Pocahontas: The Real History of the Native American Peacemaker

Pocahontas was a Native American woman from the Powhatan-speaking tribe, most famous for her connection to the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter of Powhatan, the powerful chief of Tsenacommacah, a confederation of about 30 Algonquian-speaking tribes in the Tidewater region of Virginia. Powhatan held dominion over a vast territory, which made Pocahontas a figure of significant influence within her own people’s complex political and social systems.

In 1613, during a conflict between the Powhatan Confederacy and the English settlers, Pocahontas was captured by the English. She was held hostage for ransom in an effort to leverage peace negotiations with her father. During her captivity, Pocahontas experienced a profound transformation, converting to Christianity and being baptized with the name Rebecca. Her conversion was seen as an opportunity by the English to showcase their success in "civilizing" the native population.