AUGUST WE GAVE HIM A SMALL OF THE C, GENERATIONS OF GENERA SOMEONE'S HAVE SHIP SHIPPED RHODE ISLAND IN THIS PLACE WE CALL HOME.

HOW DO YOU THINK THEM?

BY LEAVING A LEGACY.

WE CAN HELP.

>> WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF IN ANOTHER OPINION.

WHERE DISCUSSIONS ARE FOCUSED ON THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

I AM YOUR HOST, PETER WELLS.

MY GUEST TODAY IS LAURETTE SPEARS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE POTOMAC WALK MUSEUM.

>> X.

>> IS IT EXTRA?

I GET CONFUSED.

AT ANY RATE, EXCELLENT.

THAT IS TRUE, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> IT'S BEEN A WHILE, I WANTED TO GET YOU ON THE SHOW TO TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE MUSEUM AND WHAT THE EFFORTS ARE IN TERMS OF EDUCATION AND SO FORTH FOR TRAVEL MEMBERS.

WHERE ARE WE TODAY WITH THE MUSEUM AND SCHOOL AND AT THE COMPLEX.

>> WE ARE DOING WELL.

WE HAVE BEEN IN OUR CURRENT LOCATION SINCE 1970.

WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1958 IN HOPKINTON.

THAT'S WHAT WE GOT OUR NAME, TOM :00 MEANS BEAVER AND WE WERE FOUNDED IN THE PLACE OF THE BEAVERS IF YOU WILL.

WE DO GROUP TOURS AT THE MUSEUM, OFF-SITE PROGRAMS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SCHOOLS IN MUSEUMS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

WITH A HIGHLIGHT OF THE -- OF RHODE ISLAND'S ONLY FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBAL NATION AND HISTORICALLY CONNECTED TO THIS SPACE AND LAND.

THROUGH OUR INDIGENOUS EMPOWERMENT NETWORK, WE DO SPECIFIC WORK TO EMPOWER THE NEED OF COMMUNITY THROUGH JOB TRAINING, INTERNSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, ARTISAN RESIDENCIES.

AND MANY PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE, BIG INSTITUTIONS LIKE RUN AND URI TO SMALLER INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING TO EMPOWER INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING.

>> MAY GET THIS STRAIGHT FOR THE VIEWERS.

THE MUSEUM REPRESENTS INDIGENOUS CULTURE, NOT JUST -- >> WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1958 SO WE ARE AN OLDER INSTITUTION SO WE HAVE THAT SPANS THE AMERICAS.

NOT JUST RHODE ISLAND.

AVA BUTLER HE WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE MUSEUM WAS AN ANTHROPOLOGIST, SOME OF HER ORIGINAL COLLECTIVES -- COLLECTIONS, WE HAVE HER COLLECTIONS PLUS DONATIONS FROM ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN TO MUSEUM BOTH NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE COLLECTORS.

WE HAVE A DIVERSE COLLECTION.

WE DO FOCUS IN ON SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AND WE CERTAINLY HIGHLIGHT THESE PEOPLE.

>> MUSEUM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND, THEREFORE THEY BRING IN OTHER INDIGENOUS GROUPS AND THEIR ARTIFACTS MAKES THE WHOLE STORY A BIT MORE WHOLE.

AND, HOW OFTEN DO YOU HAVE TOURS AND THE OTHER FOUR SCHOOLKIDS?

>> WE WILL COME TO YOUR ORGANIZATION PRETTY MUCH DAILY, SIX DAYS A WEEK MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

WE HAVE DROPPED BY VISITS TO THE MUSEUM FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON WHO WANTS TO COME WITH THEIR FAMILY.

ON WEDNESDAYS 10 TO FIVE AND SATURDAY SIMILAR TO WE SPECIAL PROJECTS LIKE THIS FALL, WE ARE DOING THAT IN A SPECIAL LOCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY CLUB ON UPPER COLLEGE ROAD STARTING NOVEMBER 10.

THIS IS AN AMAZING EXHIBIT THAT TELLS THE STORY OF THE BOARDING -- FEDERAL BOARDING SCHOOL SYSTEM, IT TALKS ABOUT THE INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA, THE ACTIVISM THAT TOOK PLACE, THE RECLAMATION AND HEALING THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE AND HOW THAT WHOLE SYSTEM HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME >> NOT A VERY GOOD SYSTEM AS I MIGHT ADD.

