NEWPORT, R.I. – One day after it was revealed that a federal agency had seemingly abandoned its quest on behalf of the Narragansett Indian Tribe to acquire roughly 260 acres of excess Navy property on the west side of Aquidneck Island, a spokesperson said today that the tribe is still interested in the land and did not support the decision by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to withdraw its application.
“We’re working to redress the decision that was made,” John Brown, medicine man in training, told the Providence Journal. “We are very interested in this property.”
In a letter dated Dec. 4, BIA Executive Director Jerry Gidner wrote to officials in the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) office that “we are unable to pursue the application on behalf of the Narragansett Indian Tribe to acquire the Department of the Navy, Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) property referred to as the Newport Naval Complex in Newport, Rhode Island.”
But according to Brown, the Narragansetts didn’t approve of the Bureau’s decision, and they are hopeful that they will be able to renew discussions for the land.
What recourse the tribe may have, however, is unclear at the moment.
“I understand the Narragansett Indian’s continued interest, but I’m not aware of any appeal process,” said Tina Dolen, executive director of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission.
Widely anticipated for the better part of a decade, the Navy formally announced earlier this year its intent to dispose of 260 acres of mostly undeveloped land along the west side of Aquidneck Island. And while the AIPC had been seen as the front-runner to obtain the property – which spans each of the island’s three communities – under BRAC regulations, federal agencies may submit applications for the land, for what is known as a federal transfer process. As a recognized Indian Tribe, the Narragansetts expressed an interest in the property through the BIA for the first time in April of this year.
Their late-coming to the process caused local plans to effectively be put on hold, while the tribe was given the opportunity to put forth an application detailing their bid for the property.
After a series of extensions, in November, BRAC officials set a deadline of Dec. 4 for the BIA to respond with a completed application or else forfeit its chance to acquire the land via federal transfer. After receiving word that the BIA had withdrawn its application, the BRAC program office told local officials at the AIPC to expect the property to be officially listed through the federal registry, effectively opening up the land to public bid.
“I don’t know what more they can do given the ruling yesterday by the BRAC office,” Dolen said.
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Newport, RI
