Captain John Smith illustrated a 17th-century native chief on his 1612 map of the Chesapeake region. Much of what we learn about the indigenous people comes from European writers.

The Indians of the Chesapeake region played a major role in Captain John Smith’s 1607-09 voyages. Everywhere Smith went, he met native men and women who welcomed, guided, and fed him as well as traded with him and helped him survive. He also met Indians who attacked him for trespassing and who tried to drive the English intruders away.

Diplomatic alliances between Captain John Smith and Indian leaders such as Powhatan were key to the survival of Jamestown. These alliances were complicated on both sides by the completely different cultures and worldviews of the Indians and the English.

Thanks to Captain John Smith’s journals, we have a fairly good – but one-sided – record of the native Chesapeake people at a particular moment in time. But his journals do not tell the whole story.

American Indians of the Chesapeake have a history of at least 10,000 years and a continuing presence that is characterized by diversity, rich cultural traditions, and an ongoing relationship with Chesapeake Bay.

Learn More about the American Indians of the Chesapeake

Consider the different Indian and English worldviews.

Read about:

• Pre-Contact
• American Indians and Smith
• American Indians and the Bay
• American Indian Tribes and Cultures
• American Indian Tribes Today