Brown University is transferring 255 acres of land in Bristol, Rhode Island to a preservation trust set up by the Pokanoket Tribe. The transfer marks one of the nation’s biggest victories in attempts by Indigenous people to reclaim ancestral lands. The land is the ancestral home of Metacom, the leader of the Pokanoket Wampanoag people who was also known as King Philip.
Barton Gilman attorney Taino (“Tai”) J. Palermo served as counsel for the Pokanoket tribe in negotiations with Brown. Tai also serves as the legal director for the Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights. He said the land transfer is a significant historical and cultural event and that the transfer represents a “profound” example of the #LandBack movement, an effort by Indigenous people to reclaim control over land their ancestors inhabited.
Tai noted that most of the land is undeveloped and must remain that way under the terms of the deed. He said the Pokanoket plan to use the site for gatherings, ceremonies, and preserving the land and the coastline.
Read the article “Brown University transfers 255 acres in Bristol, R.I., to the Pokanoket Indian tribe: ‘We are the original stewards’” on The Boston Globe website (subscription required).
