1622 Panel Discussion
Strategy & Strength:
Commemorating the 1622 Powhatan Offensive
March 22 at Jamestown Settlement
Join members of Virginia’s tribal communities and historical scholars to explore the events of March 22, 1622 when Powhatan warriors, under the leadership of Opechancanough and Opitchapam, organized a widespread coordinated attack on expanding English settlements.
This turning point, as the Powhatan strategically fought back against the English presence in Tsenacommacah, will be examined through a panel discussion hosted at Jamestown Settlement and moderated by Stephen R. Adkins, Chief of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe.
Panelists include:
- Martha W. McCartney, noted historian, author and researcher for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
- Dr. Helen Rountree, cultural anthropologist and Old Dominion University professor emerita
- Martin Saniga, supervisor of the American Indian Initiative at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and citizen of the Sappony Tribe
The panel discussion, followed by an audience Q&A session, will begin at 5 p.m. EST on March 22 for audiences joining both in-person and virtually. Advance online registration for this free community program is required by completing the form below.
The 1622 panel discussion, a project of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Indigenous Peoples Initiative, is supported by private funds from the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Inc.
About Jamestown Settlement
Jamestown Settlement explores the world of America’s first permanent English colony and the Powhatan Indian, English and West Central African cultures that converged in the 17th century. Through comprehensive and immersive indoor exhibits and outdoor living-history experiences, the museum explores life in the Jamestown colony and its first century as Virginia’s capital.
Visitors can learn about the Virginia Indian history and culture in the 17th century through expansive indoor galleries and artifacts, including exhibits that use period objects to examine the myths and realities associated with the life of Pocahontas, incorporate historical research and archeological findings on Werowocomoco (capital of Powhatan, leader of 30-some Algonquian-speaking tribes in coastal Virginia) and share the story of Cockacoeske (recognized as “Queen of the Pamunkey” by the colonial government) and her role in “Bacon’s Rebellion,” which unfolds in a 4D experiential theater. Outdoors, visitors can explore a re-creation of Paspahegh Town, based on the archaeological findings at a nearby site along the James River once inhabited by Paspahegh Indians, the Powhatan tribal group closest to Jamestown, and descriptions and illustrations recorded by English colonists in the 17th century.