Opechancanough | A Brief Biography

Summary

Opi Kan Canoe, brother of paramount chief Powhatan, was a significant figure in the Powhatan Confederacy. As a paramount chief himself from 1628 to 1646, he played a crucial role in the early years of Jamestown, notably organizing John Smith's capture in 1608. He led a surprise attack on English settlements in 1622, killing 347 people, and was central to the Powhatan's efforts to reclaim land and assert dominance. Despite facing English retaliation and eventual decline, his strategic acumen and leadership made him a formidable opponent and an enduring symbol of resistance and unity for the Powhatan people.

Takeaways

• 👑 Opie Canoe was the brother of Paramount Chief Powhatan and a significant figure in the Powhatan people's history.
• 🌐 In Powhatan society, power was matrilineally inherited, with Powhatan's eldest brother Opichepam next in line for leadership.
• 🤝 Opie Canoe had a complex relationship with the English, including organizing John Smith's capture and later gifting him a shooting glove.
• 🏰 Paramount Chief Powhatan moved his capital multiple times, eventually settling near Opie Canoe's territory for strategic reasons.
• 📉 Powhatan's power began to decline around 1614, while Opie Canoe's influence grew as he became a unifying figure against English encroachment.
• 🔥 In 1622, Opie Canoe led a surprise attack on English settlements, killing 347 people and temporarily pushing back the English.
• 🥶 A 1623 meeting between Opie Canoe and the English turned deadly when the English poisoned the Powhatan's drinks, an event that further escalated tensions.
• 🏞️ By the 1640s, native populations were in decline due to disease, conflict, and land loss, leading to the disappearance of some tribes.
• 🛡️ In 1644, Opie Canoe, in his 90s, organized a final show of strength against the English, capturing some but ultimately failing to halt their advance.
• ⚰️ Opie Canoe was captured in 1646, made a spectacle in Jamestown, and was eventually killed, marking the end of his resistance.
• 🏛️ The legacy of Opie Canoe is significant for modern tribes as a symbol of strength, courage, and leadership in the face of colonialism.

Q & A

Who was Opitchapam and how was he related to Powhatan?

Opitchapam, also known as Opie Canoe, was the brother of Paramount Chief Powhatan. In Powhatan society, authority passed matrilineally, and Opitchapam was next in line after Powhatan and his eldest brother to potentially inherit the leadership.

How did the order of succession work in Powhatan society?

In Powhatan society, the order of succession was matrilineal, meaning it passed through the mother's line. Paramount Chief Powhatan would be succeeded by his eldest brother, followed by his other brothers, and then by his sisters and their children.

What was Opitchapam's role in the capture of John Smith?

Opitchapam played a significant role in the early Jamestown story by organizing John Smith's capture in 1608 and taking him to Paramount Chief Powhatan, which initiated an interesting relationship between Smith, the English, and the Powhatan people.

Why did Paramount Chief Powhatan move his capital?

Paramount Chief Powhatan moved his capital due to rising tensions with the English and the need to establish himself near a river for easier access by canoe. He first moved from Wakomaco to Oropax in 1609 and then to Matchut near Opitchapam at Youghtin in 1614.

What was the impact of the English expansion on Powhatan's power?

The English expansion efforts around 1614 led to a decline in Paramount Chief Powhatan's power. By 1616, he had withdrawn from public affairs, and his brother Opitchapam's influence began to rise as he was seen as a leader capable of commanding all the people.

What was the significance of the attack on English settlements in 1622?

The attack on English settlements in 1622, led by Opitchapam, was significant as it aimed to assert dominance, reclaim stolen land, and re-establish boundaries. It resulted in the killing of 347 English people and forced the English to retreat to fortified settlements.

How did Opitchapam survive the English poisoning attempt in 1623?

Despite being poisoned and shot during the English's revenge plot in 1623, Opitchapam, along with his brother Apachypham, survived the attack. They were assumed dead by the English but managed to recover.

What was the outcome of the 1644 attack led by Opitchapam?

The 1644 attack led by Opitchapam resulted in the capture of some English captives, but it also led to many groups leaving their lands entirely and moving away. The remaining tribes faced relentless raids by the English.

How did Opitchapam's life end?

Opitchapam was captured by Governor Berkeley in 1646, taken to Jamestown, and thrown in prison where he was made a spectacle. He was eventually shot in the back by a guard and killed.

Why is Opitchapam considered an important figure in history?

