The Powhatan people (/ˌpaʊhəˈtæn, ˈhætən/) are Native Americans who belong to member tribes of the Powhatan Confederacy, or Tsenacommacah. In 1608, An estimated 14,000 to 21,000 Powatan people lived in Eastern Virginia when English colonists established Jamestown.

They are Algonquian peoples whose historic territories were in eastern Virginia. Their Powhatan language is an Eastern Algonquian language, also known as Virginia Algonquian.

(Above, left) By the mid 17th century English colonists were desperate for labor to develop the land. Almost half of the Europe European immigrants to Virginia arrived as indentured servants. As settlement continued the colonists imported growing numbers of enslaved Africans for labor, and by 1700 the colonies had about 6,000 enslaved Africans. (Above, center) Captain John Smith had discovered the Colony of Virginia for Queen Elizabeth in 1607 and Captain Christopher Newport (above, right) led the first Colonial exploration party up the James River. 

Pocahontas is credited with saving the life of John Smith and eventually married John Rolfe before going to England where she met up again with Smith.