In 1995, Roy Disney decided to release an animated movie about a Powhatan woman known as "Pocahontas". In answer to a complaint by the Powhatan Nation, he claims the film is "responsible, accurate, and respectful."
Powhatan Nation said disagree. The film distorts history beyond recognition. Their offers to assist Disney with cultural and historical accuracy were rejected.
"Pocahontas" was a nickname, meaning "the naughty one" or "spoiled child". Her real name was Matoaka. The legend is that she saved a heroic John Smith from being clubbed to death by her father in 1607 - she would have been about 10 or 11 at the time. The truth is that Smith's fellow colonists described him as an abrasive, ambitious, self-promoting mercenary soldier.
Her name at birth was Matoaka, which means “flower between two streams,” and according to Mattaponi history was likely given to her because she was born between the two rivers of Mattaponi and Pamunkey (York).
The truth of the matter is that the first time John Smith told the story about this rescue was 17 years after it happened, and it was but one of three reported by the pretentious Smith that he was saved from death by a prominent woman.
Yet in an account Smith wrote after his winter stay with Powhatan's people, he never mentioned such an incident. In fact, the starving adventurer reported he had been kept comfortable and treated in a friendly fashion as an honored guest of Powhatan and Powhatan's brothers. Most scholars think the "Pocahontas incident" would have been highly unlikely, especially since it was part of a longer account used as justification to wage war on Powhatan's Nation.
Euro-Americans must ask themselves why it has been so important to elevate Smith's fibbing to status as a national myth worthy of being recycled again by Disney. Disney even improves upon it by changing Pocahontas from a little girl into a young woman.
The true Pocahontas story has a sad ending. In 1612, at the age of 17, Pocahontas was treacherously taken prisoner by the English while she was on a social visit, and was held hostage at Jamestown for over a year.
During her captivity, a 28-year-old widower named John Rolfe took a "special interest" in the attractive young prisoner. As a condition of her release, she agreed to marry Rolfe, who the world can thank for commercializing tobacco. Thus, in April 1614, Matoaka, also known as "Pocahontas", daughter of Chief Powhatan, became "Rebecca Rolfe". Shortly after, they had a son, whom they named Thomas Rolfe. The descendants of Pocahontas and John Rolfe were known as the "Red Rolfes."
Two years later on the spring of 1616, Rolfe took her to England where the Virginia Company of London used her in their propaganda campaign to support the colony. She was wined and dined and taken to theaters. It was recorded that on one occasion when she encountered John Smith (who was also in London at the time), she was so furious with him that she turned her back to him, hid her face, and went off by herself for several hours. Later, in a second encounter, she called him a liar and showed him the door.
Rolfe, his young wife, and their son set off for Virginia in March of 1617, but "Rebecca" had to be taken off the ship at Gravesend. She died there on March 21, 1617, at the age of 21. She was buried at Gravesend, but the grave was destroyed in a reconstruction of the church. It was only after her death and her fame in London society that Smith found it convenient to invent the yarn that she had rescued him.
History tells the rest. Chief Powhatan died the following spring of 1618. The people of Smith and Rolfe turned upon the people who had shared their resources with them and had shown them friendship. During Pocahontas' generation, Powhatan's people were decimated and dispersed and their lands were taken over. A clear pattern had been set which would soon spread across the American continent.
Source: Powhatan Nation
FACTS
Pocahontas had a Native husband and Native child; never married John Smith
Pocahontas’ Mother, Also Named Pocahontas, Died While Giving Birth to Her
John Smith Came to the Powhatan When Pocahontas Was about 9 or 10
Pocahontas Never Saved the Life of John Smith
Pocahontas Never Defied Her Father to Bring Food to John Smith or Jamestown
Pocahontas Was Kidnapped, Her Husband Was Murdered and She Was Forced to Give Up Her First Child
John Rolfe Married Pocahontas to Create a Native Alliance
Pocahontas Was Brought to England To Raise Money and Was Then Likely Murdered
Powhatan Nation said disagree. The film distorts history beyond recognition. Their offers to assist Disney with cultural and historical accuracy were rejected.
"Pocahontas" was a nickname, meaning "the naughty one" or "spoiled child". Her real name was Matoaka. The legend is that she saved a heroic John Smith from being clubbed to death by her father in 1607 - she would have been about 10 or 11 at the time. The truth is that Smith's fellow colonists described him as an abrasive, ambitious, self-promoting mercenary soldier.
Her name at birth was Matoaka, which means “flower between two streams,” and according to Mattaponi history was likely given to her because she was born between the two rivers of Mattaponi and Pamunkey (York).
The truth of the matter is that the first time John Smith told the story about this rescue was 17 years after it happened, and it was but one of three reported by the pretentious Smith that he was saved from death by a prominent woman.
