The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History

by Linwood Custalow, Angela L. Daniel

The True Story of Pocahontas is the first public publication of the Powhatan perspective that has been maintained and passed down from generation to generation within the Mattaponi Tribe, and the first written history of Pocahontas by her own people.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Native American, Indigenous, Historical, Race

138 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2007

About the author

AKA Dr Linwood "Little Bear" Custalow

Reviews

[Larry Lamar Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Pocahontas as finally told by her own people. (I suggest that the Disney Corporation, in an act of reparation, buy a copy of this book for every school in the United States of America.)

[Gable Roth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. I can see that some of the events may have happened in the way that they portray, but sometimes it seemed a little unbelievable. There is definitely a bias by the authors. When talking about the reasons why Pocahontas might have joined the Christian faith they listed almost every reason except for her actually believing and converting of her own free will... Which to me is a real possibility.

Also, the book was very repetitive. I have found that when people aren't too sure of the truthfulness of their argument they tend to repeat themselves in a futile attempt to be convincing.

However, I think the REAL true story lies somewhere in the middle. I think there are aspects of this book that are true but also aspects of the traditional history that are true as well. Knowing what actually happened hundreds of years ago is difficult.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time reading this book, but I’m so glad I did! I can’t wait to give my ESL students an abridged version of this book to contrast with the more colonizer-lens version of the story we have already read.

First and foremost, I find no reason for the authors of this book to lie. It’s laughable to think the English would have written objective versions of everything that went down when Virginia was colonized. I value so much the work put into sharing this Indigenous perspective on these events.

It was many times heartbreaking to read this, but it was not surprising at all. After all, we can’t look at how the U.S. is now and think this book is all lies. That’s absurd. The consequences of everything that happened in the early years of colonization in the U.S. still have consequences today.

Anyway. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to know more and is willing to see a different perspective on the life of Pocahontas.

[Amy Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

Warning! Readers should be at least 12 years old, and possibly 14+. This story debicts acts of cruelty and sexuality not appropriate for younger readers. This story of Pocahontas is told by a native American, a descendant of her tribe. It's good to get the other side of the story, which does differ quite a bit from the English version. However, I found the author a bit too defensive and hostile about the English version. Just tell me the story, from your point of view, and I can do the comparison on my own. what I really enjoyed was the depiction of the beliefs and customs of the native americans. There was great insight into that, and it just shows that we are all more alike than different in our belief of the divine.

[John Mark King · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this, but found it lacking in essential details...I guess that's what you get when you write down an oral history for the first time in 400 years. Still, it is good to have the Powhatans' perspective, albeit (understandably) limited. Their claims that Pocahontas was repeatedly raped, forced into marriage and then murdered may be true, but there is absolutely no evidence for it.

[Elyrria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading in history class for all schools. I wish I had read this growing up instead of absorbing the Disney and colonialist accounts. The Powhatan people are a very admirable nation, and I am grateful to have been able to learn more about their history. We owe them many thanks for making this information public.

[Cavak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I'll be honest. I wanted to know why Pocahontas is honored by her people, but not through a Wikipedia scan or the fictional John Smith account of events. I knew some things already, but I wanted a fuller retelling. It was only later that I learned of the recent-ish comments during the WWII Navajo vets trip in Washington that brought up her name in the media. So much I can say about that (different tribe, different era, someone going off script again), but onto the book.

True Story of Pocahontas goes into the regrettable brutality and ignorance that all Europeans had towards indigenous people. The more I read, the more I understand why English historians are often hush-hush about this period of history. The settlers were awful bullies and scumbags. And the Disney version is even harder to stomach. I'll always enjoy it for the wonderful animation, but the characters and the story? Ah, no. More so now with the proper context.

Another aspect of the book I enjoyed was learning about the real Powhatan without the glamor of fiction. On this regard, it is somewhat brief but concise enough to gain perspective of their resourceful and peaceful society. At least it is detailed enough to explain why Wahunsenaca did not retaliate with immediate violence that the English settlers so often feared. It only happened after years of deception, exploitation, rape, captivity, slavery, murder, and harassment by the English. I'm not sure if I would have tried diplomacy for so long. My heart goes out to them. Pops up so many "if only"s in my mind too. More history of the Powhatan would have been nice though.

I'm glad that any part of Powhatan oral history was recorded in a format that other generations can understand. It being a historical account only sweetens the experience for me. Since the book is so short and written with simple words, I think this could be shared with children and teenagers too. Recommended reading for anyone who doesn't know what the big deal is about Pocahontas.

