Click here for The New World photo gallery. Click here to see film trailer.

By Sara Whitford

Everyone has seen or heard the story of John Smith, Pocahontas and the Jamestown settlement in one form or another — whether as Disney's animated tale with talking trees and precocious pets, or in antiquated story books that seem more fascinated with the noble "savage" woman, Pocahontas (whose real name was Matoaka)  throwing her half-bare body over a fearful, yet brave, John Smith, in order to save him from her father's death sentence.

It seems no matter how the story has been told thus far, it has always been more focused on satisfying how the storytellers have fantasized about how things might have been rather than really delving into the history and facts surrounding the poignant story.

The lack of factual representation of this story has been partially due to the fact that to this day we can still not be sure of what, if anything, ever really transpired between Smith and Pocahontas. Did this young Powhatan woman save the life of Smith and then end up with a young girl's crush on the man? Or had they never actually met as some historians suggest, and did Smith make the whole thing up to make his own adventure seem more interesting?

The truth is, we'll probably never know all the answers.

One thing the storytellers and filmmakers of the past could have done was made more of an effort to really convey the feeling of life, culture & struggle-- on the part of both the Powhatan people -- as well as the members of the Virginia Company.

The New World, due in theaters November 9th, looks like it might do just that. Based on publicity stills and trailers released thus far, it appears that great lengths have been taken to accurately portray the look and feel of life in early 17th century Virginia. Scenery and costuming was clearly done with John White's paintings in mind and one of the nation's foremost experts on Iroquoian and Algonquian languages, Dr. Blair A. Rudes, was consulted to reconstruct Virginia Algonquian which will be heard on film for the first time in history.

Naturally, the filmmakers will use the John Smith/Pocahontas tale, true or not, as a vehicle to tell the story of the relationship dynamic between the Jamestown colonists and the Powhatan villagers. The fact that this love tale may, or may not be factual is less critical than if the Indian people are portrayed as accurately as possible.

Unfortunately, Hollywood's love affair with the story of western tribes in films such as Dances with Wolves and Geronimo has left a lot to be desired in terms of educating moviegoers on the beauty and diversity of tribes across this land. Never before have contact-period east coast Indians ever been accurately depicted on film.

Granted, the clothes will not be 100% accurate, but what can one expect in this day and age. Bare breasts and naked nether regions are far too distracting for 21st century audiences. The fact that the Indians won't all be on horseback carrying bows and arrows and spears and living in tipis is a huge step forward in depicting our ancestors on film.

Hopefully, everyone will take the time to see this film when it debuts in November. If not in celebration of American Indian Heritage Month, then in celebration of the spirit of Thanksgiving. As indigenous people, we can be thankful that many of us are still here and we are still able to honor the memories of our ancestors and their way of life. Non-natives can be thankful that the Jamestown colony was ultimately a success, because had it not been, they might not be here today.

Despite the tragic losses that the colonial era brought to our people, the most constructive thing we can do in this day and age is to celebrate our forebears and our present-day ability to resurrect old ways and preserve that with which we have been entrusted for many generations. We must teach the history to each new generation-- the good and the bad-- so that we can approach the roads ahead well-prepared and with a reverence for those who went before... and not repeat the mistakes of the past.

Click here to see some beautiful images from The New World.