Pokanoket tribe occupying Mount Hope land, tribe's ancestral village

The aboriginal nation claims ownership of the land in Bristol that was once its main village

By Patrick Luce
Posted 8/21/17

More than 50 members of the Pokanoket Nation have set up camp on the Haffenreffer land adjacent to Mount Hope Farm in Bristol — the tribe’s ancestral village — to occupy the land in …

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Pokanoket tribe occupying Mount Hope land, tribe's ancestral village

The aboriginal nation claims ownership of the land in Bristol that was once its main village

Posted

More than 50 members of the Pokanoket Nation have set up camp on the Haffenreffer land adjacent to Mount Hope Farm in Bristol — the tribe’s ancestral village — to occupy the land in an attempt to return ownership to the tribe.

The tribe moved onto the land Sunday afternoon, promptly setting up checkpoints and locking gates to prevent access to outsiders. Security personnel from the tribe is guarding the gates around the clock, restricting access to the land owned by Brown University, but which the tribe claims as its own.

The land, which was the seat of power of Chief Metacomet, also known as King Philip, was stolen from the tribe in the 1600s, according to Sagamore William Guy, leader of the Pokanokets. The tribe has always maintained claim to the land — which comprises more than 300 acres of waterfront land off Metacom Avenue — and wants it fully returned to tribal ownership.

"This is our principle village,” said Sagamore Guy, whose tribal name is Po Wauipi Neimpaug. “They don’t have any right to it. We want to repatriate the land back to the tribal trust. We were here first. We have a territorial right to the land. This whole thing was our village. We want our village back.”

The tribe has fought for decades to reclaim the land, but has been frustrated by political leaders who Sagamore Guy said have refused to meet with them. In 2015, the Pokanokets flew a tribal flag over the village, which Brown officials removed, angering the tribal nation.

“When they removed that flag, that was an act of war,” Sagamore Guy said, noting the tribe’s encampment is a peaceful protest. “Removal of our flag is an act of war. Brown has benefited grossly since they’ve had our land. We want this land back.”

The university has owned the land for 60 years, since the Haffenreffer family donated it in the 1950s. It was originally taken from the Pokanokets after King Philip’s War and the murder of Chief Metacomet 371 years ago. Brown uses the property for the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology’s Collections Research Center, “which holds more than 1 million ethnographic objects, archaeological specimens and images from all parts of the world,” according to a statement the university issued Monday. The other significant structure on the property is a multipurpose outing center used primarily by the Brown Environmental Leadership Lab program.

The school, while asserting its ownership of the land, said in its statement that it intends to work with the Pokanokets and would agree to meet with leaders. Brown University security officers have been driving by the encampment but has not attempted to remove tribe members

“Brown has maintained and is committed to its productive working relationships with the recognized indigenous nations in this area,” the statement reads. “Brown expects opportunities for open dialogue with the Pokanoket as the university becomes more knowledgable about their concerns. The university upholds the rights of individuals to assemble peaceably to express their views, provided that their actions do not infringe upon the rights of others — including the free exchange of ideas — or interfere with the rights of others to take part in the activities of Brown’s academic community and campus life.”

Sagamore Guy said a representative from Brown had reached out to him, potentially to meet Monday morning, but that meeting did not take place. He said the tribe is prepared to continue occupying the land until their demands are satisfied.

“We have not been able to get with the powers that be in this state,” Sagamore Guy said, noting he sent certified letters on May 19 to state officials alerting them of the tribe’s plans. “They know we can do it. They won’t speak with us. They’re trying to delay the inevitable.”

Calls for comment to Gov. Gina Raimondo’s and Brown University office were not immediately returned.

Sagamore Guy said the encampment — which the tribe calls Po Metacom Camp — will continue “until we get something positive, namely an audience with state leaders. He made it clear the Pokanokets want the land retuned to them. The tribe has filed lawsuits against the state and the town of Bristol, and has recorded Public and Constructive Notices with the town to claim the land.

“They own those buildings, but they don’t own this land,” Sagamore Guy said, referring to Brown. “This is our land base. I want this land returned to us.”

Pokanoket tribe, Haffenreffer Museum

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