“What cheer, Netop.” The famous greeting of the Narragansett to Roger Williams along the shore of the Seekonk River in 1636 still resonates throughout the Ocean State today. A new exhibition at the Rhode Island State Archives, entitled “First Nations who helped form Rhode Island” chronicles the history of indigenous peoples, including the Narragansett, who occupied the lands of present day Rhode Island and are the only federally recognized tribe with a reservation located in Charlestown, RI.
“It’s exciting to see firsthand the amazing documentation of our rich and diverse history,” Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea said. “I encourage all Rhode Islanders to come and discover the historical treasures we have in our State Archives.”
Items on display include:
• Several early deeds between the colonists and the tribes residing in the area of Narragansett Bay.
• Acts & Resolutions of the Rhode Island General Assembly concerning Native American rights and their role in an ever expanding European population.
• Petitions from tribal members concerning the disposition of their lands.
• An array of photographs, including landmarks, structures, powwows and other events.
The exhibition will run through December.
The Rhode Island State Archives, a division of the Rhode Island Department of State, is open to the public during regular business hours – Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30 at 337 Westminster Street in downtown Providence. Validated parking is available adjacent to the building at InTown Parking. Exhibitions of our state’s historic archives are developed on a rotating basis throughout the year.
