Bill > H6349

This resolution supports the recognition of the Pokanoket Tribe as the original and continuous stewards of lands in Rhode Island, including areas in Bristol, Warren, Barrington, East Providence, and Providence. The resolution highlights the tribe's historical significance, noting their role as the headship tribe of the Pokanoket Confederacy, their sophisticated governance systems, and their important interactions with European settlers, including a treaty with the Plymouth Colony in 1621 and sheltering Roger Williams. The document acknowledges the tribe's contributions to the region, including participation in the Revolutionary War, ongoing cultural preservation efforts, and recent land transfer achievements, such as Brown University's transfer of 255 acres of ancestral land to a tribal preservation trust. The resolution formally supports recognizing the Pokanoket Tribe's central role in shaping the region's past, present, and future, honors their ancestors and living descendants, and commits to promoting and protecting their cultural heritage and sacred lands. Additionally, the resolution directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies of the resolution to various state and federal elected officials and tribal leadership, symbolizing official recognition and support for the Pokanoket Tribe's historical and ongoing significance.

Government Affairs

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