At most of the meetings of the Council of Algonquin Indians – the fundraisers, the weddings, the funerals and the celebrations – the Native Americans sat aside those who they referred to as their “Paleface friends.” Alice Thompson Smith – a Democratic politician, social worker and president of the Rhode Island Historical Society – was the first white woman ever inducted into the Algonquin Tribe. Having contributed greatly to the welfare of Native Americans throughout Rhode Island, she was honored by being named Morning Star, Honorary Squaw Sachem.

Not long after, Smith was inducted into the Wampanoag Tribe during a ceremony at their tree-day powwow in August of 1930 at the old Indian Church in Mashpee. The 50-year-old woman stood among the over 70 Natives who were in attendance as Lorenzo Hammond, also known as Chief Small Bear, conducted the church service. Westerly native and Tribal member William Wilcox, also known as Chief Pine Tree, then performed a ceremonial dance. A beauty contest and 10-mile youth road race were also part of the event which was officiated by Chief of the Tribe, Leroy Perry, also known as Yellow Feather.

On Sept. 7, 1931, the seventh annual Algonquin powwow took place on the large estate of Frank Willard Tillinghast in Johnston. Seventy-two-year-old Tillinghast was an attorney with the firm Tillinghast, Morrissey & Flynn and part owner of Tillinghast, Stiles & Company, merchants of cotton and worsted yarns. That year’s powwow included a fundraiser to help meet the Tribe’s financial needs necessary to construct a residential facility for poor or orphaned Native American children. Rhode Island Senator Jesse Houghton Metcalf donated a large tent to provide shade over the more than 100 attendees who partook of the event’s dinner. The previous year, Metcalf had been inducted into the Tribe and given the name of Strong Heart, Honorary Chief.

Alice Thompson Smith presided over the exercises during the 1931 powwow while Chief Rainbow explained to all present the importance of the facility they hoped to build. A tribute was paid to the recently deceased Alfred C.A. Perry, also known as Chief Sachem Strong Horse, before Tillinghast stood before the crowd to reassert his commitment to doing whatever he could to benefit the Natives.

“The white man never kept his covenant with the Indians,” Tillinghast spoke. “Half a mile from my farm is a great stone known as Indian Rock, beyond which the white man covenanted not to pass. But a few years after they had signed the agreement, they pushed westward as far as Scituate.”

On Sept. 4, 1932, Tillinghast again opened his estate for the Council of Algonquin Indians’ annual powwow. Metcalf gave the principal address before 33-year-old Rhode Island Senator Charles Thomas Toomey was admitted by official ceremony into council membership. The smoking of the peace pipe followed.

In the years to come, powwows would be located at various places throughout Rhode Island including Shannock, Providence and North Kingstown and would include sacred events such as invoking the Great Spirit and sharing a peace pipe. They would also include athletic events, strong arm stunts, medicine man feats and war dances. They always ended with everyone sitting down to a sumptuous dinner.

Tillinghast died in 1948. History will always hold his Johnston farm as a place where Natives and their Paleface friends came together for communication and camaraderie in heartfelt respect and joy.

Kelly Sullivan is a Rhode Island columnist, lecturer and author.