Werowocomoco
Watch the short video below to get an introduction into Werowocomoco and the Powhatan Indians
The Powhatan Indians were one of the largest native american groups that made up the Algonquian Indians. Chief Powhatan was the supreme ruler of all the tribes that made up the Powhatan Indians and controlled most of coastal Virginia at the time the English settlers came. His seat of power was located at Werowocomoco.
Look at the map below.
How close was Werowocomoco and Jamestown Settlement? Why was the location of Jamestown to Werowocomoco a positive thing? How was it a negative thing? Recall your previous knowledge on what you have learned about the relationship between the Powhatan Indians and the English colonists.
The English colonists depended on Chief Powhatan and the Powhatan Indians for food and knowledge of the new land. When the relationship with the Powhatan Indians was good the colonists would trade copper, glass beads, metal tools for bushels of corn, game, and various other foods to ensure their survival during the winter months. The English colonists also relied on the Powhatan Indians for information on where to find gold and where to look for the NorthWest water passage.However, when the relationship with the Powhatan Indians were bad the colonists spent most of the time fending off attacks from them. If you were a Powhatan Indian how would you feel about strange, new people living on your land? Would you be scared? Excited? How would not speaking the same language or having the same traditions affect your potential relationship? If you were an English colonist how would you feel about the only people who could help you survive the harsh winter were scared or even hostile towards you? Would you protect yourself just like the colonists did? Eventually the relationship between the Powhatan Indians and the English colonists become so strained that Chief Powhatan moved Werowocomoco further west.
Pocahontas
Pocahontas was the most dear and well-beloved daughter of Chief Powhatan. She originally met the colonists when her father sent her to Jamestown to establish peace and to beg for release of Indian captives in the fort. She eventually grew to become a great friend to Captain John Smith (he had a deep respect for her). Pocahontas eventually married an English Colonist by the name of John Rolfe. This marriage helped forge a peaceful relationship between the English colonists and the Powhatan Indians for 8 years. However, returning from a trip to England Pocahontas passed away from sickness. Below are 2 different pictures of Pocahontas. What are some of the differences? What are some of the similarities? How has the English culture affected Pocahontas?
Pocahontas
Pocahontas was the most dear and well-beloved daughter of Chief Powhatan. She originally met the colonists when her father sent her to Jamestown to establish peace and to beg for release of Indian captives in the fort. She eventually grew to become a great friend to Captain John Smith (he had a deep respect for her). Pocahontas eventually married an English Colonist by the name of John Rolfe. This marriage helped forge a peaceful relationship between the English colonists and the Powhatan Indians for 8 years. However, returning from a trip to England Pocahontas passed away from sickness. Below are 2 different pictures of Pocahontas. What are some of the differences? What are some of the similarities? How has the English culture affected Pocahontas?
Food
The Powhatan Indians ate a variety of food, especially some that were unknown to the English colonists. Their diet included:
Long House
The Powhatan Indians lived in yehakins. These were made from saplings that were bent and then lashed together at the top to form a barrel shape (to form the structure of the house). Woven mats or bark were placed on top of the saplings and space left for an entrance at each end of the house and an open hold at the center of the rood for smoke to get out. Picture of one below.
The Powhatan Indians ate a variety of food, especially some that were unknown to the English colonists. Their diet included:
- Deer
- Turkey
- Fish (Croaker)
- Other game
- Sunflower seeds
- Dried cherries
- Persimmons
- Hominy corn
- Dried pumpkin
- Squash
- Pinto beans
- Mushrooms
- Corn
Long House
The Powhatan Indians lived in yehakins. These were made from saplings that were bent and then lashed together at the top to form a barrel shape (to form the structure of the house). Woven mats or bark were placed on top of the saplings and space left for an entrance at each end of the house and an open hold at the center of the rood for smoke to get out. Picture of one below.
Finally, what can you tell about the culture and everyday life of the Powhatan Indians from the picture below? Discuss your observations with your field trip buddy.
Sources:
Pictures
Picture of Indian Village 1- http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b01980/ (Library of Congress - The Town of Pomeiock)
Chief Powhatan Picture - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Powhatan
Map Picture - Fairfax County Public School, 4th grade, Woodland Indians
Pocahontas Picture 1 - http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3a08570/ (Library of Congress, The wedding of Pocahontas with John Rolfe)
Pocahontas Picture 2 - http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/det.4a26004/ (Library of Congress, Pocahontas)
Picture of Longhouse - https://www.facebook.com/historyisfun/photos/pb.231074090283.-2207520000.1413770123./10154013855735284/?&theater (Facebook, Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center)
Picture of Indian Village 2 - http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/1492.exhibit/full-images/secotan.gif
Video
Werowocomoco: Seat of Power - http://www.historyisfun.org/exhibitions/collections-and-exhibitions/special-exhibitions/werowocomoco/
(can also be seen on youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUhH24SXrLE)
Links
Werowocomoco - http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/05/jamestown/jamestown-standalone (National Geographic)
Chief Powhatan - http://apva.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=180 (Jamestown Rediscovery)
Pocahontas - http://apva.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=182 (Jamestown Rediscovery)
Long House - http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/05/jamestown/jamestown-standalone (National Geographic)
Pictures
Picture of Indian Village 1- http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b01980/ (Library of Congress - The Town of Pomeiock)
Chief Powhatan Picture - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Powhatan
Map Picture - Fairfax County Public School, 4th grade, Woodland Indians
Pocahontas Picture 1 - http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3a08570/ (Library of Congress, The wedding of Pocahontas with John Rolfe)
Pocahontas Picture 2 - http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/det.4a26004/ (Library of Congress, Pocahontas)
Picture of Longhouse - https://www.facebook.com/historyisfun/photos/pb.231074090283.-2207520000.1413770123./10154013855735284/?&theater (Facebook, Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center)
Picture of Indian Village 2 - http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/1492.exhibit/full-images/secotan.gif
Video
Werowocomoco: Seat of Power - http://www.historyisfun.org/exhibitions/collections-and-exhibitions/special-exhibitions/werowocomoco/
(can also be seen on youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUhH24SXrLE)
Links
Werowocomoco - http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/05/jamestown/jamestown-standalone (National Geographic)
Chief Powhatan - http://apva.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=180 (Jamestown Rediscovery)
Pocahontas - http://apva.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=182 (Jamestown Rediscovery)
Long House - http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/05/jamestown/jamestown-standalone (National Geographic)