R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-14.1-4: Application to Indian tribes.

(a) A child custody proceeding that pertains to an Indian child as defined in the “Indian Child Welfare Act,” 25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq., is not subject to this chapter to the extent that it is governed by the “Indian Child Welfare Act.”

(b) A court of this state shall treat a tribe as if it were a state of the United States for the purpose of applying this chapter.

(c) A child custody determination made by a tribe under factual circumstances in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of this chapter must be recognized and enforced under this chapter.