[Bungaku Shoujo · Rating 2 out of 5]

People who have never read this book may have seen it referenced in the many Internet articles that purport to finally tell the “true story” of Pocahontas. The main draw of the book is its status as a supposed oral history that reveals many salacious aspects of Pocahontas’ life not found in the English version- in particular, its claims that Pocahontas was raped in captivity and poisoned has gained lots of traction, with some calling Pocahontas the first MMIW.

Despite the credibility that this book has gained on the Internet, and even from Historic Jamestown, some scholars aren’t as sure as they are about it being an authentic oral history. Several books dealing with Pocahontas written after the release of this book (2007, the 400th anniversary of the foundation of Jamestown) prefer not to mention it, or include some of its claims as an “others say” addendum. Some might object that the book has a false premise, as there is no solid proof that Pocahontas was Mattaponi (tribe membership in Powhatan society was matrilineal, and no writer of the time ever mentions Pocahontas’ mother or her tribal affiliation) and other tribes still claim her to this day. To my knowledge, there’s only been one formal criticism of this book by Kevin Miller, who runs the Pocahontas Lives website, and has made debunking this book his crusade. Notably, his article includes testimony from Powhatan people and scholars who doubt the veracity of this book (https://www.pocahontaslives.com/on-cu... ).

Although whether or not many of the events depicted in this book occurred is ultimately unknowable, there is at least one aspect that has been disproven since its publication. Custalow and Daniel cite the Sedgeford Hall Portrait, believed at the time to be a portrait from life of Pocahontas and her son Thomas Rolfe, as evidence of Pocahontas’ pre-marriage rape by Thomas Dale. Several years later, however, the portrait was re-identified based on a Victorian magazine as a portrait of the much more obscure Pe-o-ka, the wife of Seminole chief Osceola, and their son.

This book seems to have encouraged people who otherwise wouldn’t have thought twice about the romanticized Pocahontas legend to reconsider what they thought. In that, this book is commendable. If you’re interested in learning the actual hard evidence of Pocahontas’ life, however, you should probably pick up Camilla Townsend’s Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma instead.

[Catherine Petrini]

Wow. Reading about Pocahontas from the Indian point of view completely changes everything you thought you knew. This book is based on oral traditions handed down from accounts by Pocahontas herself and from her family and friends. Occasionally I thought it moved into speculation. But for the most part, this rings true, and in many ways makes a lot more sense than what we learned in Virginia history class, which paints the English colonists in a much more flattering light.

I already knew that Pocahontas was a Mattaponi Indian; from this book I learned that she was actually half Mattaponi and half Pamunkey. (Both tribes were part of the Powhatan Confederation.) My stepmother is part Pamunkey, so she could actually be related to Pocahontas! Very cool.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting to read the Pocahontas story from a Native stand point. There's alot history leaves out, for example, Native American rules and laws that would have prevented Pocahontas from doing what John Smith claimed she did.

Good read.

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pocahontas is considered the most famous Native American. She was just a young girl when John Smith and others came upon the shores of her home.

She was the daughter of a chief, but Pocahontas has become more than just a historical figure; her story is riddled with myths and legends. 

Movies and books all seem to echo these myths in one way or another.

This book is the true story, told by her own people. It is carefully and lovingly told and does not sugarcoat the atrocities Pocahontas and her tribe faced.

If you want the real story, this is the book to read.

[Emily Lemus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a high school history teacher, I reference this book when discussing early America. It’s so important that balance is added in history. Oral history was their traditional way of keeping history, not rumor or fairy tales. It was a serious task to keep your tribe’s history. Short and to the point, this book challenges (destroys) the Disney narrative with oral history and documented sources.

[Jim Beatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe Marlon Brando will be there by the fire...

[Angell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood boiling and enraging.

The British people were genuinely terrible. It’s so frustrating. I wish this was longer.

[Guinevere Kurtyka · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would say it’s a two and a half because I found it really interesting and I liked learning about the real Pocahontas story but I just don’t think the book was like my thing

[Shannon McNear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book for a more realistic view of Pocahontas than school-aged history offers (or Disney!). From the standpoint of serious historical research, some details are not perfectly consistent, but anyone with a high regard for oral Native history should not overlook this account.

[Glendora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, though not quite what I was expecting. It was less a 400-year-old oral history finally committed to paper, and more a crafted response to the European narrative that has evolved through scholarship and pop culture, some of it very recent.

