Squanto

So, I chose to research Squanto because he sounded like an interesting person...but mostly because I like his name(:  When I did research him, though, I found out that he was one of the only Native Americans that could speak the English language.  That made him one of the only ones who could communicate with the Pilgrims.  He could speak their language because he had previously traveled to England and learned their language.  He was also one of the older men of the community, which means he was very wise also.  He was a Patuxet Indian.  He was born in a vilage which used to be located near the site of the New Plymouth.  He had several encounters with white men/pilgrims when he was growing up.  He spent alot of time with them, during which he learned their language and helped them make deals and communicate with other Indians.  The pilgrims treated him well and even gave him clothes to wear.  They invited him to travel back to England once when they were ready to leave.  He accepted and went to live with members of the crew.  Unfortunatly Squanto got homesick, so Captain John Smith arranged for another voyage.  On the way, he was accidently sold into slavery in Spain, but luckily he fell into the right hands and was taken care of.  He eventually made his way back to America, though.  Back in America, he was a big help to Pilgrims.  He built them houses and taught them how to hunt and cook.  He died of a fever in 1622, but without him most of the Pilgrims would not have survived and the story would have ended very differently. 

Pocahontas

This is a picture of Walt Disney's version of Pocahontas.  In the Disney movie, Pocahontas is a beautiful young woman who meets John Smith and falls in love with him.  Her father sees that they are in love and accepts John Smith.  Then in the end, they all live happily ever after.  The real Pocahontas, on the other hand, was a young girl.  She was barely a teenager.  Her father and the others want to kill John Smith, but Pocahontas convinces him not to.  Her father ends up adopting him, and later John Smith and Pocahontas develop a relationship.  Some parts of the Disney movie have facts behind them, but most of it is fiction and just a kids movie.  I love the Disney version of Pocahontas, and i want to believe that they all lived happily ever after...but they didn't.  I am still going to go with the Disney version. [=

native american cultures

So after reading all these stories about native americans, I find it kind of hard to believe that we are so similar. Did we steal ideas from them? Becasue clearly there was definatly some relations throughout them.  I found it really interesting that their constitution had so many rituals.  I always pictured native americans to be the culture that sits around a fire and tells stories and dances (no offense).  But apperently they had a written constitution, and their lives were based on more than just dancing around a campfire.  I kind of wish that I could visit one of their meetings or story-tellings. Just to see what it would be like.... But then again, I'm sure they think the same about us...

heyyy(: