A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through some political forums. Whilst going through one specific forum, I found Trump referring to Elizabeth Warren as ‘Pocahontas’. Personally, I thought that Warren had settled it, after releasing a DNA test, proving she was not of native ancestry.
Elizabeth Warren is famously the presidential nominee who wants to get the rich to pay more through a wealth tax, a policy many have ridiculed. So, this begs the question, why doesn’t Trump simply refer to Elizabeth Warren as a “Commie” or something ‘derogatory’ name?
Elizabeth Warren spent almost two decades referring to herself as ‘Native American’. Her claims were based on those of her grandfathers- who claimed that he had “High cheek bones like all the Indians.” Elizabeth Warren has used this on her campaign trail in order to garner more votes.
However, many people, including the chiefs of many Native American tribes, disputed this claim. This got to such a degree, that it was brought up during presidential debates.
It was in one of these debates, where Donald Trump asked Elizabeth Warren to take a DNA test, if it proved that she was of Native American ancestry, he’d “Donate $1 million to your favorite charity!”
After many months debating whether she should, or should not take the test. In the end, she decided to take the test, which proved definitively that she was not of Native American ancestry.
But the damage had already been done. For both Warren and for her presidential campaign. She had alienated many Native American groups, who likely would’ve supported her (although many refused her claims).
Trump began to refer to her as ‘Pocahontas’ in reference to the Disney film of the same name. This too has created tensions, between not only Trump and Warren, but also Elizabeth Warren and many Native American chiefs.
The real Pocahontas
Whilst Trump (and Trump’s supporters) may stand and laugh, pointing fingers, ridiculing Warren, there are real life impacts.
The film Pocahontas was based on the real life of a girl named Matoaka. She was the daughter of a powerful Paramount chief.
For many years, the English and Powhatan had been semi-friendly with one another. Trading with each other for food and weapons, but never quite trusting one another.
In one incident, the Powhatans and the English had a small-level skirmish, which lead to the capture of many English and Powhatans alike. The English saw that they needed to get an important prisoner in which to bargain for food and teh return of English prisoners from their previous raid.
For this, Pocahontas was chosen due to the fact that she was her father’s favorite daughter, but was also no stranger to the English, having interacted with them many times before.
The English came up with a cunning plan that would make it so that they could capture Pocahontas. They would convince some Powhatan client tribes to help them, in exchange for money.
With the chiefs of these client-tribes on side, the English welcomed the Chiefs and Pocahontas on board their ship. They had a large meal and were invited to stay the night (an English custom at the time).
In the morning, the minor chiefs and Pocahontas prepared to leave the ship and return to Powhatan. Whilst the chiefs were allowed to leave, being paid their ‘reward’, Pocahontas was not allowed to disembark. It was at this moment that it was announced that she was an English prisoner.
Whilst in captivity, she was brought to Jamestown, and then on to Henrico (present-day Richmond). At this point, the English informed her father of Pocahontas’ capture and the ransom.
The English’s ransom was for weapons the English had traded with the Indians and English prisoners from their previous skirmish, currently being held by her father.
Whilst in captivity, she was placed in the care of an English reverend who lived in Henrico. Here, she learned all aspects of English life. She learned the English language, culture, and most importantly, religion.
This is where she converted Christianity and baptized and took the name of Rebecca. Whilst she undertook her religious studies, she was introduced to a wealthy plantation owner, John Rolfe, who she later married, taking the name of Elizabeth Rolfe.
It here, where she was taken to England by her new husband, in 1615, after the birth of their son Thomas Rolfe. In 1617, they boarded a ship to return to Virginia. On that journey, Pocahontas died, of either smallpox, pneumonia or possibly dysentery, at the age of only twenty-one.
Why do Elizabeth Warren’s Native American claim hurt so much?
For many, the fact that Elizabeth Warren has the audacity to make a claim like that, is an insult.
Many see her as the quintessential ‘English’ person in the story. They see it as she is using their heritage to her end.
The fact that Elizabeth Warren hasn’t faced the brutalities that the real life Pocahontas did, is quite insulting to many people. Elizabeth warren wasn’t separated from her family when she was only 17, she wasn’t forced to adhere to (at times) drastically different customs or languages, and she certainly wasn’t taken abroad, thousands of miles from where she was born.
But not even that, many people are upset that Elizabeth Warren doesn’t even recognize the horrible statistics surrounding the lives of Native American women.
Due to this, many people have criticized her for not standing up for ‘her people’ as she would’ve put it.
And as for Trump, whilst many Native Americans do not agree with his use of the racial slur, they are thankful for him bringing it up, and forcing her to take a DNA test to prove it.
Some Native Americans have claimed that Trump should’ve thought about using the slur ‘Pocahontas’ to refer to Senator Warren, as it reflects the grim reality that most Native American women, not just Powhatans, face every single day.
Do you believe that Trump was justified calling Elizabeth Warren ‘Pocahontas’? Could he have gone about it differently? Tell me in the comments!