It would be a stretch to say this account definitively debunks other versions of events, but it's a worthwhile perspective to incorporate into an attempt to grapple with the messiness of a contentious history with repercussions still unfolding today.

One note on the methodology: If I understood correctly, this is oral history as relayed by one man through a series of interviews with the writer/researcher. So in that sense it's a single-source history. I actually think it would be fascinating to do a survey of multiple people who have been tasked with keeping the "Mattaponi sacred oral history" (it didn't say how many people living today would possess this knowledge -- maybe he's the only one of his generation), to understand more about how the tradition lives, is passed along, and evolves, but that was not part of this undertaking.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a written account of the true story of Pocahontas, as told by her people in the oral history of the Mattaponi tribe. The Powhatan, of whom Pocahontas was a celebrated member and whose father was the main chief, are no longer the tribe they once were, but her descendants live on with the Mattaponi tribe.

There is a saying, that history is written by the winners, and for the most part that has been true. I don't think I have heard of another account like this from anywhere else. It is usually only through the persistence of historians that we look back at cultures and people who were destroyed, either by time and/or invaders, and realize they weren't barbarians who were doomed to die off.

I'm a bit shocked by how different the actual happenings of history and what has been passed down in popular culture. In a way I didn't want to think that she had been abused and forced to do things that 'history' credits her with doing out of love, like marrying that English commoner when she was already married and had a child. I also can't believe she died so young. Portraits painted of her make it look as though she had been in England for a lot longer than she actually was.

I really enjoyed learning about the history and customs of the Powhatan and how their hierarchy worked. The repetitive nature of the story didn't bother me too much. In my mind it was like those old Greek tales sans poetry, "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" where they had to repeat everything for the benefit of the listener.

I'm glad I read it. Though general consensus is that John Smith was a lying jerk that not too many people liked, his version is the one most likely to be remembered, so I'm glad they decided to print out what they knew about the events.

[Lisa Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the oral history tradition combined with recorded words makes this a bit difficult to read at times, I appreciate the candor with which it was written to set the record straight. History is generally written by the "winners," meaning conquerors. It is enlightening and worthwhile to also read the stories of those who were oppressed. Cruelty is difficult to understand if we see humanity as one. The settling of Jamestown could have been a very different story had the English and other invaders seen the Native Americans as their equals. That, of course, did not happen. The polite stories we tell children about the relationship between natives and Europeans is a lie. I didn't learn much of the truth until I was in college and I was horrified. The story of Pocahontas is a sad account of the behavior of men, a story of unapologetic greed, and a revelation of the history of rape and murder right here in my home state. It is painful to read because the truth hurts.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. It was interesting to read about the tribe's oral history and their side of the story of Pocahontas, but the writing was poor and dry. It was very redundant and could have been an even shorter book if the author didn't restate what he'd already said so many times. He also comes across as defensive, which is understandable based on the history. But it's still a little off putting as a reader. I found myself turned off of both the English for their cruelty as well as the indian tribes for many of their customs. I'm glad I read it, but it isn't something I'd ever need to read again.

[Kevin J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Readers of this book should be aware that while several of the events in this book are plausible (i.e., could have happened because we don't really know what occurred in that time), this is not actual "history." It's the imagined ideas of two authors, one of whom is not an Indian (even though she uses the Indian name 'Silver Star' to fool readers). Basically, this book is a hoax, with ample provably incorrect information. Read "Meeting in the Middle; Myth-making in 'The True Story of Pocahontas: the Other Side of History'" before you buy this book. That said, some readers will enjoy this book because they prefer the alternative history presented here.

[Sharon Bisaha · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the title suggests, the true story, as passed down amongst the Powhatan Indians, differs from that generally accepted. John Smith wrote up the story to glorify and protect himself and therefore bent the truth. The book is somewhat repetitious mimicking the rhythm of an oral presentation but it is short and interesting.

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was saddened but not surprised by what I read. The "other side" of the story is far more believable than what I was taught as a child.

[Sanaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

EDIT: I just finished the book and have added a paragraph at the end.

I'm about halfway through this book and enjoying it. I actually like the writing style, very true to the way someone might speak. It's pretty to me. I love learning the Indian side of the story, and I'm sure there's a lot of truth in it.

With regards to the English, the authors sort of treat English culture and motives the way some English treated Indian culture - as savages. Fair or not, it's interesting and I think it's a testament to the unprecedented clash of cultures that happened in those early years of colonization.

