Tomaquag Museum preserves Indigenous history and culture in Rhode Island

(WJAR) — Tucked away in the woods of Exeter, a small museum is preserving stories that long predate Rhode Island’s founding, and even the arrival of European settlers in New England.

The Tomaquag Museum is Rhode Island’s only Indigenous-led museum and one of the oldest tribal museums in the United States.

For more than six decades, it has worked to preserve and share the history, culture and resilience of Native peoples across Southern New England.

“Tomaquag Museum is very unique in that it was founded by women,” said Executive Director Loren Spears.

The museum traces its roots back to 1958, when anthropologist Eva Butler and Narragansett Wampanoag elder Princess Red Wing set out to preserve Indigenous history through an Indigenous lens.

The collection originally began in Tomaquag Valley in Hopkinton, which inspired the museum’s name.

A member of the Narragansett Native American Tribe, Spears said the museum’s mission is to ensure Native voices remain part of the historical narrative.

A painting at the Tomaquag Museum that depicts a harsh scene. (WJAR)

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“There is no U.S. history without First Peoples’ history,” she said.

The Narragansett Tribe, based primarily in Charlestown, has a history in the region stretching back more than 30,000 years.

Before English colonization, the Narragansetts were among the most influential Indigenous nations in Southern New England.

A display on historic documents at the Tomaquag Museum. (WJAR)

“We’ve had this interrelationship and this history the whole time and have contributed to the creation and formation of this nation in different kinds of ways,” Spears said.

Today, the museum houses thousands of cultural belongings and hundreds of thousands of archival materials documenting Indigenous communities throughout the region.

Among the artifacts on display is an American flag that flew in Afghanistan in honor of the Narragansett Tribe.

“People are often like, ‘Why is there a flag here?’” Spears said. “It’s here because this exact flag flew in Afghanistan in honor of the Narragansett Tribe.”

A U.S. dollar bill signed by Lynn Malerba, the first female chief of the Mohegan Tribe in modern times and the 45th Treasurer of the United States. (WJAR)

The museum also showcases a U.S. dollar bill signed by Lynn Malerba, the first female chief of the Mohegan Tribe in modern times and the 45th Treasurer of the United States.

“You can’t get any more American than a dollar bill,” Spears said. “To be able to see that an Indigenous woman is the one that signed that as the treasurer, we think is pretty remarkable.”

Visitors can explore the museum’s exhibit, “Revolution to Reclamation: Freedom Through Indigenous Sovereignty,” which includes hands-on activities designed for families and children.

Guests can create corn husk dolls, play traditional games, and learn about Native cultures through interactive displays.

Tomaquag Museum Executive Director Loren Spears and NBC 10’s Abbey Buttacavoli at the museum. (WJAR)

In 2016, the museum received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries.

The museum is also preparing for a major new chapter. Within the next few years, Tomaquag plans to relocate to a new facility on the campus of the University of Rhode Island, with hopes of breaking ground by the end of 2026.

“There’s an importance to having Indigenous voice in the room and being part of the story,” Spears said.