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Sunday, July 15, 2012

Narragansetts mark smoke shop raid anniversary with ceremony and remembrance

Bitter memories of the past, but hope for the future
By Will Collette

In a dignified ceremony at the site of now-closed Narragansett Smoke Shop on Route 2, members of the Narragansett Tribe marked the 9th anniversary of the infamous 2003 raid ordered by then Governor Donald Carcieri that led to the arrests of tribal leaders and injuries to tribal members.


Approximately 50 armed State Police came onto tribal property to execute a search warrant, looking for untaxed cigarettes the Narragansetts were selling to the public as a revenue source for the tribe. 

Of course, the troopers found the cigarettes, but also created a scene that shocked many Rhode Islanders.

Members of the Narragansett Tribal Council spoke of the long history of the Narragansetts from before the time of Columbus to the present. 

They noted how they offered their welcome and hospitality to Roger Williams and the white religious refugees from Massachusetts, only to suffer slaughter at the Great Swamp Massacre followed by enslavement and dispersal.

Tribal leaders spoke of the tribe’s determination to stay together and hold on to their identity despite these events and their aftermath, bitterly acknowledging how many non-Native Americans express doubt that they are really a tribe.

But as several members put it, “Like it or not, we exist.”

Tribal members offered a mix of perspectives and messages about the meaning of the day’s event. The event was primarily a remembrance of the history of the tribe, including its more recent history of conflict with the state and the Town of Charlestown, and a celebration of the culture and community of the Narragansett people.

Despite some disclaimers that the event was not political, there were plenty of statements that focused on the anger the Narragansetts feel at being denied the chance to build a casino in West Warwick, where residents welcomed them, problems with the town of Charlestown over their planned affordable housing project for elderly tribal members, and of course, the raid on the smoke shop.

Tribal member Domingo Monroe called for political and economic action, and pointedly noted that the state was willing to hand over $75 million to Curt Schilling for the failed 38 Studios project, but shot down the Tribe’s plan for a casino that would have generated millions in revenue for the state. He said, “all we’re asking for is a fair shot” to carry out economic development programs that will help make the tribe more self-sufficient.

Bella Noka speaks of healing and conciliation
Many more members spoke of the need for the Narragansetts to stay united and build community strength to look to the future.

Bella Noka made a particularly moving statement that called for healing. She spoke of the trauma her own children still feel – two of them were knocked down during the smoke shop raid. She spoke of her son Randy being shown on television being ground into the gravel by a State Trooper and the humiliation he felt afterwards.

“Don’t use our kids to make a political point,” she said while staring at the TV cameras covering the event, and evoked a sympathetic plea for the news media to leave Governor Chafee’s son Caleb alone, saying that as a mother, she feels the boy’s pain, as well as that of his parents.

Tribal Council members closed the ceremony promising that the Tenth Anniversary next year will be organized as a major event befitting the occasion..