Unit 1: [In class work] The True Story of Pocahontas

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3 questions

Dr. Linwood “Little Bar” Custalow and Angela L. Daniel “Silver Star,” The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History, 2007
The excerpt below is the oral history account of Pocahontas held by the Mattaponi tribe, which was a part of the Powhatan Alliance in Virginia. The histories of the Powhatan people were passed down through oral tradition and weren’t published in writing until 2007. As you read the excerpt, which was written in modern English, consider the way that the oral history account portrays the Native American people in a positive manner. 

Paragraph 1: “Everyone loved Pocahontas for her laughing and joyous nature. Although Wahunsenaca [Powhatan, her father] had other children, he had a special love for Pocahontas, and she, in return, had a special love and respect for her father. All their actions were motivated by their love for each other[…] and for her people. Pocahontas was about ten years old when the English colonists arrived during the spring of 1607. Captain John Smith was twenty-seven years old when he arrived […] He was not an upper class Englishman of high social status. Instead, he was an adventurer.

In what ways does the Disney movie's account differ from the oral history account to the left? Please write in at least two complete sentences, and cite one piece of text evidence.

Paragraph 2: When the English colonists reached the shores of Powhatan land, various Powhatan werowances, or tribal chiefs, sought to entertain them and procure friendly relations and trade […]Rather than going in and destroying English colonists, they wanted to make them allies and part of the Powhatan nation. Many of the Powhatan people were afraid of the English because they used “thunder sticks” to kill them. They had begun to believe that Smith was like a deity (God) because of his gun and sword. When Smith went into any village, he would take four or five armed English colonists with him. They would traumatise the people with their weapons, demanding food. As they left, Smith would throw down a few blue beads, claiming to have “traded” with the Powhatan people. […]

In what ways does the Disney movie's account differ from the oral history account to the left? Please write in at least two complete sentences, and cite one piece of text evidence.

Paragraph 3: Although Smith alleged years later that Pocahontas saved his life during a four-day ceremony in the process of his being made a Powhatan werowance, his life was never in danger. His life did not need saving.Wahunseneca gave Smith his word that Smith would be released. Smith’s fears was either a figment of his own imagination, or an embellishment to dramatize his narrative. Pocahontas would not have been in the ceremony to save him because the priests would not have allowed Pocahontas to be there [as a young girl]. Smith and Pocahontas’ father, Wahunsenaca, pledged their friendship to each other. In Powhatan society, one’s word is one’s bond. A bond is considered sacred. Our people could not conceive of deception because one keeps one’s word. Our people, including Pocahontas, did not perceive deception within Smith; however, it later became clear that he had no intention of honoring this new relationship.

In what ways does the Disney movie's account differ from the oral history account to the left? Please write in at least two complete sentences, and cite one piece of text evidence.