QUITE FRANKLY, HISTORICALLY, IT HAS NOT BEEN GOOD AND EVEN WITH THE CURRENT ATMOSPHERE IN THE COUNTRY, I DON'T SEE IT IMPROVING RIGHT NOW.

AT ANY RATE, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THERE ARE PEOPLE AT YOUR CELLS KEEP IT ON TRACK.

WHEN YOU SAY TRAVELING WITH DO YOU MEAN?

>> IT TRAVELS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE THE ONLY SECOND NATIVE RUN INSTITUTION TO HOST IT.

WE ARE THE FARTHEST EAST IT IS EVER BEEN.

THE CLOSEST IT HAD BEEN WAS PHILADELPHIA NEAR WHERE CARLISLE INDIAN SCHOOL HAD BEEN.

IN PENNSYLVANIA.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES IN OUR PROCESS, FORCED ASSIMILATION AND THE VIOLENCE THAT TOOK PLACE AGAINST INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THE ERASURE OF CULTURE, I BELIEVE THE CULT WAS SAVED A MAN WOULD KILL THE INDIAN WAS THE QUOTE.

SO, THERE IS A WHOLE NOTION AROUND ERASURE OF INDIGENOUS CULTURE.

OUR MUSEUM IS ALL ABOUT THE UPLIFTING AND EMPOWERING OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND INDIGENOUS CULTURE AND TELLING OUR HISTORY FROM PERS -- FIRST-PERSON LENS.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT A NATIONAL STORY THAT IMPACTED MY OWN COMMUNITY IS IN THE -- BOARDING SCHOOLS HAPPENED AND MANY COLONIZING PLACES.

>> IT WAS THE DEVELOP INTO THE SCHOOL THAT WAS AT KUMQUAT, WAS THAT THE KIND OF A RESPONSE TO THE BOARDING SCHOOL IN TERMS OF TEACHING INDIGENOUS YOUNGSTERS?

>> I THINK THE REAL RESPONSE WAS TO LOOK AT THE FACT THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION IS DOING A POOR JOB OF TEACHING AND INCLUDING INDIGENOUS HISTORY AND CULTURE INTO THE WAY THAT WE ARE RECEIVING OUR EDUCATION HERE IN AMERICA IN GENERAL.

I WILL SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO RHODE ISLAND.

THERE IS NO RHODE ISLAND HISTORY WITHOUT NARRAGANSETT HISTORY AND THERE IS NO U.S. HISTORY WITHOUT U.S. PEOPLE'S HISTORY.

IT IS INTERWOVEN.

BUT THAT IS NOT HOW IT IS TAUGHT.

IF TAUGHT AT ALL, IT IS TAUGHT IN A SEPARATE BUBBLE OFTEN FOCUSING IN ON THE MYTHOLOGY AND INACCURATE EDUCATION AROUND THANKSGIVING, FOR EXAMPLE.

THEN, FORGOTTEN ABOUT.

EITHER WE ARE PUT ON A PEDESTAL OF ROMANTICIZED VERSION OF INDIGENOUS, OR WE ARE LEFT OUT COMPLETELY.

I THINK THAT WHEN I FOUNDED THE SCHOOL AT THE MUSEUM IN 2003, IT WAS AROUND HAVING NATIVE STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO EMBRACE THEIR HISTORY AND CULTURE FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE AS THEY WERE LEARNING ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

WE CLOSE THE SCHOOL IN 2010 AFTER THE FLOOD.

HOWEVER, I THINK WE HAVE PICKED UP OTHER WAYS OF IMPACTING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THROUGH OUR PROGRAM.

>> THE INTERNET-BASED QUESTION MARK >> THE NETWORK?

>> YES.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

IT'S WORK WE DO THAT AT THE MUSEUM THAT IS VERY IN PERSON.

BUT YES, WE LIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC, WE CAN DO LOTS OF PROGRAMMING VIRTUALLY.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL AS THE NEED OF COMMUNITY.

THE PROGRAM IS AROUND AS I MENTIONED, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, PARTNERSHIPS AND RESIDENCIES.

NOT ONLY AT THE MUSEUM BUT WITH OUR MORE THAN 50 PARTNERS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE PARTNER WITH THE NEW BEDFORD ART MUSEUM AND THE VERY FIRST ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM WAS DON SPEARS.

I WAS RECOMMENDING TO THEM SEVERAL WAMPANOAG ARTISTS AS POTENTIAL.

IT IS CREATING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND THAT SYNERGY WE WANT -- WE WORK WITH VARIOUS ENTITIES TO CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY DUE TO YOUTH PROGRAM ON BECOMING AN AUTHOR.

WE WORK WITH BROWN UNIVERSITY AND THEIR NATIVE AMERICAN INDIGENOUS STUDIES PROGRAM, THE JOHN NICHOLAS BROWN CENTER AND THEIR NATIVE FELLOWS.

THERE IS A CONSTANT SYNERGY BACK-AND-FORTH TO SUPPORT NATIVE PEOPLE.

AND TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL, AND JOB TRAINING, AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION, WHEN I CAME TO RHODE ISLAND IN 1995, THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF CONVERSATION.

THERE WERE THINGS GOING ON AT THE RESERVATION IN CONNECTICUT.

THERE WERE THINGS GOING ON AT THE NARRAGANSETT -- NARRAGANSETT RESERVATION.

IS IT TRUE THAT HISTORICALLY THE PEQUOT'S AND NARRAGANSETT'S FIRST OF ALL WORK RELATED, OR ARE THEY?

I AM TOLD THEY WERE.

IN TERMS OF THERE WERE SPLINTER GROUPS, IS THAT TRUE?

>> NONE OF THAT IS A FACT.

>> OK, GOOD.

>> EACH OF THE NATIONS YOU MENTIONED ARE INDIVIDUAL.

DO WE HAVE ALLIES AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOME?

YES.

HISTORICALLY, THE PEQUOT WAR FROM FARTHER NORTH AND MOVED DOWN INTO THIS AREA.

THEY WERE CONSIDERED AN ENEMY AT THE TIME.

ARE WE ENEMIES TODAY?

NO.

WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS BACK-AND-FORTH?

YES.

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS A BLURRING OF TIME.

WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE EUROPEAN CONTACT?

OR AT EUROPEAN CONTACT IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS TODAY.

ARE WE ALL RELATE TODAY?

YES.

WE CONSIDER THEM OUR RELATIVES, PEOPLE ARE INTERMARRIED INTO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

I HAVE RELATIVES THAT ARE NARRAGANSETT ON ONE SIDE AND PEQUOT ON THE OTHER OR NARRAGANSETT AND DENAE OR NAVAJO AND CHIPPEWA.

MY OWN GRANDSON IS NARRAGANSETT NIANTIC ON HIS DAD'S SIDE AND BY YOU TO SHAWNEE ON HIS MOTHER'S SIDE.

WE ARE LIVING IN AN INTERTRIBAL WORLD IN THE SENSE OF PEOPLE MEETING UP WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

BUT ARE THEY DISTINCT DIFFERENT NATIONS QUESTION MARK YES.

MY SON AND HIS PARTNER MET AT STANDING ROCK SIOUX.

STANDING ROCK SIOUX, I AM SURE HAS LOTS OF INTERTRIBAL CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN BECAUSE OF THAT -- THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WERE MADE THERE.

MY OLDEST SON IS MARRIED TO A MAYAN, THAT IS CROSSING BORDERS IF YOU WELCOME OF THE MODERN-DAY BORDERS.

WE CONSIDER THEM ALL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE AMERICAS IN THAT WE ARE CONNECTED.

AND THAT WE LIVE ON AN ISLAND TOGETHER AND HAVE BEEN CONNECTED IN THAT -- I THIS REALLY HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BUT I AM WONDERING, THIS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ANCESTRY.COM AND ONE TO THREE AND ME, DO THEY HAVE THE DATA TO DO ANCESTRY CHECKS ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLE?

DO YOU KNOW?

>> THAT IS A COMPLEX CONVERSATION.

THERE IS A GREAT PODCAST NOT CONNECTED TO THE MUSEUM, BUT WE HONOR THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED.

THEY HAD A WHOLE EPISODE OR TWO ABOUT DNA TESTING AND THINGS THAT NATURE.

WHAT I UNDERSTAND ABOUT IT IS THAT IT MIGHT BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHETHER YOU HAVE QUOTE UNQUOTE INDIAN BLOOD, BUT IT CAN'T NECESSARILY DO YOUR GENEALOGY FOR YOU TO SPECIFICALLY COME TO A PARTICULAR NATION.

WHEN THEY DO THE GENOME PROJECT COME THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO TELL YOU HAVE INDIGENOUS BLOOD BUT NOT NECESSARILY WHO YOUR PEOPLE ARE AND WHO YOU ARE CONNECTED TO DIRECTLY.

