Hello Everyone!
As we are heading towards the end of November, we all know what this means. Thanksgiving day followed by the Black Friday Shopping after dinner. But the day after thanksgiving is very special for another reason, as it is Native American Heritage day. Did you know that November is the Native American Heritage Month? Well, this month was established to honor and recognize Native Americans as the first people of the United States of America and to celebrate both their cultural heritage and integral importance to our past, our present, and our future. In 2009, President Barack Obama signed “The Native American Heritage Day Resolution” designating the Friday after Thanksgiving as “Native American Heritage Day.” The resolution had unanimous support in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
Native Americans, also known as, Indigenous Americans and other terms, are the indigenous peoples of the United States, except Hawaii and territories of the United States. There are 574 recognized tribes living within the US, about half of which are associated with Indian reservations. The term “American Indian” excludes Native Hawaiians and some Alaskan Natives. Going back in history, in 1492, when famous explorer Christopher Columbus arrived in the USA, he believed that he was in India and therefore called the Native Americans as Indians.
On this special occasion, I want to talk about the great story of Pocahontas(a Native American). As a kid you must have watched Pocahontas on Disney channel or read a book about her. Pocahontas’s story might have been known as a Disney princess as featured in the Disney Pocahontas movie and Wreck It Ralph. Here I am going to share the life story of Pocahontas.
Pocahontas is also known as a mother to this country and her name has been spoken in this country for 400 years. Pocahontas was the daughter of the chief of Powhatan of the Pamunkey tribe. Pocohontas’s real name was ‘Matoaka’ but was later named Pocahontas which means playful one. Pocahontas lived in Jamestown, Virginia where she befriended the British settlers who settled in Jamestown that time. When Pocahontas was 10, the british had arrived at Jamestown. The settlers had not brought a lot of supplies and they did not have any food when the winter came, so they started stealing from the Powhatan. A guy named John Smith had been fighting with Pocohontas’s father, forcing him to join him and his team. His father refused which sparked a fight. With Pocahontas’s fathers approval, she befriended the english as they had stolen and forced the Pocahontas’s people to go on their side. It was an uneasy peace between the two and lots of violence broke out. Six years later, the british kidnapped her and held her for ransom. She was forced to convert into christianity but refused to convert. One day, during a bible study (People still are not sure to this day how they met) Pocahontas met tobacco farmer John Rolfe. John Rolfe confessed his love towards Pocahontas and Pocahontas decided to convert into Christianity under the name of Rebecca. Three days later, she married John. The wedding ushered in what’s known as “The Peace of Pocahontas.” Those years were the calmest period in Jamestown-Powhatan relations. Pocohontas then had a son named Thomas Rolfe in 1615. Several years forward, the Powhatan and the Britishers made up slowly and Pocahontas’s name was told all over the world. Still, the story that would make her really famous was yet to come. It was published by John Smith in 1624.
In March 1617, Pocahontas passed away at a young age of unknown causes. Some say it was pneumonia as there was a bad case of pneumonia back then.
On this day, let’s remember Pocahontas and honor the rich heritage and culture of Native Americans.
Here I end this Blog with some fun facts.
Fun Facts:
- Pocahontas was the Princess of the Powhatan tribe. She is a noble, free-spirited, and highly spiritual young woman, lovingly nicknamed “Little Mischief” by her father.
- Pocahontas was born around 1596. She was a beloved daughter of Wahunsenaca, or Chief Powhatan, a chief who ruled over 30 tribes.
- Pocahontas’s real name was Amonute or Matoaka. Pocahontas, a nickname, meant “playful one.” According to oral accounts, Pocahontas was also her mother’s name.
- Native American history says that Pocahontas’s mother died in childbirth. Her father sent her to be raised by aunts, uncles, and grandparents. She often visited her father and they had a special bond.
- As a child, Pocahontas probably wore little or no clothing, which was customary except during the winter. She learned traditional skills, such as growing and gathering food, weaving baskets, keeping fires lit, and tanning hides.
- Pocahontas was about 11-years-old when she first met the English. John Smith wrote that he was captured during a skirmish. His captors placed his head on a rock and prepared to hit him with a club. Pocahontas rushed in to save him. Native American lore says that Smith was never in danger; the incident with the rock was a preplanned ritual designed to “adopt” Smith into the tribe.
Credits- Google, Brainpop, Wikipedia