Indian Culture, Religion and Leadership Style
The Government and Religion of the Narragansett Indian Tribe
Apr 17, 2009
The Government of the Narragansett Tribe
The Puritan and Narragansett governments were actually not dissimilar. They were both monarchical and democratic at various levels. The Narragansett Tribe consisted of a series of villages each with a leader and a village council. It is unclear whether the village leaders were chosen by a democratic process or by accession. The village councils consisted of older men in the village who earned their posts by their wisdom, leadership abilities and their following among the village members.
The Sachems or Spiritual Leaders
“Above the leaders of the village were the sachems, usually men, these leaders were the spiritual leaders of the tribe and came to power by accession.” Most tribes had major and minor sachems who contested for the allegiances of as many people as they could. The sachems demanded tribute to be paid by those who gave them allegiance. Tribute was also paid by tributary tribes and by outsiders in the form of tolls fro crossing their lands and for other services. The tribute paying system seemed to be similar to a form of taxation, for the tribute was used to trade for items of consumption for the entire tribe’s benefit. The sachems were also responsible for providing protection for individuals and villages.
Police and Judicial Functions
They acted as informal police and assumed a judicial function. “Besides their general subjection to the highest sachems, to which they carry presents, they also have particular protectors, under sachems, to whom they also carry presents, and upon any injury received, and complaint made, these protectors will revenge it.” The sachems were responsible for the settlement of disputes and the exercise of judicial decisions between individuals, villages, and between tributary tribes over which the sachems had some control. The sachems gathered about them counselors called pnieses and executioners who were responsible for enforcing the judicial decisions. The pnieses were religious leaders selected in their youth by the sachems. They underwent vigorous training and strict diets designed to increase their spiritual power. They trained so that they might be able to “visualize Hobbamock, a deity capable of inflicting great harm and even death on those he did not favor.”
High Sachems Miantonomo and Canonicus
While in theory the high sachems had “an absolute monarchy over the people, yet they will not conclude” any trade or negotiation to which “the people are averse, and by gentle persuasion cannot be brought.” In the Narragansett Tribe of 1630 the “government in the country is divided between a younger sachem, Miantonomo and an elder sachem, Canonicus…the young man’s uncle.” We do not know for how long this dual monarchy existed but in 1630, the unity of action between Canonicus and Miatonomo was remarkable. “The old Sachem will not be offended at what the young sachem will not doe what he conceives will displease his uncle.”
Democratic Elements Within the Government
Important decisions affecting the entire village were subject to a vote of approval or rejection by the tribal council. Decisions deemed by the tribal council to be of the utmost importance such as wars or the movement of the village to a new location “were reached through a consensus in meetings attended by all adult males.”
Religion of Narrangansett Tribe
Religion played a major role in the life of the New England native. While belief or participation in religious principles or practices was never forced, the belief system was nearly universal and fairly uniform. New England natives including the Pequot and Narragansett tribes believed in a god with multiple incarnations. Williams counted the names of thirty-seven gods including Kautantowwit who created the lesser gods and to who all souls go after the death of the body. Williams found that there was a universal belief in two principles: that god exists, and that the soul contains the essence of what god is. They have a “strong conviction natural in the soul of man, that God is; filling all things, and places, and that all excellencies dwell in God, and proceed from Him.”
They have an exact form of King, Priest, and Prophet…their Priests perform and manage their worship: their wise men and old men, of which number the Priests are also, make solemn speeches and orations, or lectures to them, concerning religion, peace, or war, and all things.”
Williams reported that he attended great feats and dances, over which the priests resided, which were attended by hundred or thousands, and at which gifts were exchanged. Williams wrote of the life of the natives before extensive English contact.
Sources: Sydney James, Colonial Rhode Island, A History (New York: Da Capo Press, 1957;
Neal Salisbury, “Squanto, Last of the Patuxets” from David Sweet and Gary Nash, eds. Struggle and Survival in Colonial America, (Berkley, University of California at Berkley Press, 1981)
Quotations are from: Roger Williams, The Complete Writings, 7 volumes, Volume I, 223-4
