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.
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| 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..