That said, that bias means that this book isn't any more of a standalone work than English histories on the subject are. You need both and you can begin to coax the truth from this fascinating time. I recommend reading both this and A Savage Kingdom, which does a good job of presenting the English history.

When you combine the two sides, what you get is a picture of two groups of people, neither of whom knew how to best navigate a difficult situation. The English are a diverse group who can't agree on anything (and likely come from opposing factions within the country) and become dependent on the Indians to help them with what they can't do themselves in such an alien environment. To make matters worse, some are lazy, which bothers other Englishmen, their Central European workers and Indians alike. In such an environment, the strongest personalities take control, and in this case it was John Smith (in Plymouth, Miles Standish would take the role). Both groups see the benefits of trade and mutual protection, but over time suspicion and misunderstanding feed on each other, while a few people seek to capitalize on the chaos. This ends in tragedy for all involved.

I appreciate that at the end of the book, the authors specifically acknowledge that there's room for different narratives of history. They've put their side out there (a side primarily gotten from Pocahontas' sister's account while she was in England), and that's very valuable. I appreciate having access to this important oral tradition, a great addition to our current knowledge of Jamestown History.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25 read rounded up.

This is a very quick read that details not only the life of Matoaka, otherwise known as Pocahontas, but the history surrounding her people, the Powhatan. This is the written down version of oral Mattaponi history. For so long another version has been told about her, and this gives the other side, which I choose to believe is the more accurate version.

What this novel does is not only tell the history, but give reasons to debunk claims made from others through “historical records.” Such as with how Native children were raised in Powhatan society and how their world was structured. One point that stood out to me was how Pocahontas (which I will call her since she chose the name for herself after her mother) probably had little interaction with John Smith until she was a bit older, and even then under watchful eye because of her place as the daughter of the most affluent person in all of their tribes. This was because of how children are raised, and helps show that claims made by John Smith of her saving his life were likely false.

There is also so much I learned from this. I thought I had a good understanding of her history, but this showed how much I didn’t know. Like her mother passing and choosing her name, or being her father’s favorite daughter and his role among the Powhatan. Or how the kidnapping actually took place, and the life she was living before then. I also did not know she was murdered, having believed she did sucumb to tuberculosis. Which we know to be untrue because her sister who essentially raised her was there to relay what happened back to their people.

My one complaint would be extreme repetition. So much was repeated, but I felt it was important at times to really set the scene and remind everyone why certain decisions were made or how everything worked. It leaves very little doubt for anyone to go back and pick apart claims because it is laid out precisely and distinctly.

Overall, it was an interesting read and I am going to be recommending highly.

TW:mo colonization, disease, death of parent, war, slavery, starvation, death, kidnapping, gun violence, rape, sexual assault, murder, grief, murder, poisoning, depression.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, why does this book have an MPG of Feminism??

I had a book challenge with a theme set for Pocahontas with the Disney Challenge in the group Hooked on Books. It's a year-long Disney challenge and each section has encouragement to pick retellings and stories involving famous characters - fun. With Pocahontas, though, I absolutely refuse to pick up a romantic retelling as I find the Disney version insulting to the woman who lived and the true story, which was being taken captive, gang-rape, trauma, and early death.

It's not even loosely based on a semi-story. John Smith was an older man and not only was there not a romantic connection, Pocahonta's ended her life young and depressed, taken captive, separated from the children. She was a survivor of her times until the age of 20 but experienced much heartbreak, and her family was destroyed as well from her separation. I don't feel right doing a "retelling for fun" so sought out a non-fiction story that isn't ridiculously long, academically dry, and is available without a small fortune. NOT an easy feat.

I settled on this one as the audiobook is available through Hoopla. There is plenty of opinion in each chapter on the author's views. I didn't mind this so much. It's a good book considering what I was looking for --- and the narration is not horrible considering it is clearly a non-professional. She is young and, while has a good voice, is clear steadily reads text without being a narrator, if this makes sense. Not worth spending money on but worth a borrow on Hoopla.

[Nadine ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lesenswert, besonders für Fans des Disney Klassikers.

***

Jeder kennt die Geschichte der Indianer Prinzessin richtig? Nicht wirklich. Pocahontas ist wohl die hierzulande bekannteste Indianerin. Doch ihr Leben war kurz und grausam.