THAT IS MORE COMPLEX.

EACH TRIBAL NATION HAS DIFFERENT RULES AROUND CITIZENSHIP.

AND HOPE YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS COMPLEX AND THROUGH FEDERAL RECOGNITION, IT GETS EVEN MORE COMPLEX GOOD WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT FOR THE NEXT DAY LET ALONE IN A FIVE-MINUTE SOUNDBITE.

IT IS COMPLEX.

I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE INTRIGUED ABOUT THEIR ANCESTRY AND THEIR -- THEY ARE CURIOUS IF THE STORIES AND THEIR FAMILY ARE TRUE.

SOMETIMES, THEY CAN FIND OUT THROUGH DEEP GENEALOGY AND THROUGH SOME OF THOSE KINDS OF TESTING THAT MAYBE THEY HAVE INDIGENOUS BLOOD.

IT IS THE CONNECTION AND TIES TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT KEEPS THAT CULTURE AND COMMUNITY GROWING FORWARD.

>> THROUGH STORYTELLING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE?

>> AND CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE, AND PLACE.

CONNECTED TO THE PLACE AND PEOPLE.

AS AN AIRGAS AT MYSELF, -- AS A NARRAGANSETT MYSELF I'M IN THE COMMUNITIES BUT ALSO THE PLACE WE ARE ALL FROM.

THE WORD NARRAGANSETT MEANS PEOPLE OF SMALL POINTS AND IS TALKING WITH THE SMALL POINTS OF LAND CONNECTED TO THIS COASTLINE OF WHAT WE THINK OF AS RHODE ISLAND AND THE BAY.

IT IS CALLED NARRAGANSETT BAY FOR A REASON, IT IS OUR HOMELAND.

WE ARE CONNECTED TO THIS PLACE AND OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE, OUR LANGUAGE, OUR KNOWLEDGE WHAT WE CALL TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, THE RELATIONSHIP TO THE LAND AND WATERS, OR SPIRITUALITY AND CEREMONIES, IT'S ALL CONNECTED TO THIS SPACE.

I MENTIONED DAUGHTER-IN-LAW'S NOT FROM HERE, WELL, THEIR LIFEWAYS ARE DIFFERENT THAN OUR LIFEWAYS BASED ON WHERE THEY AR% FROM.

IF YOU ARE FROM THE DESERT OF THE NEVADA, SIERRA NEVADA'S FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR LIFEWAYS WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN BEING EASTERN WOODLAND COASTAL, LIKE A NARRAGANSETT PERSON IS IN THE RELATIONSHIP TO THE WATERS AND LANDS, AND DIVERSITY OF OUR ECOSYSTEM OF HUNTING, FISHING, GATHERING AND AGRICULTURE.

FOUR PEOPLE ARE STILL CONNECTED TO THESE LANDS AND WATERS.

KUMQUAT MUSEUM SHOWS THAT STORY, OUR EDUCATORS TELL THE STORY OUR HISTORY IN THIS PLACE BUT AS AN AIRGAS OF PEOPLE BUT ALSO THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN US AND OTHER TRIBAL NATIONS IN THE REGION AS WELL AS THESE NATIONAL STORIES, LIKE THE AMERICAN INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL EXPERIENCE, LIKE THE PROJECT WE DID IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BROWN UNIVERSITY, JOHN NICHOLAS BROWN CENTER FOR THE PUBLIC COMMUNITIES THAT TURNED INTO A WHOLE BIG INTERNATIONAL EXHIBIT COLD CLIMATES OF INEQUALITY.

OUR SECTION OF THAT, THERE IS LIKE 30 DIFFERENT STORIES WITHIN THIS BIG EXHIBIT, THAT IS TRAVELED INTERNATIONALLY IS ABOUT THIS PLACE, RHODE ISLAND AND THUS SURVIVING'S OF THE NARRAGANSETT PEOPLE IN THIS PLACE AND ABOUT OUR STORIES.

SO, THAT IS COMING TO PROVIDENCE TO THE URI CAMPUS AND -- THAT IS TALKING ABOUT ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD, THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM CLIMATE INJUSTICE OFTEN, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WE ARE GOING TO UPLIFT THOSE STORIES TO CREATE BETTER EQUALITY AND MAKE THOSE STORIES HEARD THROUGH THAT EXHIBIT COMMITS A REMARKABLE EXHIBIT.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLES OF COLOR,, THIS PAST SUMMER WE HAD THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE COUNTRY, HAS NOT HAD ANY IMPACT ON ATTITUDES TOWARD INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S AS FAR AS YOU KNOW HERE ON RHODE ISLAND SAY?

