Rhode Island HR 5733: JOINT RESOLUTION CONFERRING LIMITED PURPOSE RECOGNITION TO THE NATIVE AMERICAN SEACONKE WAMPANOAG TRIBE

Bill Text

2025 -- H 5733
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LC001998
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
CONFERRING LIMITED PURPOSE RECOGNITION TO THE NATIVE AMERICAN
SEACONKE WAMPANOAG TRIBE
Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Diaz, Morales, and DeSimone
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
Referred To: House State Government & Elections

WHEREAS, According to the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, under the Department of 1
the Interior, each state legislature has the authority to determine if/when state recognition shall be 2
granted to its indigenous tribes; now, therefore be it 3
RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island hereby officially 4
recognizes the Seaconke Wampanoag tribe as a Native American Indian tribe for the limited 5
purpose of assisting this tribe in establishing eligibility for federal education, job training, and 6
housing benefits and federal protection for the sale of artwork; qualifying for public and private 7
grants for which Indian tribes or groups, or members thereof, may be eligible; protecting the 8
ability of this tribe and their members to engage in traditional religious practices and ceremonies; 9
preserving and protecting burial sites and artifacts; and ensuring that handicrafts made by tribal 10
members may be sold as "Indian made"; and be it further 11
RESOLVED, That this General Assembly hereby further states that this resolution shall 12
not confer recognition for any purpose except as expressly stated herein, and shall not be 13
evidence that the tribe has a State compact or State approval for the purposes of the federal Indian 14
Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. ch. 29 § 2701 et seq.; and be it further 15
RESOLVED, That this General Assembly hereby further states that the limited State 16
recognition accorded to this tribe shall not be construed to affect in any way a tribe's or group's 17
case for federal recognition, shall not confer the right of any tribe, group or individual to conduct 18
gambling of any kind or to engage in the sale of motor fuels or tobacco and shall not constitute an 19

LC001998 - Page 2 of 2
acknowledgement of any claim by any tribe, group, or individual to any ancestral, tribal or other 1
public or private lands; and be it further 2
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 3
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the 4
State of Rhode Island. 5
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LC001998
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