Yet in an account Smith wrote after his winter stay with Powhatan's people, he never mentioned such an incident. In fact, the starving adventurer reported he had been kept comfortable and treated in a friendly fashion as an honored guest of Powhatan and Powhatan's brothers. Most scholars think the "Pocahontas incident" would have been highly unlikely, especially since it was part of a longer account used as justification to wage war on Powhatan's Nation.
Euro-Americans must ask themselves why it has been so important to elevate Smith's fibbing to status as a national myth worthy of being recycled again by Disney. Disney even improves upon it by changing Pocahontas from a little girl into a young woman.
The true Pocahontas story has a sad ending. In 1612, at the age of 17, Pocahontas was treacherously taken prisoner by the English while she was on a social visit, and was held hostage at Jamestown for over a year.
During her captivity, a 28-year-old widower named John Rolfe took a "special interest" in the attractive young prisoner. As a condition of her release, she agreed to marry Rolfe, who the world can thank for commercializing tobacco. Thus, in April 1614, Matoaka, also known as "Pocahontas", daughter of Chief Powhatan, became "Rebecca Rolfe". Shortly after, they had a son, whom they named Thomas Rolfe. The descendants of Pocahontas and John Rolfe were known as the "Red Rolfes."
Two years later on the spring of 1616, Rolfe took her to England where the Virginia Company of London used her in their propaganda campaign to support the colony. She was wined and dined and taken to theaters. It was recorded that on one occasion when she encountered John Smith (who was also in London at the time), she was so furious with him that she turned her back to him, hid her face, and went off by herself for several hours. Later, in a second encounter, she called him a liar and showed him the door.
Rolfe, his young wife, and their son set off for Virginia in March of 1617, but "Rebecca" had to be taken off the ship at Gravesend. She died there on March 21, 1617, at the age of 21. She was buried at Gravesend, but the grave was destroyed in a reconstruction of the church. It was only after her death and her fame in London society that Smith found it convenient to invent the yarn that she had rescued him.
History tells the rest. Chief Powhatan died the following spring of 1618. The people of Smith and Rolfe turned upon the people who had shared their resources with them and had shown them friendship. During Pocahontas' generation, Powhatan's people were decimated and dispersed and their lands were taken over. A clear pattern had been set which would soon spread across the American continent.
Source: Powhatan Nation
FACTS
Pocahontas had a Native husband and Native child; never married John Smith
Pocahontas’ Mother, Also Named Pocahontas, Died While Giving Birth to Her
John Smith Came to the Powhatan When Pocahontas Was about 9 or 10
Pocahontas Never Saved the Life of John Smith
Pocahontas Never Defied Her Father to Bring Food to John Smith or Jamestown
Pocahontas Was Kidnapped, Her Husband Was Murdered and She Was Forced to Give Up Her First Child
John Rolfe Married Pocahontas to Create a Native Alliance
Pocahontas Was Brought to England To Raise Money and Was Then Likely Murdered
A full-length portrait of Pocahontas, which was done after she traveled overseas to England. Jamestown Museum.
Pocahontas - Gravesend near London
The Baptism of Pocahontas (1840). A copy is on display in the Rotunda of the US Capitol.
I live in King William, Va. The Mattaponi and the Pamunkey use to roam this land. I love it and have great reverence for these facts. Thanks for enlightening me to the truth of this story. I am sure that there are a lot of things that have been said done that were not true accounts.
God bless you each and everyone.
We must remember that this is the past...and...in no way reflects on either the American citizens or the English citizens. History is usually written by the winners and for that matter is usually biased in favor of such. First Americans (which now seems are not the first immigrants on this land), were overwhelmed by Europeans and much was lost not just in life, but in culture and language. One cannot fathom how horrible those times were unless one "...walked a mile in their moccasins." However, there is no one left and no written records of the past in a lot of cases and thus, everyone seeks to tilt the scales in their favor. We will never know the truth of any of this. It is not beyond belief that a White man and a Native woman fell in love just like it is not beyond belief that a White man kidnapped a Native woman. What is important is that we do not look down upon anyone today. We are ALL HUMANS. Our cultures are important to each of us. Our religions are important to each of us. We must not judge our fellow men for things we cannot control from the past. Embrace everyone as if they were your brother...if you needed blood, a Native woman and a White man can both be donors. There is no difference. Wake up look to the future, make it good. Make it honest. Make it peaceful. Aho
The statue of Pocahontas is at Jamestown, VA. I don't know if they have one at Gravesend as well.
There is a statue to the memory of Pocahontas in the grounds of St. George's Church, Gravesend, Kent, UK. It was unveiled in 1975 and is a copy of the statue in Jamestown.
so much of our written history has been distorted. This real truth needs to be told