JOINT RESOLUTION CONFERRING LIMITED PURPOSE RECOGNITION TO THE NATIVE AMERICAN SEACONKE WAMPANOAG TRIBE

This Rhode Island bill officially recognizes the Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe as a Native American group for specific, limited purposes. It allows the tribe and its members to access federal benefits related to education, job training, housing, and the sale of artwork, while also protecting their ability to practice traditional ceremonies and safeguard burial sites. The legislation explicitly states that this recognition does not grant the tribe the right to conduct gambling, sell motor fuels or tobacco, or claim ownership of any land. Additionally, the resolution clarifies that this state action does not serve as a substitute for federal recognition or imply approval for the tribe to operate under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.