Rountree, author of two recent scholarly volumes about this tribe. Women, even young ones, were in control of their own bodies among the Powhatans according to Helen C. Whether or not there was more than a friendship is pure speculation. In fact, the Powhatan princess was a mere child, about eleven or twelve years old, when she met Smith who was 27, more than twice her age. For instance, in this version Pocahontas is portrayed as a young adult woman when she met a young John Smith. The basic plan will be to pique the children’s interest with the showing of the Disney film and then begin the process of correcting the inaccuracies. This unit will be used with fifth grade students as part of their study of American history. It will be an interdisciplinary unit encompassing all areas of the curriculum. In my unit of study, I will use this popular movie as well as two other versions as tools for extracting the truth about Pocahontas, the Powhatans and their encounters with the English in 1607. In addition to exaggerating parts of the tale and embellishing the legend of a romance between Pocahontas and John Smith, the setting of this movie is very much unlike the coastal plain of Virginia which the Powhatan people called home.

Walt Disney Studios has recently offered another source of misinformation in the form of the animated filmĭisney has used its “Hollywood” license to convey a collection of misinformation to the American public. As educators, it is our responsibility to try to correct this misinformation by whatever means will accomplish the task. It comes from old movies and cartoons which run constantly on the myriad cable television channels. As a result, the image that most children get of the American Indian is one of a primitive, war-like or simple people. Further, they are not available through the traditional avenues. Many are too sophisticated to hold a child’s interest. Their audience seems to be limited to people with a strong interest in Indian culture or to American Indians themselves.Ĭhildren from the inner city have even less of a chance to see these films. All of these films present an accurate portrayal of Indian life whether it be from a modern or historical perspective, but are rarely seen on television or enjoy significant financial success. (1989) are considered cult films and are not widely known. His is one of the few modern “Indian” movies which has found wide acceptance.

(1990), attempted to show the innocence, foresight and acquiescence of the Sioux in the face of the white man’s encroachment upon their land and their way of life.

In recent years there have been numerous movies which have shown American Indians in a positive light.

The real pocahontas