***

Ich bin in einem neuen (online/Goodreads) Buchclub! Im 'Our Marginalized Relations' lesen wir Bücher über 'Tabu-Themen', Randgruppen, Aussenseiter... Der Buchclub soll alle Beteiligten dazu anstoßen über manches nachzudenken.

Das erste Buch unserer Gruppe war die Geschichte um Pocahontas. Ich war wirklich begeistert als ich das gelesen habe, denn ehrlicherweise wusste ich nichts über die tatsächliche Pocahontas.

***

Bei diesem Buch muss man sich vor Augen führen dass dies das erste Mal ist das der Stamm die Geschichte ihrer Pocahontas erzählt.

Alles zuvor stammt aus der Geschichtsschreibung der Engländer, die zu diesem Zeitpunkt mit Massenmord beschäftigt waren (und nein das ist nicht überspitzt gesagt).

Die Geschichte ihrer Prinzessin wurde von Generation zu Generation weiter gegeben, der Stamm der Powhatans hatte lange kein geschriebenes Wort. Daher waren die Bewahrer der Geschichte sehr um derren Korrektheit bemüht.

***

Pocahontas war ein Kind als die John Smith begegnete, keine Liebe a la Disney. Das Buch berichtet von Vergewaltigung, Mord, Entführung.

Eine erschreckende Lebensgeschichte, die man zuvor nie aus diesem Licht betrachtet hat.

[vilma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve known for a long time that the Disney movie I’ve loved since childhood steers very far from the truth. When the English arrived to the Chesapeak Bay area and the land the Powhatan people lived on, Pocahontas was a child. She wouldn’t have been able to run around on her own or save anyone the way the written history we know has described. I chose Pocahontas and her story as my presentation topic in an American History class, and read this book for that. It provided me with so much information about the society she lived in and what really happened to her. I loved having the pictures and maps to give faces and locations to the people and events. This was also a very quick read and left me wanting to hear more stories by the Mattaponi and other Native groups. I wish I could be able to hear this spoken outloud as it was meant to but the writing style imitates it being spoken and as a reader, I could feel that. I believe there wasn’t anyone outside the tribe who knew Pocahontas better than her own people. It’s time we listen to those who have been passing down her story for hundreds of years and undo our own biases of Pocahontas’ story and what we (Westerners, white people etc.) think when we hear this oral history that isn’t always comfortable for us.

I have such a deep gratitude for the work put into this book and for the fact that we are now able to hear from Native tribes about the events that have been whitewashed and made easy for the majority to digest.

[Alecia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh man, I really, really wanted to like this book, but it was not to be. I listened to the audio, which didn’t help as the reader came across bitchy and exasperated. In the art of rhetoric, those aren’t characteristics that are often compelling.

The text was drawn out in strange places and repetitive. In that way, it read like a high school thesis project (though not a great one).

I can see, too, why others have found some parts of this book “unbelievable” - the author is exceptionally effusive toward one side, to the point of absurdity in some places.

Finally, I intentionally did not refresh myself with the “widely circulated” tales of Pocahontas before picking up this book, and didn’t remember much in the way of specifics. This work is less a stand alone telling, and more a defense or rebuttal against other accounts. I found myself lost often since the author explicitly attempts to discredit or refute various errors that others have made, but she does so in a way that assumes you already know what she’s talking about, not just in terms of perspective but also in terms of specific events. Several times, I just didn’t have enough prior knowledge of understand the course of events or her argument regarding them (besides that others are wrong).

It’s hard to walk away from a topic like this and feel that the message was hindered by the tropes of the telling.

[Krupa]

The intersection of this books content being oral history alongside being about such a prevalent cultural story makes it somewhat divisive, but entirely necessary. The reality is stories like these being told entirely through the written history of the English, who had intensely large incentives to be lying, versus the lack of incentive for lying on the side of Powhatan oral history, makes it incredibly important to seek out other perspectives. This is the perspective of the opposition, the oppressed, and those who would have truly known the story of Pocahontas.

To me the most interesting thing about this story is how sadly unremarkable it is. Pocahontas's story doesn't contain artistry or beauty, it's just a story of how a young girl became a useful tool for the English to maintain appearances and to promote their venture into America. There's no real indication that she was seen as a person at any point throughout the process, in fact her autonomy as a person is stripped in countless ways, from her bodily autonomy, to culture, to time.

This isn't hard to accept. Pocahontas being a real person and not a fictional figure means that she lived a real life, and the life depicted in this book, although sad, is far more real than any of the stories presented in English history. Not every detail has to be correct for the overarching story to feel immutable.