 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 3,850 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| EasternVirginia, Barby | |
| Languages | |
| Historically Powhatan, in modern context,English | |
| Religion | |
| Native (indigenous),Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Pamlico, Nanticoke,Lenape,Massachusett, and other Algonquian peoples |
ThePowhatan people (/ˌpaʊhəˈtæn, ˈhætən/; also spelledPowatan, also known asVirginia Algonquians) are aNative American group historically from easternVirginia. They were part of thePowhatan Confederacy orTsenacommacah. The confederacy was made of 30 tribes. They are part of theNortheastern Woodlands culture. Their language is part of theAlgonquian language family. Famous people are the chiefPowhatan and his daughterPocahontas. The Powhatans had conflicts with the people of theJamestown, Virginia settlement. TheUS government and Virginia recognize several Powhatan tribes.
The Powhatan Confederacy was made up of about 30 tribes:
Accohanock, Accomac, Cantaunkack, Chepecho, Chesapeake, Chiskiak, Cuttawomans, Kecoughtan, Kiskiack, Mattehatique, Moraughtacund, Mummapacune, Nantaughtacunds, Onaumanients, Opiscopank, Orapaks, Paraconos, Paspahegh, Pataunck, Piankatank, Pissasecs, Portobaccoes, Powchyicks, Quiyoughcohannock, Secacawone, Shamapa, Tappahannocks, Tauxenent, Totas-Chees, Warraskoyack, Werowocomoco, Westmoreland County Appomatux, & Wicocomoco[1]
Wahunsenacawh or Powhatan was a famous chief of The Powhatan people. He created thePowhatan Confederacy. The first six tribes included the Powhatan (proper), the Arrohateck, the Appamattuck, the Pamunkey, the Mattaponi, and the Chiskiack. His daughter was the well-knownPocahontas. The Powhatan is also the highest chief. Theweroance (leader, commander) was below The Powhatan. The Powhatan people called their landTsenacommacah ("densely inhabited Land").[2]
The British first settled inJamestown, Virginia in 1607. They were with Captain Christopher Newport. There was conflict right away. John Smith was the first English colonist to see Powhatan. He was a captive of the Powhatan people. According to Smith,Pocahontas saved him. Colonists needed the Powhatans as allies. The colonists needed the Powhtatan for survival and to know the lands.[3]
Natives attacked the Jamestown settlement several times.[4] Conflicts with the colonists included the Anglo–Powhatan Wars (1622-1646). There were three stages to war. Wahunsenacawh died in 1618. With the new chiefOpchanacanough, there were more conflicts with colonists. The third and last Powhatan War ended in 1646.Opchanacanough was captured and the Powhatan Confederacy fell.[5]
Many Powhatans died from war and Europeandiseases. They were not immune to these diseases. Virginia colonists gotblack slaves. Slaves that escaped often joined the Powhatans. AfterBacon's Rebellion, colonists also enslaved Native Americans.[6][7]
In the 20th century, Walter Plecker tried to get rid of all Virginian Indian records. All state documents of American Indians in Virginia were lost. Some have called this a "paper genocide".[8]
Today, Virginia recognizes eight tribes from the Powhatan people.[9] The Mattaponi and Pamunkey are the only original tribes from the 17th century. Some Powhatans have moved toNew Jersey andDelaware.[10] At first, the US Government did not recognize any tribes. In 2018, the Chickahominy, the Eastern Chickahominy, the Upper Mattaponi, the Rappahannock, the Monacan, and the Nansemond tribes got federal recognition.[11]
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