Opitchapam is considered important due to his role as a paramount chief and his efforts to unite the tribes under the Powhatan chieftain. His leadership, courage, and strategic abilities make him a significant figure in the history of the Powhatan people and their interactions with the English.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Power Dynamics and Alliances in Powhatan Confederacy

The paragraph delves into the complex power structure of the Powhatan people, highlighting the matrilineal inheritance of leadership. Opie Canoe, brother of paramount chief Powhatan, was a significant figure who held power even before Powhatan's death. The narrative explores the intricate family relationships and the strategic moves made by Opie Canoe, including his role in John Smith's capture and his diplomatic gestures towards the English. It also details the rise of Opie Canoe's influence as Powhatan's power waned, and his efforts to unite the tribes against the encroaching English settlers. The paragraph culminates with the devastating attack on English settlements in 1622, orchestrated by Opie Canoe, which aimed to reclaim land and assert dominance.

05:01

🛡️ Conflict and Survival in Colonial Virginia

This paragraph continues the narrative by detailing the aftermath of the 1622 attack and the subsequent English retaliation. It describes the poisoning of Opie Canoe and other Powhatan leaders during a supposed peace meeting, which further escalated hostilities. Despite the English's attempt to eliminate Opie Canoe, he survives and continues to lead. As the English colonization efforts intensify, the Powhatan people face increasing challenges, including the loss of land and population decline. The paragraph also covers Opie Canoe's final years, his strategic leadership, and the eventual treaty that subjugated the native tribes under English rule. The legacy of Opie Canoe is discussed, emphasizing his importance as a unifying figure and a symbol of resistance against colonial forces.

Keywords

💡Paramount Chief

A paramount chief is the highest-ranking chief in a tribal or chiefdom-based society. In the context of the video, Paramount Chief Powhatan was the leader of the Powhatan people, inheriting power matrilineally from his mother. The script discusses how power dynamics and succession worked within the Powhatan society, with paramount chiefs holding significant influence and authority, as seen in the roles of Powhatan, Opitchapam, and Opi Kan Canoe.

💡Matrilineal Succession

Matrilineal succession is a system where property and titles are passed down through the female line. The script mentions that in Powhatan society, authority passed matrilineally, meaning that Powhatan inherited his position from his mother, and the order of succession would follow the eldest female members of the family before passing to the children of the paramount chief.

💡Opi Kan Canoe

Opi Kan Canoe, also known as Opi Kinkannu, was a paramount chief and brother of Powhatan. The video script describes his strategic role in the Powhatan confederacy, his influence before and after Powhatan's death, and his active involvement in resisting English encroachment. His name change to Mangas Pamunkey signifies his alignment with significant deeds, reflecting the cultural practice of renaming in Powhatan society.

💡Jamestown

Jamestown is a historical settlement in Virginia, established in 1607 by English colonists. It is central to the video's narrative as the site of early interactions and conflicts between the English and the Powhatan people. Key events such as John Smith's capture, organized by Opi Kan Canoe, and the subsequent English-Powhatan relations are deeply tied to the history of Jamestown.

💡John Smith

John Smith was an English explorer and leader of the Jamestown settlement. The script recounts his capture by Opi Kan Canoe and the subsequent relationship he developed with Powhatan, which was marked by both respect and conflict. Smith's interactions with the Powhatan people, including Opi Kan Canoe, are pivotal to understanding the early colonial dynamics in Virginia.

💡Native Resistance

Native resistance refers to the actions taken by indigenous peoples to defend their lands and cultures against colonial encroachment. The video script details how Opi Kan Canoe and other Powhatan leaders organized attacks against the English, such as the one on March 22, 1622, which was a significant act of resistance aimed at reclaiming land and asserting dominance.

💡Powhatan Confederacy

The Powhatan Confederacy was a group of Algonquian-speaking American Indian tribes in the Tidewater region of Virginia. The script discusses the confederacy's leadership, including the paramount chiefs, and how they managed relations with the English settlers. The confederacy's unity and the efforts of leaders like Opi Kan Canoe to maintain it are central to the video's theme of indigenous leadership and resistance.

💡Land Disputes

Land disputes are conflicts that arise over the ownership or use of land. The video script highlights the ongoing land disputes between the Powhatan people and the English settlers, which led to violence and the eventual displacement of the native tribes. The disputes are emblematic of the broader colonial struggle for land and resources.

💡Cultural Practices

Cultural practices refer to the customs, rituals, and traditions of a society. The script mentions the Powhatan practice of renaming as a reflection of significant life events or achievements, such as Opi Kan Canoe's name change to Mangas Pamunkey. These practices provide insight into the cultural values and identity of the Powhatan people.

💡Treaty of 1646

The Treaty of 1646 was an agreement between the English and the remaining native tribes in Virginia, which established boundaries between native and European lands and required special passes for travel across these borders. The script discusses the treaty as a significant event marking the end of major hostilities and the subjugation of the native tribes under English rule.

Highlights

Opie Canoe was the brother of paramount chief Powhatan, who was the leader of the Powhatan people.

In Powhatan society, power passed matrilineally, and Opie Canoe was next in line after Powhatan's eldest brother, Opichepam.

Opie Canoe was referred to as Powhatan's brother, which could imply a full or half brother, or even a mother's younger sister's son.

Opie Canoe was said to be nearly 100 years old at the time of his death, having been paramount chief from around 1628 or 1629 until 1646.

Opie Canoe was considered an influential leader even before Powhatan's death, holding significant power.

He played a crucial role in organizing John Smith's capture in 1608 and introducing him to Powhatan.

Opie Canoe had a good relationship with the English, even sending gifts to John Smith and becoming friends with John Rolfe.

As Powhatan's power declined, Opie Canoe's influence grew, especially after 1614 when English expansion efforts increased.

Opie Canoe prepared for conflict with the English by gathering allies and supplies, and convincing them of the paramount chieftain's weakness.

On March 22nd, 1622, Opie Canoe led a surprise attack on English settlements, killing 347 people and asserting dominance.

The attack in 1622 was aimed at reclaiming land and re-establishing boundaries, and it forced the English to retreat.

In 1623, a meeting was organized to return captives, but the English poisoned the Powhatan's drinks, leading to further conflict.

Opie Canoe survived the poisoning and continued to lead, even after his brother's death and the decline of the Powhatan chiefdom.

By 1634, Opie Canoe had inherited the chiefdom, and relations with the English fluctuated between trade and conflict.

In 1644, Opie Canoe organized another attack on the English, taking captives and demonstrating the remaining strength of the Powhatan tribes.

In 1646, Governor Berkeley captured Opie Canoe, who was near 100 years old, and he was killed in prison.

Opie Canoe's leadership and the 1622 attack were significant in re-solidifying unity among the Powhatan tribes.

His fortitude, strength, and charisma make Opie Canoe an important figure in the history of the Powhatan people and a model of leadership.

Transcripts

[Music]

