| The Maya Connection |
The Powhatan people told early chroniclers that men from the "far south" had come
up to Tsenacomacah (Virginia), and then they intermarried with local indigenous
women. There are different theories about how this "migration myth" started. Some
historians believe that the "men from the far south" tale had been influenced by the
story of the abduction of a young Powhatan boy, who had been captured by the
Spanish in 1560. The youth had been taken to Mexico and Spain, where he was
christened, given a new name, and educated by Dominicans. After ten years away
from his home in Tsenacomacah, he returned with Dominicans who wanted to set up
a mission in the "New World". He may have been considered to be a Maya Indian by
the Virginia Indians, due to his new language and bearing.
The plans to establish a mission among the Indians were thwarted when the Indian
"convert" took his leave of the mission, supposedly under the ruse of visiting his
family. He returned with a war party. The warriors promptly killed all of the Spanish
missionaries, with the exception of a young altar boy. Two years later, another
Spanish ship returned to mark the progress of the mission. They were surprised to
see no sign of the priests, yet Indians were wearing bits and pieces of clerical
clothing. The young altar boy told the Spanish soldiers what had happened to the
missionaries. Local Indians were seized and executed for the actions of some of
their countrymen. After their attempt to establish a mission failed, the Spanish
decided to leave Virginia for good, and were later followed by the English.
In Jack D. Forbes' book "The American Discovery of Europe" (p. 77) published in
2007, the author (who has Powhatan ancestry) provided ample proof of the
extensive sea travels of large Maya trading canoes that plied the Central and North
American coastline.
"... when the English invaded Virginia in 1607 they learned of rumors to the effect that several
Powhatan leaders were of Mesoamerican origin (Wahunsonakak and Opechkankano): they had
come from "New Spain."
He also provided evidence of pre-columbian travels and colonization of peoples
from South America to North America. Another possibility of a Maya connection can
be found in the mythological Maya mentor of scribes- the "Pawhutun". The name
seems very similar to "Powhatan".
Recent Maya archaeological discoveries in tombs found in Mexico have revealed
full-color murals of scenes that depict the "Pawhutun" directing scribes in their acts
of writing. Writing was very important to the ancient Maya, since their rulers and
priests needed writing to conduct and record the authority of church and state. The
Pauahtun brothers are the holders of the heavens whom God placed in the four
quarters to hold up the sky when he created the world. They are also illustrated as
four glyphs of the cardinal points Chac-pauahtun (red, associated with the east),
Sac-pauahtun (white, associated with the north), Ek-pauahtun (black, associated
with the west) and Kan-pauahtun (yellow, associated with the south). Each had a
stone stela called an Acantun.
up to Tsenacomacah (Virginia), and then they intermarried with local indigenous
women. There are different theories about how this "migration myth" started. Some
historians believe that the "men from the far south" tale had been influenced by the
story of the abduction of a young Powhatan boy, who had been captured by the
Spanish in 1560. The youth had been taken to Mexico and Spain, where he was
christened, given a new name, and educated by Dominicans. After ten years away
from his home in Tsenacomacah, he returned with Dominicans who wanted to set up
a mission in the "New World". He may have been considered to be a Maya Indian by
the Virginia Indians, due to his new language and bearing.
The plans to establish a mission among the Indians were thwarted when the Indian
"convert" took his leave of the mission, supposedly under the ruse of visiting his
family. He returned with a war party. The warriors promptly killed all of the Spanish
missionaries, with the exception of a young altar boy. Two years later, another
Spanish ship returned to mark the progress of the mission. They were surprised to
see no sign of the priests, yet Indians were wearing bits and pieces of clerical
clothing. The young altar boy told the Spanish soldiers what had happened to the
missionaries. Local Indians were seized and executed for the actions of some of
their countrymen. After their attempt to establish a mission failed, the Spanish
decided to leave Virginia for good, and were later followed by the English.
In Jack D. Forbes' book "The American Discovery of Europe" (p. 77) published in
2007, the author (who has Powhatan ancestry) provided ample proof of the
extensive sea travels of large Maya trading canoes that plied the Central and North
American coastline.
"... when the English invaded Virginia in 1607 they learned of rumors to the effect that several
Powhatan leaders were of Mesoamerican origin (Wahunsonakak and Opechkankano): they had
come from "New Spain."
He also provided evidence of pre-columbian travels and colonization of peoples
from South America to North America. Another possibility of a Maya connection can
be found in the mythological Maya mentor of scribes- the "Pawhutun". The name
seems very similar to "Powhatan".
Recent Maya archaeological discoveries in tombs found in Mexico have revealed
full-color murals of scenes that depict the "Pawhutun" directing scribes in their acts
of writing. Writing was very important to the ancient Maya, since their rulers and
priests needed writing to conduct and record the authority of church and state. The
Pauahtun brothers are the holders of the heavens whom God placed in the four
quarters to hold up the sky when he created the world. They are also illustrated as
four glyphs of the cardinal points Chac-pauahtun (red, associated with the east),
Sac-pauahtun (white, associated with the north), Ek-pauahtun (black, associated
with the west) and Kan-pauahtun (yellow, associated with the south). Each had a
stone stela called an Acantun.
to the Powhatan people
Powhatan Museum
of Indigenous Arts and Culture
Copyrighted 2007 by Auld/Powhatan