by Rosetta Taylor

Created on: October 31, 2009   Last Updated: April 29, 2012

When the Pilgrims arrived at Cape Cod in 1620 and went ashore, they were not entering an uninhabited land. They first sighted Native Americans on the third day after their arrival, and the way in which they interacted with them from that point onwards was to shape the future of the colony in many ways. Given the prejudices they brought with them as an inevitable result of their background in 17th century Europe, they managed surprisingly well.

• Mourt's Relation

The best place to look for evidence of the type of interaction the Pilgrims had with Native Americans is within the pages of the journal Mourt's Relation, attributed to the Pilgrims William Bradford and Edward Winslow. It contains descriptions of a peaceful and friendly relationship between the colonists and the Wampanoag tribe. The situation is best summed up in the words of Edward Winslow, in a letter to a friend: 'We entertain them familiarly in our houses, and they as friendly bestowing their venison on us. They are a people without any religion or knowledge of God, yet very trusty, quick of apprehension, ripe-witted, just.'  It is clear that there was no perceived danger or underlying animosity existing between the two very different communities. What is more, Winslow, though he is clearly unaware of the existence of the Native Americans' religion, not only does not condemn them for not being Christians but also finds much in their character to admire.

• 17th century prejudices

The Pilgrims' interactions with Native Americans were fair and enlightened if we take into account the standard mindset and beliefs of the era in which they lived. Some of the attitudes expressed and terminology used by the Pilgrims appear shocking to us now, but it is important to view them in their correct historical context. Using the benefit of hindsight and today's less prejudiced views, it would be easy to condemn terms like 'savage' used frequently by William Bradford and Edward Winslow. The Pilgrims were in fact far more open-minded and tolerant than most of their European contemporaries.

• Massasoit

The Pilgrims' interactions with one particular group of Native Americans were formalized in the very early days of the settlement by a treaty between themselves and Massasoit, grand sachem of the Wampanoag nation. Details of the treaty are listed in Mourt's Relation. The two groups promised not to hurt each other or steal each others' tools. They also promised to support

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