Among the removed was the future founder and sachem of the Northern Narragansett, Otis Bliss.

In 2006 another 119 were removed, including Yvette Champlain who was a tribal council member at the time.

Scholars and activists see this as a national trend among tribes, prompted by a variety of factors, including internal family rivalries and the issue of significant new revenues from Indian casinos.

Membership is based on lineal descent from any individual recognized by the tribe as Narragansett.

The verification process, although relatively less critical than that of the federally recognized tribe, still takes care to fact check the relationships stated and requires birth certificates as proof.