Help from the Native Americans

August 3, 2022
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Pilgrim Life: 3rd Grade Help from the Native Americans

Help From The Native Americans

Unexpected: This journey was not at all what they had thought it to be.

The colonists believed the new world would be a paradise perfect for their future. Earlier explorers described the land as a place with “… a great many cabins and gardens,” filled with pleasant shorelines and successful indigenous communities. Early America was hardly this glamorous. By the time the Pilgrims had set sail for the New World, a horrible disease had spread throughout that area. The illness was caused by a new disease brought to America by the early explorers. The Native Americans had no experience with this new disease, and their bodies were not equipped to fight off the sickness. This disease caused many Native Americans to pass away which resulted in fewer crops, changing the new world for future colonists.

The colonists’ ideas of community were being tested daily. They had to learn to adapt in order to survive in the New World. These challenges; however, presented an opportunity for the colonists.

For the first few months, the colonists slept on the Mayflower while building their houses. The weather was cold, their food supply was low, and life was difficult. Many Pilgrims became sick during this time. Their community was not thriving – yet!

The first year passed quickly for the colonists, but it was a tough year. Despite the difficulties, a church and seven homes were built, with more on the way. The colonists realized they did not know how to provide food for themselves and faced sickness and death.

The Pilgrims did not meet any Native Americans until they had been in America for almost four months. At that time, the Native Americans could tell that the Pilgrims needed help, but they were not sure they could trust them.

In March of 1621, the colonists and the Native Americans signed a treaty or agreement saying they would protect each other’s communities. The treaty between the colonists and the Native Americans was quite simple, stating the following basic rules:

  1. They would not harm one another.
  2. If anything were stolen, it would be returned, possibly with consequences.
  3. No weapons were allowed during meetings.
  4. They would serve as allies in times of war.

The Native Americans wanted to help and they became friends with the Pilgrims. The Native Americans taught the Pilgrims how to grow food in this new land. Soon they had enough food to eat and they were even storing food so no one would go hungry the next winter.

Corn

Beans

Pumpkins

Wheat

Barley

Oats

Peas

Herbs

Lettuce

Spinach

Carrots

Turnips

Native American corn was different from the yellow corn we eat today. It is very colorful and was not eaten straight off the cob. Instead, the corn is dried and pounded into flour or cornmeal for cooking. Native American corn was eaten at almost every meal.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on some of this food knowledge.

  • Do you or anyone you know grow food in a garden?
  • What would it be like if you had to hunt or grow most of the food you ate daily?
  • What is the process of growing crops like?

“My story is both strange and true. I was born in the year the English call 1590. My family were leaders of the Patuxet people and I, too, was raised to lead. But in 1614, I was taken to Spain against my will. Now it is 1621, and I am again in my homeland. My name is Squanto. I would like to tell you my tale.”

– Joseph Bruchac, Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving

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