The Life of Pocahontas

SISTERS AROUND THE WORLD, November 2007, by Rose


Native Americans
Algonquian Natives - Based on the life of Pocahontas


Spring has come to the village in which I live. The grass has finally pushed its way through the snow. The keshowse (sun) is warming the rocks, and birds can be heard singing from where I sit. From the wigwams, I can hear some of the women softly singing while they shake out the furs and heavy pelted clothing that we will store away. I glance back to the village where my father’s longhouse sits. It is true he has many wives and children, but he has told me that I am his favorite daughter. I am too old to feel arrogant towards the others because of that, but his words make me smile.

My father is Powhatan, chief of the Powhatan tribe. He has been pressured to hand over our home by the white men that came to our land. When winter settled over our village they were ill-prepared and we have not seen them since. Our scouts have told us of their troubles. They had no warm clothes and suffered immensely with their pale skins bare to the biting wind. Many had died. I once disobeyed my father in his warnings not to travel near them, for he knows my adventurous spirit. I felt a pull to their need, and with furs, fresh meat and my smiles I had gone to see the curious white man named John Smith whom I had met before the winter.

You may have heard the romantic story of Pocahontas, the young girl who saved the life of Captain John Smith. It is said that she was born in 1595 in  present day Virginia, United States. You might be amazed to know that the romance with John is being questioned as to whether the whole story was just created by the Captain himself, who had also claimed to be rescued by a Turkish princess when he was fighting in Hungary. Pocahontas was captured by settlers and converted to Christianity. She was given a new name, Rebecca, and was married to a fellow settler, John Rolfe. They had a son together. Later, John Rolfe and Pocahontas took a trip to Europe. She was introduced to the King and Queen, and gained much recognition from high society. Sadly, she fell sick on the voyage back to Virginia and died at the young age of 22.

The men of our village are getting their dugout canoes to go out into the sea. They have brought fishing spears, lines, and baskets with them for their catches. We must build up our food supply after the long winter. It is just warm enough for clams and shellfish diving. Children are running around in their loincloths, while young boys are holding their tiny bows and arrows, telling tales of hunting wabozes (rabbits). The women have already begun to prepare the soil for our crops.

Mother Sun shines down on me as someone whispers in my ear, “The morning greets you, my little Matoaka”. I smile, my father is standing beside me.

“Arnakoak tells me that the white men are coming back, it is strange that they are in a hurry to come just as soon as nature permits".

He peers at me sideways to see my reaction. I suck in my breath, and my heart beats faster with anticipation. I remember the day that our scouts brought John Smith to us, wandering with his men. His eyes pleaded with me as a warrior held a club over his head. I threw myself in front of him to stop the blow. I wanted to know this man’s dreams, and those of his people. I will see him today.

We will all wait here for them. A large group of our warriors stand behind us, weapons in hand.

We can hear them before we see them. Soon they break through the forest edge into our village. Twenty of them are here. John stands in front. I can feel the tension in the men behind me and my father, quietly calculating.

John bows, greeting my father with the respect he deserves. Turning to my father, he says in broken Algonquian, “I am glad of your… help this cold season”. My father looks puzzled toward me, and I stare him boldly in the face. His eyes soon accept and his face breaks into a smile. He turns back to the Captain, as they call him, and we begin to talk...

Think of the power in such a young girl to have the courage and guts to venture out into the winter land and bring food to starving settlers, let alone throw herself in front of a club to save a man she barely knows. I sometimes wonder what Pocahontas was thinking when she saved John Smith, despite what everyone says about it being a false romance; I just think its plain darn sweet! And think about living in a wigwam as opposed to our glamorous housing nowadays. Geez, we are lucky! Remember to explore the possibilities and gifts you have around you and connect with your other Sisters Around the World.

~Rose



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