opie cane canoe was the brother of

paramount chief powhatan who was the

memanetoic or paramount leader of the

powhatan people in synagogue paramount

chief powton had inherited power from

his mother as authority passed

matrilineally in powhatan society the

order of succession would have been

powhatan then his eldest brother

opichepam followed by his other brothers

opi can canoe and kikita

powhatan also had two sisters so they

would have ruled after the brothers and

the eldest sisters children would have

inherited the chieftain not paramount

chief palatin's children

out of this list though only powhatan a

pitcher pam and opie can canoe were

paramount chiefs obi kankanu was

referred to as powaton's brother which

could have been full or half brother and

the word may also have meant a mother's

younger sister's son

their ages were not well documented but

it seems they were of a very close age

at the time of his death opie can canoe

was said to be albeit by an english

account nearly 100 years old he was

paramount chief from around 1628 or 1629

until his death in 1646 but held so much

power that he was seen as an influential

leader even before paramount chief

powhatan died

officially he was ware once of the

yachtinens since their land bordered

monacan land to the west and he had the

strength and skill to hold the western

borders

obi kankanu is part of the jamestown

story from the very beginning in fact he

organized john smith's capture in 1608

and took him to paramount chief powhatan

soon after the capture of john smith

began an interesting relationship

between smith and the english and

paramount chief powhatan and his peoples

on one occasion obi kankanu allegedly

even sent his shooting glove and bracer

to john smith as a gift to show respect

and win his favor

even john rolfe met and became friends

with opie can canoe before rolf and

pocahontas went to england with ralph

indicating in a letter that opie can

canoe loved him even while both sides

were constantly fighting the in-law

relationship was alleged to be a good

one

as the threat of violence at the hands

of the english grew paramount chief

powhatan was forced to move his capital

first he moved it from where wakomaco to

oropax in 1609 and then farther west to

match it near obi-ken canoe at yachting

in 1614

with tensions rising it made sense for

paramount chief powerton to move closer

to his strongest brother but also to

establish himself near a river where his

people could still reach him by canoe

during sir thomas dale's time at

jamestown around 1614 over the following

two years is when paramount chief

powerton's power started to decline and

ob can canoes rose

when the english amplified their

expansion efforts around 1614 powhatan

no longer had interest or ability to

fight against them but opie can canoe

did he appeared suddenly in the records

of 1614 as a man who quote hath already

the command of all the people unquote

many people had become willing to fight

against the encroaching english and obi

kinkano had made many allies in his

travels

by 1616 powerton had withdrawn almost

entirely from public affairs during a

time when his people were being pushed

off their land and his brothers and

counselors opinions differed on how to

handle the english problem

this uncontrolled expansion by the

english from 1614 to 1618 had come to a

peak poutine spent his last months

before his death in april 1618 touring

his territories and putting on an

affable face to the english

after powhatan died obi kankanu started

putting his plan into effect that being

said even if powhatan had lived opi can

canoe would have probably still

organized his allies to attack the

english

in the years leading up to the attack ob

can canoe prepared physically by

gathering allies and supplies but also

psychologically by convincing the

english that the paramount chieftain was

weakening and they barely had enough

food to survive thus lowering the

english's guard

powhatan men changed their names

sometimes multiple times in their lives

in symbolic alignment with great deeds

they had performed although they were

rarely called by these names in later

records opicipam changed his name to

sosofan and obi king can you change his

name to manga piecemen before the events

of 1622.

on march 22nd 1622 opi can canoe's

careful planning was put into effect

kanuna's allies caught the english by

surprise when they launched an attack on

some of the english settlements

including henricus and martin's hundred

killing a total of

347 people an estimated quarter of the

english population of virginia at the

time

the goal was to assert dominance reclaim

stolen land and re-establish boundaries

the attack was devastating to the

english who did indeed pull back into

fortified settlements closer to the

coast and began plotting revenge

opipan and obi kankanu took captives

during the attack the men were killed

and the women were integrated into

powhatan society as was customary during

1623 a pecha pam in the english

organized a meeting where the captives

would be returned apachepam hosted the

meeting and organized a feast

unbeknownst to those in attendance

including opi can canoe the english

poisoned the powhatan's drinks as the

poison took effect the english rushed to

their boats fired upon the poisoned

powhatan people killing several dozen

and returned long enough to cut off

quote parts of their heads unquote

before leaving opi can canoe had been

the focus of the attack being both

poisoned and shot and assumed dead by

the english but remarkably both he and

apichypham survived

the records after 1624 become even

sparser than before hostilities

continued for several years but as

supplies to conduct raids on poutine

towns became increasingly limited and as

morale amongst the poutine people

declined conflict began to wane

during this time apachepam died and opi

can canoe inherited the chiefdom by 1634

the two groups were reportedly on fair

terms with trade and fighting still

occasionally occurring as more europeans

arrived native groups lost more land and

their populations dropped at an alarming

rate and many tribes disappeared

entirely from the written record

by the 1640s opi can canoe was somewhere

in his 90s and although he had

physically declined his intellectual and

strategic abilities were as strong as

ever while england was in the midst of a

civil war he organized one final grand

show strength against the invaders who

were destroying his world with the help

of the remaining tribes in the chiefdom

they attacked on april 18 1644. they

again took captives but unlike 1622

after this attack many of the groups

left their lands entirely and moved away

the few that remained like the monkey

chickahominy and nansemonds were

constantly and relentlessly raided by

the english in the summer of 1646

governor berkeley led an attack on the

pa monkey and captured obi-can canoe now

near the age of 100 taking him to

jamestown and throwing him in prison

where he was made a spectacle

while in prison a guard shot him in the

back killing him by the fall nakota once

who would be the last paramount chief

was the new leader of the palatine

people and he agreed to a treaty that

made all native peoples of virginia

including groups not under nakota wants

his leadership like the rappahannocks

subjects of the king of england and

divided virginia into native and

european land forbidding travel across

this border without possession of a

special pass obtained at an

english-controlled border fort

in some ways opi king canoe played a

bigger role in the jamestown story than

powhatan yet he is rarely discussed in

history so why is opi can canoe so

important

opi kenkanu isn't going to be just

important because of his role as the

paramount chief of the tribes that make

up the palatine chieftain he's also

going to be important because of this 22

attack uh on the english through this he

is re-solidifying that unity in the

palatine chieftain uh bringing those

people back together after they've been

dealing with english attacks and

trying to have been for themselves for

quite a bit

and with that he is successful in his

short-term goals of trying to push the

english back unfortunately because of

the strong foothold that the english

already have here

he's unsuccessful in achieving those

long-term goals

in a modern setting he's going to be

important uh for our tribes here today

because of the fortitude the strength

courage and all the other great

personality traits that he possesses

these are all going to make him a very

charismatic and strong leader for the

chieftain and is what's going to make

him a great example of leadership for

pilots and society even today

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