BRISTOL, R.I. (WPRI) — After nearly 400 years, the Pokanoket tribe can finally return to their ancestral land, marking a historic victory for Rhode Island and the nation. On Friday, Nov. 15, Brown University finalized the transfer of 255 acres in Bristol to a preservation trust established by the Pokanoket Indian Tribe, fulfilling a pledge agreement reached between the two entities in 2017. Under the agreement, Brown committed to the "orderly transfer of a to-be-determined amount of the lands ... which will ensure appropriate stewardship and management of this unique, historical sacred and natural resource for generations to come." The tribe holds significant historical importance as one of the first to sign a peace treaty with the pilgrims who arrived in Massachusetts and to participate in the first Thanksgiving in 1621. The land is also deeply meaningful to Native American and Indigenous communities, as it is the ancestral home of the Pokanoket leader Metacom (King Philip) and the site of his death in 1676. "This land is special to us and we can now take care of it the way the Creator intended for us to do so," Pokanoket Tribe Chief Sachem Dancing Star said. The approximately 375-acre Mount Hope property in Bristol has been home to the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology and a center for educational programs and field research since its donation to Brown in 1955, according to the university. Russell Carey, Brown University's executive vice president for planning and policy, said the university's goal has always been to preserve the land, while also ensuring Native tribes have access to their historic sites. According to Carey, when the property was donated in 1955, the Haffenreffer family also included a letter noting that they felt "sure that the Trustees of an institution like Brown will not be unmindful of the property’s great natural beauty, its historical background or the best interests of the Bristol community." "Those words remain as true and relevant today as when they were written nearly 70 years ago, and the steps we are taking to preserve the land in perpetuity are, we believe, fully consistent with that vision," Carey said. Raymond "Two Hawks" Watson, executive director of the Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights, described last Friday's transfer as a testament to the Pokanoket tribe's persistence in fighting for their lands. "It's representative of who they are as people," Watson said. "I'm also hoping that this is a wake-up call that it's about that time to start making some reconciliation with some things that happened in the past." Carey added that the university plans to move the Haffenreffer Museum's collections to Providence next fall and expects full vacancy of the facilities by summer 2026. In addition to the 255 acres, Brown also decided to sell around 120 acres separate from the Mount Hope property to the town of Bristol. "The sale of these parcels, which we expect to be finalized early in 2025, to the town of Bristol for preservation and conservation will ensure that no development occurs on them and further protects and buffers the land being placed in the preservation trust," Carey said. In the video below, The Boston Globe's Ed Fitzpatrick joins 12 News at 4 to discuss the land transfer and its impacts. MORE: Globe RI & 12 News Stories Globe RI on BostonGlobe.com » Globe RI & 12 News Partnership: WPRI 12 partners with The Boston Globe Rhode Island to deliver unmatched local news coverage Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW