When Roger Williams first came to Rhode Island in the 1600s, the colonizers and Narragansett tribe coexisted in relative peace. When the colonizers began to expand their land holdings, however, the tribe began to fight back. In a matter of decades, they were defeated and forced off of their lands.

As Tall Oak suggests, the Narragansett tribe spread out. For the next few hundred years, they struggled against relocations, displacements, and land grabs. 

Tall Oak mentions how Narragansett land in Charlestown, RI was grabbed little by little. During the 1800s "detribalization" campaigns were widespread across New England. Detribalization was the state practice of breaking up tribal right to land by contesting the unity of tribes and then convincing individuals or small groups to sell their land to the state. Almost 15,000 acres of land were taken from the Narragansett tribe in 1880 through an illegal detribalization campaign (without sanction from the federal government).   

In 1924, the Narragansett became citizens of the United States. Now, they were allowed to vote. This right, however, was not without contention. The Narragansett had become full subjects of the state. Their relationship to the few historic lands they had left was now mediated through another nation.

The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 made matters more complex. On one hand, the Act gave tribes certain land rights. On the other hand, it was a national attempt to undermine traditional tribal modes of governments, forcing tribes to operate under a U.S.-style constitution.

Further complicating all of this, the Narragansett tribe identified as a multi-racial and multi-ethnic nation rather than one tribe. This made it difficult for them to work within the United States' legal frameworks. 

In 1974 the Narragansett filed a land claim which reached a settlement in 1978. On one hand, the Narragansett were paid 3.5 million dollars for land they once lived on, and the tribe was allowed to purchase additional privately-held lands at 5% of the market value. On the other hand, it extinguished all aboriginal title in Rhode Island.

As duplicitous as this case was, other tribes fared even worse; the Seaconke Wampanoag tribe also lost their title, but they were not provided with any compensation.

While the Narragansett tribe does still have some reservation lands in Charlestown, Rhode Island, it was not until 1983 that they were officially recognized by the United States government. With this recognition came additional rights but not sovereignty. The tribe continues to clash with the state of Rhode Island today. 

Is Rhode Island a home for the Narragansett? Is it a home for the Wampanoag?