Chief Thomas begins sentence

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I.—Narragansett Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas began his court-ordered community service stemming from a state police raid on a tribal smoke shop and spoke at Matunuck Elementary School in Wakefield on Monday.

“I think they need to understand that the tribe was here years before there were what is Rhode Island,“ Thomas said.

“I’d like to explain to the students that we had a relationship with Her Majesty the queen before there was an establishment of the United States and its independence in 1776, and that we just didn’t pop up out of air and started fighting for casinos and dirt roads.“

In April, a jury found Thomas guilty simple assault.

A judge ordered Thomas to perform 150 hours of community service teaching public school students about the history and culture of the Narragansett tribe.

“It’s as close to place-based education as you can get to the real thing coming in especially at a time when field trips are being cut back,“ said Rian Smith.

The peace pipe and eagle staff were just a couple of the many traditional Narragansett objects that students learned about.

Equally fascinating for many was just seeing a real Chief Sachem up close.

“I found it interesting because it’s very cool to have Chief Sachem in our school,“ said student Theo Smith.

Thomas said he’ll be going to other schools and colleges in the coming months. He said he’s pushing to get tribal education included in the curriculum at some colleges.