Narragansett Indian Tribe Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas used the results of a University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth poll of Rhode Island residents to reiterate his commitment to overturning the “Chafee Amendment.” The amendment, to the 1996 Omnibus Appropriations Act, prohibits the tribe from conducting gambling on its own land.
“We are extremely grateful that the people of Rhode Island are beginning to realize the injustice that was done to the Narragansett Indian Tribe,” Thomas said in a statement. “The overwhelming support [56 percent to 28 percent] for our congressional delegation to right this wrong is noteworthy in that the people once again seem to be ahead of the politicians.”
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The voters of the state in November rejected a proposed amendment to the R.I. Constitution that would have allowed the tribe, in partnership with Harrah’s Entertainment, to construct a casino in West Warwick. That vote was necessary because a series of court decisions had left an amendment as the only way the tribe could conduct gambling in the state, something that every other federally recognized tribe in the United States is allowed to do.
“We will continue to pursue our rights, not only with our own congressional delegation, but we also plan to reach out to every member of Congress to correct this injustice,” Thomas said.
“We ask only one thing – give us back the same rights that every other tribe in America has.”
