VOLUME 8, ISSUE 2

Top Stories

"John Montour: Life of a Cultural
Go-Between"

In the stories of Indian-white relations in the colonial era, the Indian headmen and the colonial governors are given a prominent role. But in the shadows behind these chiefs and governors were other individuals who were equally essential to the success of the relationship between these two very different peoples. In eighteenth-century documents, they are called interpreters because they literally translated the speeches of each into the language of the other. But they did much more.

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Primary Source of the Month: "Happy While United" Indian Peace Medal

This extremely rare Virginia Indian peace medal was produced by order of Governor Thomas Jefferson in 1780. Matchless in the history of relations between the independent Commonwealth of Virginia and the region's native tribes, the "Happy While United" peace medal was cast in bronze while Jefferson was governor.

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Teaching Strategy: Interpreters/Cultural Go-Betweens

Pocahontas, Squanto, and Sacagawea . . . what do they have in common? The obvious answer is that all three were Native Americans who acted as interpreters between Europeans and various Native American nations. However, these individuals were much more than interpreters. They were cultural go-betweens who took on the difficult and dangerous role of walking between two worlds.

In this lesson, the students will describe the role of an interpreter/cultural go-between. They will gain an understanding that interpreters/go-betweens are necessary for more than languages and still serve an important role today.

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Colonial Williamsburg Teaching Resources for Your Classroom

Colonial Williamsburg offers a variety of quality instructional materials dealing with 18th-century life, including:

• Hands-On History: American Indian Bandolier Bag (object kit)
• Duel in the Wilderness (book)
• The Journal of Major General George Washington (facsimile)

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Teaching News

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Archive Series (DVDs)
Since 1930, Colonial Williamsburg has documented the past in films about its eighteenth-century society and culture. Each DVD reflects the historical research and cultural norms of the year in which it was produced. Through the voices of the restoration, colonial life, and historic trades, the Archive Series speaks from our past to enlighten contemporary audiences.

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Quotation of the Month

"Montour would be of singular use to me here [western Pennsylvania] at this moment, in conversing with the Indians. . . . I make use of all the influence I can to engage them warmly on our side . . . but for want of a better acquaintance with their Customs I am often at a loss how to behave."

—George Washington, letter to Virginia governor Robert Dinwiddie, June 3, 1754.

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