The Powhatan Indians were a Native American confederacy in Virginia, known for their conflicts with English colonists and the story of Pocahontas. Chief Powhatan had authority over decisions. Pocahontas’ story is often inaccurately portrayed. They lived in wigwams and longhouses and wore fringed skirts and breech cloths. Today, Powhatan Indians wear modern clothing.
The Powhatan Indians are Native Americans who lived in Virginia centuries ago. These Indians are well known for having had conflicts with the English colonists of the Jamestown colony in the 1600s. Many people are also familiar with these Native Americans because of the stories told about Pocahontas, who was the daughter of Chief Powhatan. Today, some Powhatan Indians still call Virginia their home, while others live in places like New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The name Powhatan means waterfall or falls into a stream of water. Long ago, this Indian confederacy claimed more than 30 different tribes. The most remembered chief of the Powhatan Indians was called Chief Powhatan, although his real name was Wahunsonacock. Interestingly, Chief Powhatan did not lead his people as many Native American chiefs did. He did not meet with village leaders to agree on tribal decisions. Instead, he had the authority to make decisions for the people and the village leaders were supposed to accept and implement his decisions.
While many people are very familiar with the story of Chief Powhatan’s daughter Pocahontas, much of what they know is really inaccurate. Movies and children’s books often depict Pocahontas as being involved in a romance with John Smith, but that’s not true. However, she eventually married a European named John Rolfe. Also, many movies and books depict Pocahontas as older than she actually was when she met John Smith; she was actually 10 or 11 years old. Interestingly, Pocahontas wasn’t even her real name; she was a nickname meaning spoiled child while her real name was Matoaka, which can be translated as having a playful meaning.
While today’s Powhatan Indians typically live in houses and apartments like most people, centuries ago their homes were very different. Rather than living in teepees as some Indians did, they lived in round houses called wigwams while others lived in longhouses, which were long narrow houses covered with bark.
Powhatan Indian women typically dressed in fringed skirts while men wore breech cloths and wore leggings when the weather was colder. Members of both sexes wore earrings, and buckskin moccasins were typically the footwear of choice. These Native Americans commonly wore beaded headbands that had a feather protruding from the back instead of very long headdresses. They often had tattoos and sometimes painted their bodies. Today’s Powhatan Indians usually wear modern-style clothing, although some may also own traditional-style moccasins and headdresses.
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