Isabella Matossi
American Studies
December 9, 2007
5 Native American Paragraphs
My Native project is on a very famous Indian girl named Pocahontas. In this paragraph I will be talking about the early years of her life as a child and a young girl. Pocahontas was born in 1580 to the chief of her tribe, the Powhatan Indians. Since her father was the chief, she was born an Indian princess. Her real name was Matooka, but was switched to Pocahontas as a nick-name to contradict with her personality as a young, playful girl. She was later given an easily recognizable name as the “Powhatan Peace-Maker.” She was given this name because when she first saw the colonists’ ships approaching on the horizon as a young girl; she did not immediately assume hatred and little understanding to them. She was more interested in learning about them and accepting them. She was one of the only and if only person in her tribe who actually wanted to get to know them and make peace with them. She was interested in them so much, that she fell in love with the captain of their town and ships, Mr. John Smith, at age thirteen. Pocahontas’s story about her and the English colonists became as popular as Sacagawea’s story back in the day. It was so cherished and loved, that Mr. Walt Disney created one of his many masterpieces on it. He created the Disney classic called, “Pocahontas.” This story tells about her and her life with her Indian family and her colonist “friends.” She was one of the famous Indian women who helped create future love an understanding between the Indians and the white people.
Although Pocahontas saw the colonists as her friends, her fellow Indian family did not. All through the hardships of there already complicated lives, they didn’t think that new people could come in and take over there land. They went through a time called “The Starving Time” to get there point across to the colonists. The Indians held full out campaign against the colonists, when they already had only the “Third Supply” to live off of. The “Third Supply”, was all that the colonists had to survive in the “New World” which they had found. The supplies were brought in my ships from England. Pocahontas’s love, Mr. Smith, was replaced as Jamestown leader and became a dangerous man. He was very angry. This made things harder for Pocahontas and John Smith and the colonists. All this made the colonists and the Indians even more segregated. But even with the differences between the two races, Pocahontas was still set on making things right between them. The whole war between the Indians and the English got so out of hand, that the Powhatan Chief tried to kill John Smith. Pocahontas’s own father was not about to give in and make peace with his enemies. In the end, they came to a civil place of companionship with each other. It was all because of Pocahontas.
John Smith as you know took a big part in the story of Pocahontas. It has been said he had died but I personally think that wasn’t true. Mr. John Smith was born in the year of 1565. He left home at the age of sixteen and started his voyages as a volunteer. On his first voyage he was named captain while fighting a battle with the Hungarians, in the Country of Hungry. From then on, he was the captain of the ships sailed from England, and was the “owner” of Jamestown, which was the town that the colonists created when they landed on the land of the Indians, or, the “New World.” He was soon replaced, as you know. But he soon learned the ways of the Indians. Pocahontas showed him a new point of view by teaching him the ways of the Indian and how much everything that the Indians do, and what they are surrounded by, is worth. He soon falls in love with Pocahontas as she did with him. Then, the battle between the two races began. This was the reason he was replaced as the captain, and leader. The colonists didn’t think it was right that he was interacting with a “savage.” The colonists believed that since the Indians were so much different and they lived their lives in an undiscovered way, that they were savages. But all turns out fine, or so we know of.
One more person who was equally important in the story told by the Indians or even you and me, was Pocahontas’s father. The Chief. He was tribe leader of over twenty-eight tribes, and ruled eight. He was probably one of, or even the most successful and popular Indian chief’s ever. He got around as well. It was probably a tradition of the Powhatan’s, but he had 100 wives total in his life time. And for each wife, he had one child. Out of all the children he had, Pocahontas, was always his favorite. He was the one who gave her, her nick-name. He also, along with the Indians and the colonists, did not approve of Pocahontas being with the leader of the there enemy. John Smith. There was more then hatred with just the whole tribe and colony, it was more of the battle of the chief and leader. The Chief had more against John Smith then his whole colony with out even giving him a chance. He was cold-shouldered to Pocahontas as well as her Indian family after they found out about her and Mr. Smith. But, after seeing the love that they two people had for each other, and how Pocahontas had taught him about the way of the Powhatan Indian, he understood. It took a long time though. He learned to accept the colonists as his own people.
All the people who took a great role in Pocahontas’s life have been mentioned. How her father learned to understand, and how John Smith and the colonists learned a new way of living. The way of the Indian. The Indians had a simple way of living, but it could also me complex. Fall, winter, spring, and summer all had there different agendas. Fall, was where they harvested the crops and ate them. Winter, they had food and such saved from fall usually dried, or stored. Spring and summer, were both the planting seasons. In those two seasons, the woman and children both went out every day and planted and took care of there crops and food for the fall and winter. They grew lots of the food we still eat today, such as corn, rice, wheat, beans, and more. And when they were harvested and saved, they had them hung on a big storage rack along with their weapons for easy and fast access. These racks were hung on the walls of the long houses that the Indians cooked in, slept in, and lived in. They even had there indoor fired in them. Altogether the way of the Indian was a very content and happy way of living. I think I could survive living like that way maybe a week. All and all, the story of Pocahontas was one that I love to hear over and over again. I think she is by far the greatest Indian woman to achieve and earn a good solid block in history for her self. She made balance between two completely different types of people, and made them peaceful with each other. She helped change a very worldwide cause. Thanks to her, Indians and white people are friendly and peaceful with each other.