AS IT HAD ANY IMPACT ON SOME OF THE EXHIBITS ONE MIGHT PUT ON THE MUSEUM?

>> INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WERE OUT THERE WALKING WITH AND IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL THE PEOPLE IN BLACK LIVES MATTER, MY UNDERSTANDING WE'VE BEEN PART OF MOVEMENT SINCE ITS INCEPTION.

AND I THINK WHEN YOU THINK THE SAME INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS INJUSTICE EVERYWHERE IS -- IT RESONATES.

FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, WE LOOK AT IT THIS WAY.

WE STATISTICALLY ARE THE MOST UNDERREPRESENTED, UNDER HEARD -- >> UNDERSERVED.

>> UNDERSERVED POPULATION IN THIS STATE AND COUNTRY.

WE ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY MORE IMPOVERISHED, DISPROPORTIONATELY SUFFERING FROM VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

JUST RECENTLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, IT IS FINALLY BROKEN THE NATIONAL MOOD -- NEWS REGARDING MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS.

THE VIOLENCE THAT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ACROSS THIS NATION AND EVERY STATE ARE FAILING -- FEELING IS DISPROPORTIONATE.

I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME WHEN I'M GIVING PRESENTATIONS ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, THAT I DON'T KNOW AND INDIGENOUS PERSON THAT DOESN'T KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN MURDERED.

FRANKLY, NOT ONLY SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN MURDERED, BUT THAT THE PERSON GETS AWAY WITH IT.

THAT IS THE STATISTICAL PART OF IT.

IT IS BAD ENOUGH THE VICTIMIZATION THAT HAPPENS, BUT THE REALITY IS THERE IS NOT A LOT OF CARE AND CONCERN, AND FOLLOW-THROUGH FOR THE PERPETRATOR TO BE CONVICTED.

THERE IS A LACK OF VALUE ON INDIGENOUS LIVES.

>> REGISTERED A BLURB TWO DAYS AGO OF THERE WAS A REPORT BEING DONE ON THE MISSING AND EXPLOITED WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY AND TRAFFICKING, WHICH PART OF THAT STORY.

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN WHO ARE MISSING EVERY YEAR.

WE DON'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

THE COMPARISON WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS YOUNG LADY WHO WAS RECENTLY KILLED ON A HIKE WITH HER FIANCE.

HOW THE WHOLE COUNTRY WAS LOOKING FOR THIS MAN AND HER YET, THERE IS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, INDIGENOUS, BLACK, LATINO, ASIAN WHO ARE MISSING EVERY YEAR AND, HE SEE NOTHING ABOUT IT ON THE MEDIA EXCEPT MAYBE A LOCAL NEWSPAPER WILL SAY SO-AND-SO HAS BEEN MISSING IN THE POLICE ARE LOOKING.

AND THAT'S THE END OF THE STORY.

>> IT ALMOST MAKES ME WANT TO CRY WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT.

IT'S THE LACK OF VALUE BUT ALSO CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO THE WAY IN WHICH WE TEACH ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.

UNTIL WE RECONCILE THE TRUTH ABOUT THE WAY THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON THE VIOLENCE, THE EXPLOITATION, LAND DISPOSITION OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BUT ALSO THE EXPLOITATION OF AFRICAN PEOPLE, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE SLAVE TRADE UNTIL WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON EXTREME VIOLENCE AND GENOCIDE.

WE CAN TELL FROM THAT AND IMPROVE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF PEOPLE.

THERE IS ANOTHER FAMOUS QUOTE, NO GOOD INDIAN BUT A DEAD INDIAN.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THESE OTHER QUOTES OF LEADERS OF THIS COUNTRY, IT IS VERY TROUBLING.

IT LEADS TO TODAY, CAMPS FOR LOGGERS AND MINERS AND PEOPLE GETTING GEMSTONES ARE ALWAYS PUT PLACES OF COMMUNITY OF COLOR.

THE WOMEN ARE THEN VICTIMIZED IN THIS SPACE IS, THEY CALL THEM MEN CAMS.

THEN THE WOMAN BECOME A AND MURDERED.

IF -- THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR LONG TIME.

IT IS JUST GETTING SOME TRACTION OF VISIBILITY IN THE MAINSTREAM.

HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL BRING SOME RECKONING TO THIS.

AND BRING PEOPLE HOME TO THEIR FAMILY.

>> HOPEFULLY IT WILL.

THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE EXPOSURE OF IT.

IT'S DISHEARTENING.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT COMMUNITY OPPRESSION COMES FROM.

IT IS NOT A GOOD SYSTEM ONE PEOPLE ARE MISSING, KILLED, WHATEVER AND THERE IS NO ATTENTION GIVEN TO IT WHATSOEVER BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ANY VALUE TO THAT PERSON.

>> ONE OF THE WAYS, AS A MUSEUM WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE CURRENT EVENTS WHEN WE ARE GIVING TOURS OF THE MUSEUM.

AND THROUGH OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.

WE FINISHED IN OUR SHOW AND ONE OF THE ARTISTS WHO IS UNSURE ABE HAS DONE A WHOLE SERIES AND THE PANDEMIC.

A PANDEMIC SERIES OF ALL THESE NATIVE NURSES BRINGING TO LIGHT THE DISPARITIES ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE PANDEMIC AND THEN, ANOTHER ABOUT A AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND THERE HAS BEEN THIS WHOLE CAMPAIGN OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS AND, THEY PAINT THEMSELVES WITH A RED HAND OVER THEIR MOUTHS AND, IT THE IDEA IS THAT THERE IS NO VOICE FOR THE MISSING.

NO VOICE WITH THOSE PEOPLE.

THIS ARTWORK IS ANOTHER WAY TO BRING VISIBILITY TO THESE CONVERSATIONS AND GET THE AVERAGE PERSON -- AN AVERAGE PERSON MIGHT COME TO THE MUSEUM AND HEAR FROM US.

THEY MIGHT GO TO AN ART SHOW THAT THEY WERE NOT EVEN REALLY THINKING ABOUT THESE CRITICAL ISSUES, BUT NOW THEY WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SYMBOLISM MEAN, WHY DO ALL THESE WOMEN HAVE THIS HAND-PAINTED OF THE MOUTH.

WHY IS RED IMPORTANT IN THE STORY?

SO, I THINK THESE ARE WAYS WE CAN EDUCATE PEOPLE AND BROADEN THOSE EXPERIENCES AND UNDERSTANDING.

>> WERE RUNNING OUT OF TIME PRETTY QUICKLY.

REAL QUICK, AND ABOUT A MINUTE, GOING FORWARD AT THE MUSEUM, AT THE COMPOUND, WHAT IS GOING ON?

I KNOW YOU ARE DOING CONSTRUCTION.

>> WE HAVE NOT STARTED CONSTRUCTION YET.

WE HAVE 18 ACRES OF LAND IN KINGSTON AND OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, WE WILL BE CONSTRUCTING A FOUR BUILDING CAMPUS WITH AMY MUSEUM BUILDING AND EDUCATION CENTER, INDIGENOUS EMPOWERMENT CENTER, AND RESEARCH CENTER WHICH WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO, THEY CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING AT TOMAQUAGMEUSEUM.ORG.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER PER CAPITA, EVEN TODAY OF ARMED SERVICE FOR THIS COUNTRY SINCE BEGINNING OF TIME.

THREE TODAY.

>> THE FAMOUS MARINE IMAGE OF PULLING THE FLAG UP.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WAS INDIGENOUS.

>> WE HAVE LOTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO SERVE.

WE TALK ABOUT THAT AT THE MUSEUM AS WELL AS IN OUR PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS IN THIS PROJECT.

THEY CAN CHECK THAT OUT AT HONORINGINDIGENOUSFATS -- HONORINGINDIGENOUSVET.ORG.

>> THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

IF NOTHING ELSE, JUST WITH HOW THE FINGERS NARRAGANSETT BAY CONNECT TO THE NARRAGANSETT TRIBE AND TO THE STATES HISTORY.

AND IT'S NAMING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

>> WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME, UNFORTUNATELY.

I WANT TO THANK TODAY'S GUESTS FOR TUNING INTO ANOTHER ADDITION OF IN ANOTHER OPINION.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO PBS FOR MAKING THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE.

I'M YOUR HOST, PETER WELLS, GIVE US YOUR OPINION ON FACEBOOK AT IN ANOTHER OPINION AND ABOVE ALL, WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY HAVE A GREAT DAY.

AND IT GETS DOWN TO THE TIME AQUATIC MUSEUM -- TOMAQUAG MUSEUM AND LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.

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