the state of Rhode Island tried to remove the Narragansett tribe's official status in the 1880s.

History of the Newspaper

The Narragansett Dawn first started being published on May 1, 1935. It continued to be printed until 1936. The newspaper helped the Narragansett community stay connected and remember their traditions.

How the Newspaper Was Designed

Choosing the Name

The name The Narragansett Dawn was picked at a tribal meeting on December 4, 1934. People said the name meant "the awakening after so long and black a night of being civilized." This showed that the tribe felt like they were waking up to a new beginning after a difficult time.

Slogan and Official Seal

The newspaper's cover proudly showed the slogan "We Face East." This slogan had a deep meaning:

• We: This meant "Every descendant of the Narragansett Tribe of Indians."
• Face: This meant "Your Creator."
• East: This referred to "With the first light, each dawn."

The cover also featured the official seal of the Narragansett Indian Tribe.

Different Sections of the Paper

The newspaper had many interesting sections for its readers:

Narragansett Language Lessons

This part of the paper taught readers common words in the Narragansett language. It included names of animals, plants, and different types of buildings. There were 13 lessons in total.

Family History (Genealogy)

This section explored the family trees of important people in the Narragansett community. It looked at both their mother's and father's sides of the family.

Reader Mailbox

This section was like a "letters to the editor" part. It printed letters sent in by readers, both Native American and non-Native American. Most of the letters praised the newspaper or the tribe.

Cultural Identity

This section described items and values that showed the Narragansett people's cultural identity. The articles had different titles based on their topic, such as "Narragansett Fires" and "Pipe of Peace."

Community News (Milestones)

This section shared small news updates from the Narragansett reservation in Rhode Island. It announced births, deaths, weddings, and visits from important people.

Monthly Updates (Sunrise News)

The "Keeper of Records" wrote this section for each issue. It shared small, notable things that had happened in the Narragansett community that month.

Poetry Corner

The newspaper published short, original poems written by Narragansett writers. These poems often had themes about religion or nature. They were usually connected to the Narragansett tribe's values and ideas. One poem included these lines: "All that eye and heart could own / Rich domains to roam at will / When the morning sun went down / See him on his eastern hill."

Historical Stories

These short articles shared the Narragansett perspective on historical events. This included stories about the first Thanksgiving and King Philip's War.

Who Helped Make the Paper?

Many people worked hard to create The Narragansett Dawn:

• Princess Red Wing, Editor
• Ernest Hazard, Editor
• Marion W. Brown, Keeper of Records
• Chief Pine Tree, Business Manager/Writer
• Theodore Brown, Business Manager
• Francis Glasko, Business Manager
• Princess Wood Dove
• Lone Wolf
• Little Bear