In recent decades, the image of American Indians as the original environmentalists and ecological stewards has become increasingly popular. This thesis examines the role of the EcoIndian image in shaping current tribal resource use in the Narragansett and Mashantucket Pequot Indian nations? This question covers two areas. The first is the congruency between the Indians' behavior and images of themselves; the second, the role it plays in the relationships with non-Indian society. The paper finds that the image of the EcoIndian has deep historical roots and has many meanings in current society both in defining American culture and civilization and in serving as commentary on American interactions with nature. Both the Narragansett and Pequot Tribes exp ress a commitment and connection to the environment that is congruent with the EcoIndian image in various official statements on the environment and environmental protection. Similar ideas are also expressed in the Narragansett Tribe's environmental regulations and assessments.

However, for both Tribes, their actions only partially match their words. The Narragansetts have worked hard to establish many of their own environmental management programs on their lands, and there are very few environmental problems on the reservation. However, the Tribe has proposed to build a large scale gaming facility and has resisted formal environmental review. The Mashantucket Pequots have invested significant financial resources in environmental protection, but have also engaged in high intensity, high impact development. They have also strongly resisted outside regulation and review of their developments.

These issues of environmental regulation and protection are a part of a larger struggle over sovereignty and power; the EcoIndian image has been used as a tool by both sides to justify asserting control and jurisdiction. These uses are examined in a case study on the proposed Narragansett gambling facility. For those opposed to the facility, the EcoIndian has encouraged the idea that Indians should be more environmentally aware in their land use and development patterns, and thus not engage in developments such as casinos. For these people, the image has also been used to show that the Narragansetts are not "real Indians" and thus should not have the rights of a sovereign. On the other hand, the EcoIndian image has also been used by the Narragansetts to show that they are the people responsible for the land, and that they should have the right to govern it as they please. Thus both the use of the image and the environment have become politicized as part of the struggle over sovereignty and environmental regulation on Narragansett and Mashantucket Pequot lands.