The Irony of the Narragansett Town Council Voting to Give Passes to the Narragansett - Watson

The Irony of the Narragansett Town Council Voting to Give Passes to the Narragansett - Watson

On May 17, 2022 the Narragansett Town Council voted to give members of the Narragansett Indian Tribe no-cost seasonal passes to Narragansett town beaches—the same seasonal passes that Narragansett town residents have access to. The primary controversy was over whether it was fair to charge Narragansett Tribal members for passes at all. The vote was three council members in favor of granting passes and two council members against. There were also hours of heated testimony leading up to the decision. For specificity’s sake, the vote was solely for free access to the beaches and did not include free parking.

First and foremost, much respect to the Narragansett Indian Tribe for advocating for the right of Tribal members to access coastal lands that are ancestral to the nation. Iootash nuttomoag! Second, many thanks to the three Narragansett Town Council members who acted honorably and voted in support of granting tribal members access to the beaches. From these perspectives, this is a moment for celebration. However, my mind is still drawn to irony of it all.

I mean, think about it; the “Narragansett” Indian Tribe has to advocate and get approval from the “Narragansett” Town Council for members of the “Narragansett” Indian Tribe to access “Narragansett” town beaches in a similar manner as the residents of the town of “Narragansett”.

I’ve often felt this irony growing up in Rhode Island; the notion that my people are here, but yet somehow still not here. I live a few blocks away from “Neutoconkanut” Hill in Providence. I drive by “Mashapaug” Pond daily as I head up and down Rt. 10. Travelling through downtown Providence, I pass by “Weybossett” Street on my way to cross the “Moshassuck” River, before I drive towards the old “Tockwotten” homes in Fox Point. Additionally, there’s the City of Providence’s seal which proudly boasts the words “What Cheer ‘Netomp’” to acknowledge the greeting that Roger Williams received when he was escorted across the “Seekonk” river. I could go on further, but I think you get my point. All these terms are from the Massachuset dialects, which are the traditional languages spoken by the Indigenous nations of these lands. All these terms have been incorporated into the daily lives of Rhode Islanders. For me personally, interacting with my traditional language on such a consistent basis reminds me of how intimately intertwined contemporary Rhode Island society is with the history and heritage of my people. That makes me proud.

Juxtapose this sentiment with the current vote to grant Narragansett Indian Tribal members the same access to Narragansett town beaches as Narragansett town residents. Once again, I applaud and celebrate the victory. Narragansett Indian Tribal Members should have, at a minimum, the same free access to the coastal areas as the Narragansett town residents whose historical ties to the same lands begins much more recently. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. That stated, why was there even any debate about the matter in the first place? The town is named after the Narragansett people. The town’s beaches are named after the Narragansett people. The Town Council is named after the Narragansett people. The Narragansett people have lived in proximity to the Town for hundreds of years. The Narragansett people have utilized the Narragansett beaches for thousands of years. Doesn’t it just seem logical and respectful that the Town of Narragansett would proactively ensure that Narragansett people have, at a minimum, the same level of access to the Narragansett beaches as the residents of the Town of Narragansett?

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Apparently not, as almost half of the Town Council voted against granting the passes, and as many disgruntled Rhode Islanders were opposed to the vote as well. SMH.

I’ve got to ask; how on earth does one logically and respectfully justify having a problem with Narragansett people having free access to beaches that are literally named after them?

It’s simple; one doesn’t. Instead, you do it #TheRhodeIslandWay. That way, you don’t need to focus on logic or respect; you can just focus on what you want and what benefits you.

That’s why living in Rhode Island as an indigenous person is such an ironic experience. The State honors and embraces indigenous history and heritage down to incorporating the language into the names of towns and lands. It just doesn’t seem to be very interested in extending that same courtesy and respect to the actual people living today.

 

That’s my three cents.

 

Raymond Two Hawks Watson