Pocahontas: One Of The Most Famous Native American Women In U.S. History
Public DomainThe only known depiction of Pocahontas that was made during her life. Circa 1616.
For many, the name “Pocahontas” conjures up lighthearted images of animated Disney characters. But Pocahontas was a real Native American woman whose story differs significantly from the famous Disney movie. Indeed, “Pocahontas” wasn’t even her real name.
Born around 1596, Pocahontas was named Amonute. She also had the more private name of Matoaka, and later picked up the nickname Pocahontas, which means “playful one.” The daughter of Chief Powhatan, Pochahontas likely spent her early life learning tasks assigned to Powhatan women.
But everything changed when Pocahontas was 11 years old. Then, in 1607, a group of English people arrived and started to settle in Jamestown. Pocahontas met one of the colonists that year: a man named John Smith.
In the Disney version of her story, Pocahontas falls in love with Smith. In reality, Pocahontas was just a child when she met him. And Smith claimed that he was captured by Pocahontas’s tribe — and feared for his life.
As Smith told it, the Powhatan tribe was about to execute him. But then, Pocahontas saved his life by throwing herself between him and his would-be executioner. However, many historians suspect that Smith misinterpreted what happened. One theory states that the “execution” was actually a tribal ceremony that formalized Smith’s place among the Powhatan.
But Smith’s encounter with the Powhatan did open up relations between the settlers and Native Americans. For a short while, they lived in peace and the Native Americans helped out the settlers by offering them supplies. But then, the settlers started demanding more and more supplies. Amid rising tensions, Smith returned to England for medical care.
After Smith left, Pocahontas continued to interact with the white settlers — though not always by choice. Around 1613, she was kidnapped by a group of English colonists and held for ransom. Since she was Chief Powhatan’s favorite daughter, Pocahontas tragically became a bargaining chip for the English in the midst of their many conflicts with the Powhatan.
During her captivity, she met John Rolfe, who became her husband and later brought her and their son to England. There, Pocahontas was exhibited as evidence of the settlers’ success in “taming” a “savage.” By that point, Pocahontas had converted to Christianity and taken on the name “Rebecca.”
She sadly died on the trip home — leaving no record of her own thoughts and reflections on her tragic, short, and historic life.
After reading about these remarkable Native American women, look through these stunning Native American photos taken by Edward Curtis. Then, learn more about the devastating Native American genocide.
