The Narragansett Tribe met with Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I) on Tuesday in his first official visit to the reservation since taking office in January 2011.

Chief Matthew Sachem acknowledged a bad history between the tribe and the state. There was the 2003 raid on the reservation that drew national attention, skirmishes over gaming and, of course, the lawsuit that led to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar.

All of that occurred before Chafee took office. But Thomas said he was hoping for a better future.

“Our relationship has always been strained but the fact the governor came down to visit was a positive, and hopefully something good will come out of it," Thomas told The Westerly Sun.

Chafee learned more about the tribe's programs, services and culture on the visit to the reservation.

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Chafee reaches out to Narragansetts (The Westerly Sun 10/17)