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Pocahontas
Myth
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."
We
of the Powhatan Nation disagree. The film distorts
history beyond recognition. Our offers to assist Disney
with cultural and historical accuracy were rejected.
Our efforts urging him to reconsider his misguided
mission were spurred.
"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.
Of
all of Powhatan's children, only "Pocahontas" is known,
primarily because she became the hero of Euro-Americans
as the "good Indian", one who saved the life of a
white man. Not only is the "good Indian/bad Indian
theme" inevitably given new life by Disney, but the
history, as recorded by the English themselves, is
badly falsified in the name of "entertainment".
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.
by
Chief Roy Crazy Horse, from the Powhatan Renape Nation
Site
for
more information, please visite the site: Powhatan
Renape Nation
The
Powhatan Renape Nation, an American Indian Nation
located at the Rankokus Indian Reservation in Westampton
Township, Burlington County, New Jersey.
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