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When discussing daily life of the Native Americans, you might ask your students “What type of homes did they live in? Where did they perform their ceremonies? Were they hunters and gathers or farmers? What crops did they grow? How did they grow their crops? What were the roles of the men, women, and children within the tribe? How did they govern themselves?” The questions are as endless as there are tribes and nations. Unfortunately many children will respond based on the media’s portrayal. Children’s movies such as Pocahontas and Peter Pan and adult movies such as Last of the Mohicans, Little Big Man, The Searchers and Dances with Wolves have presented skewed perspectives of Native Americans and their culture. Fortunately we have artifacts and primary source documents which present a clearer and more accurate view of Indians.

This engraved image is one of many created by Theodor de Bry for Thomas Hariot’s A briefe and truereport of the new found land of Virginia…, (London, England, 1590). This engraving emphasizes the highly organized, structured nature of Algonquin Indian society and the native peoples’ skill in harvesting food from the land. Thomas Hariot was so detailed in his written description that each section was labeled and explained giving future generations an accurate picture of the Towne of Secota.

“THeir townes that are not inclosed with poles aire commonlye fayrer. Then suche as are inclosed, as appereth in this figure which liuelye expresseth the towne of Secotam. For the howses are Scattered heer and ther, and they haue gardein expressed by the letter E. wherin groweth Tobacco which the inhabitants call Vppowoc. They haue also groaues wherin thei take deer, and fields vherin they sowe their corne. In their corne fields they builde as yt weare a scaffolde wher on they sett a cottage like to a rownde chaire, signiffied by F. wherin they place one to watche for there are suche nomber of fowles, and beasts, that vnless they keepe the better watche, they would soone deuoure all their corne. For which cause the watcheman maketh continual cryes and noyse. They sowe their corne with a certaine distance noted by H. otherwise one stalke would choke the grow the of another and the corne would not come vnto his rypeurs G. For the leaves therof are large, like vnto the leaues of great reedes. They haue also a seuerall broade plotte C. whear they meete with their neighbours, to celebrate their cheefe solemne feastes as the 18. picture doth declare: and a place D. whear after they haue ended their feaste they make merrie togither. Ouer against this place they haue a rownd plott B. wher they assemble themselues to make their solemne prayers. Not far from which place ther is a lardge buildinge A. wherin are the tombes of their kings and princes, as will appere by the 22. figure likewise they haue garden notted bey the letter I. wherin they vse to sowe pompions. Also a place marked with K. wherin the make a fyre att their solemne feasts, and hard without the towne a riuer L. from whence they fetche their water. This people therfore voyde of all couetousnes lyue cherfullye and att their harts ease. Butt they solemnise their feasts in the nigt, and therfore they keepe verye great fyres to auoyde darkenes, ant to testifie their loye.”

To see a larger version of the entire print, click on the title at the top of this page. To view details of each section of the town, click near the letters on the image. (NOTE: A hand icon will appear over clickable portions of the image. A total of eleven details can be viewed.)

This article was written by Lori Clock, elementary school teacher, La Mirada, CA.