News Summary: Narragansett smoke shop feud

FROM THE ARCHIVE

Facebook Twitter Email
FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2003

House leader calls for federal probe
Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Resources Committee, today called for a federal probe of the state of Rhode Island's actions against the Narragansett Tribe.

Pombo, whose committee has jurisdiction over Indian issues, said it was necessary to determine whether the civil rights of Native Americans were violated. Although he acknowledged the state was conducting its own review, he cited the long history of disagreements between the tribe and the state.

Get the Story:
Pombo Letter (Pombo 7/17)
Head of House Indian affairs panel calls for federal probe of raid (The Providence Journal 7/18)
Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianz

Tribal rally draws huge crowds
A reported 1,000 to 2,000 people showed their support for the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island on Thursday night.

Narragansett members, representatives of other tribes and non-Indians attended a rally the tribe held on the reservation. Many continued to criticize the state's raid of a tribal smoke shop but chief sachem Matthew Thomas called for healing as the dispute moves into the courtroom.

Get the Story:
A show of strength -- Narragansett's chief urges 'healing' after police raid (The Providence Journal 7/18)
Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianz
Northeast Tribes Band Together After Narragansett Smoke Shop Raid (The New London Day 7/18)
Indians gather to discuss smoke shop raid (The New Haven Journal Register 7/18)
Hundreds Gather For 'Unity' With Narragansetts (WJAR News 7/17)

Gov. Carcieri meets with tribe, state police
Gov. Donald Carcieri (R) did some healing work of his own, meeting with tribal leaders, whom he blamed for the violence at Monday's raid, and state troopers, whom he suggested did not follow orders.

Carcieri ordered two probes into the troopers' handling of the incident. Both are ongoing.

Get the Story:
Carcieri reaches out to tribe, state police (The Providence Journal 7/18)
Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianz
Carcieri Meets Separately With Tribe, State Police (WJAR News 7/17)

Opinion: States have always threatened tribes
"As deplorable as the police conduct was, this unnecessary confrontation was a wholly foreseeable consequence of a line of United States Supreme Court cases that culminated in this spring’s decision Inyo County v. Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Bishop Community. In that case, the Bishop Paiute Tribe had sought a declaratory judgment that Inyo County sheriffs’ violent execution of a search warrant on tribal property in connection with the investigation of alleged off-reservation criminal activity violated federal civil-rights and common law. . . The Bishop Paiute decision and its ilk have clearly emboldened state actors to engage in bullying cowboy tactics like those on display in Rhode Island on Monday, and provided a disincentive for non-Indian governments to demonstrate respect for Indian sovereignty and to resolve disputes through the courts as equals."
Get the Story:
Monteau: Guns, Dogs and Brute Force, Apparently some habits die hard (Indian Country Today 7/18)

Editorial: Blame game shame
Everyone played a part on Monday's raid of the Narragansett Tribe's smoke shop, The Providence Journal says in an editorial.

But instead of sharing responsibility, the people involved are blaming others, the paper says. "That will only inflame ill will and increase the public's doubts about the quality and courage of leaders in Rhode Island," the paper says.

Get the Story:
Editorial: The blame game (The Providence Journal 7/18)
Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianz

More on the Raid:
Video | Pictures | Text: Gov. Carcieri's July 14 Press Conference | Text: Gov. Carcieri's July 15 Statement | Text: Excerpts of Narragansett Chief Sachem July 14 Press Conference

Rhode Island's Court Filings:
Motion for Temporary Restraining Order | Washington County Superior Court Complaint

Relevant Laws:
Rhode Island Indian Claims Settlement Act (US Code)

Relevant Links:
Narragansett Tribe - http://www.narragansett-tribe.org
Rhode Island Governor - http://www.governor.state.ri.us
Rhode Island Attorney General - http://www.riag.state.ri.us