Beaufort ~ Lunch & Learn: Santa Elena and the Pocahontas Connection

A 45 minute presentation centered upon the Spanish interaction with the American natives who eventually became known as “The Powhatan Confederation” more than forty years before the English arrived on the same site. The presentation defines what and where “Ajacan” was by walking through the story of Paquiquinejo, an Algonquin ruling class member taken to Spain in 1561, his conversion to Catholicism and name change to “Don Luis Valesco”, and subsequent murder of Jesuits within walking distance of where Jamestown would be established.
The “Ajacan Mission” was launched from Santa Elena and included the son of the colony’s tailor. At a minimum, Powhatan Confederation leadership was well versed on European habits and intentions thirty-seven years before Jamestown was founded. At a maximum, Paquiquinejo was Pocahontas’ grandfather. It is more probable that Paquiquinejo was Powhatan’s brother, Opechancanaugh…captor of Captain John Smith in 1607 from which the Pocahontas legend is derived.
Reservations required online at www.santa-elena.org