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The Narragansett tribe has existed in Rhode Island since 28,000 BC, living as hunters and fishermen. The tribe’s population was diminished by events such as the Great Swamp Massacre, but they continue to exist as a recognized tribe in the US. The tribe was incorporated in 1934 and received federal recognition in 1983, with a current population of approximately 2,400.
The Narragansett tribe is native to the US state of Rhode Island, having existed as early as 28,000 BC. These natives were hunters and fishermen, living in wooded areas during the winter and migrating to the coasts during the warm season. The relationship between the early American settlers and the Narragansett tribe was a violent one, as events such as the Great Swamp Massacre diminished the tribe’s population and forced them to retreat deeper into the woods of southern Rhode Island. Despite this, the people of the tribe have continued to practice their customs and continue to exist as a recognized tribe in the United States.
Based on archaeological finds and oral history, the Narragansett tribe is believed to have existed in the region since 28,000 BC or earlier. The first extant documented contact, however, did not take place until 1524. It was in this year that the Italian explorer Giovanni de Verrazano discovered them.
The Narragansett natives were regarded as warriors and protectors of other regional tribes. They were hunters and fishermen, using canoes for both fishing and travel. During the summer, they built wigwams and other similar temporary structures on the shore. In addition to fish and meat, corn was an important staple of the diet of the people of Narragansett. In the winter months, they shared the food they gathered and lived together in large houses designed to house several families.
Most of the present-day Narragansett Reservation still exists in southern Rhode Island. Although the Narragansett tribe had once lived in other areas of the state, this migration was a result of the Great Swamp Massacre. A militia of Puritans from Rhode Island and Connecticut attacked women, children, and the elderly, forcing the tribe to retreat into wooded areas. Following this massacre, many who refused to live under colonial rule were killed or sold into slavery in the Caribbean.
The relationship between the tribe and the settlers continued violently, as the tribe refused to cede its customs and traditions. During the 17th century, the population of the Narragansett tribe was estimated to be close to 17. Due to disease and murder at the hands of the settlers, the population dwindled, at one point, to around 10,000 people.
Shortly after the Revolutionary War, the United States Congress passed a no-report bill to prevent states from annexing Narragansett Land. This act was mostly ignored. As the land supply dwindled by an acre, hunting and farming grounds for the tribe became dangerously scarce. The Narragansett tribe, however, still continued to acknowledge its tribal leadership over American authority and mores.
It was not until 1934 that the Narragansett tribe was incorporated and the citizens of the United States recognized the offices of chief, sorcerer, council, scribe, and prophet. In 1983, the tribe finally received federal recognition. The current population of the tribe, as recognized by the Tribal Rolls, is approximately 2,400. Most members still reside in Rhode Island.
