The history, culture, and current status of the Narragansett Indian tribe.
The Narragansett Indians are a native people who lived on the Narragansett Bay and in western Rhode Island. At around the beginning of the 17th Century there were about 10,000 Narragansett people. Over the next hundred years, however, that number was to be cut to just 500. War with the British and disease were the killers. In just one battle in 1675, the Narragansett lost 20 % of their population.
The name Narragansett is actually derived from the word Nanhigganeuck which means "˜people of the small point.' The language of the Narragansett is of Algonquin origin. They were an eastern woodland people. They lived in large wooden log houses, which were heavily fortified. Their subsistence came from the farming of corn, beans and squash. They also grew tobacco for smoking as well as medicinal use.They were also hunters and fishermen, as well as being expert users of the water. The Narragansetts were proficient swimmers as well as expert canoesmen.
During the winter period the Narragansett would travel inland to hunt. Winter quarters would consist of teepees made of animal skins and supported by rigid poles.
By the time of their first contact with Europeans around 1620, the Narragansett had established themselves as the dominant tribe in southern New England. They began trading with the Dutch from New York. They were wary of the British from the very start. In 1621 they prepared an attack on the colonists at Plymouth but - luckily for the British newcomers - were diverted by the presence of more immediate enemies. They were attacked by the Pequot people. A year later they were fighting the Mohawk. Once their enemies had been dealt with, the British had become a far more formidable enemy. Over the next few years the Narragansett and the British stayed at arm's length.
Two smallpox epidemics in the 1630's decimated the Narragansett. Then, in 1636, a European by the name of Roger Williams allied himself with the tribe. Williams believed that the Crown had no right to take away the land of the native peoples of America. Because of the influence of this man, however, the Narragansett were to ally themselves with the British against the Pequot and Niantic. After helping to decimate the Pequot the Narragansett were rewarded by being given 80 of them as slaves. The Mohegan's now poised themselves as the major enemy of the Narragansett. Mohegan Chief Uncas crushed the smaller Nipmuc and Mattabesic tribes and assumed a dangerous amount of power. The Narragansetts began to form alliances against the Mohegans. The other tribes, however, were diverted by an attack by the Dutch against a Wecquasgeek village. The Narragansett were left to face the Mohegans by themselves. Narragansett war chief Miontonimo led 900 warriors against the Mohegan capital at Shetucket. The Narragansett were getting the better of the fight until Miontonimo was captured. Without their leader the Narragansetts broke off the battle. Soon Miontonimo had been tomahawked to death by the brother of Mohegan Chief Uncas.
With the death of their leader the resistance of the Narragansetts was broken. They signed a treaty to remain neutral during King Phillip's War. But when Phillip left his Wampanoag women and children in the Narragansett for protection for a time, the British considered this a treaty violation. 1000 Colonial troops laid siege to their village. The Narragansett refused to give up the Wampanoag women and children. The Narragansett survived the attack and subsequently left their fort to join forces with Philip. During a raid on the Colonists their new Chief Canonchet was captured and subsequently executed before a firing squad. The remaining Narragansett were now hunted down by the Colonists and their bloodthirsty Mohegan allies. Many women and children were captured and shipped to the West Indies to become slaves. Captured warriors were executed. The Narragansett, in fact lost 90 % of their population through the course of this war.
