The Narragansett Dawn
| Type | Monthly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Princess Red Wing and Ernest Hazard |
| Founded | 1935 |
| Ceased publication | 1936 |
The Narragansett Dawn was a monthly newspaper that discussed the history, culture and language of the Narragansett tribe. It was produced in 1935 and 1936 with a total of sixteen issues. The founders and editors of the paper were Princess Red Wing and Ernest Hazard. Both were Narragansett tribal members.
The newspaper came about because of the Narragansett people's need to retain their history and cultural identity in the wake of the Indian Reorganization Act. In many of the paper's editorials, Princess Red Wing invokes the Narragansett people's pride, often in reply to claims against their ancestry and purity during their detribalization by the state of Rhode Island in the 1880s.
The name The Narragansett Dawn was chosen at a tribal meeting on December 4, 1934. It was said to signify "the awakening after so long and black a night of being civilized."
The Narragansett Dawn used the slogan "We Face East" on its cover. Its meaning is broken down as follows:
The cover also bears the official seal of the Narragansett Indian Tribe.
Princess Red Wing, Editor
Her mother was Wampanoag and her father was Narragansett. Through her mother, Red Wing is related to prominent Indians in American history such as Simeon Simons (who fought with George Washington) and Metacom ( or "King Philip") who led a war against the colonists in 1670s.
She became Squaw Sachem of the New England Council of Chiefs in 1945, a position which allowed her to preside over sacred ceremonies and festivals. She was also a prominent storyteller in the Narragansett community, keeping alive the oral traditions of her tribe. She also preserved their history by founding the only Native American museum in Rhode Island, the Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum. Princess Red Wing died in 1987 at the age of 92.
Ernest Hazard, Editor
Marion W. Brown, Keeper of Records
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