Squanto
In this picture, Squanto is showing the pilgrims how to use fish as fertilizer for the planting and growing corn.
I was interested in finding out more about Squanto because it seems like it would take a lot of courage to start talking with a group of new, white people, when only one other of your kind had talked to them before. Also, it would take a lot of kindness for him to offer to help the Pilgrims survive, because without him, they would probably have died off.
The first thing I found out about Squanto is that he real name is Tisquantum and he is from the Patuxet tribe. Another thing I was curious about was how he had learned English. Apparently he had been captured by a man who replaced John Smith in the colony of Jamestown and had been taken to England where he learned to speak it pretty well. He was then brought back and "released". It's amazing that he would still want to help the new colonists even though the first ones he encountered took him captive.
After a very harsh winter, where over half of the pilgrims died, they met Samoset, who led them to Squanto. Squanto then began to teach them the ways of America. He taught them when to plant corn, because the pilgrims first crop failed. He also taught them how to plant it, using a fish as fertilizer along with the seed and planting on a hill. Later, when the corn was harvested, he taught the women of the colony how to cook the corn. He also taught them to hunt fish and eels. He was a translator between the Native Americans and the colonists when they created a peace treaty that neither of them would attack each other. Along with translating, he helped the colonists trade with the natives as well. Lastly, he guided them on expeditions through the unknown.
Squanto was basically single-handedly responsible for saving the Pilgrim colony from a sure death. This, in turn, also means he was responsible for the very first Thanksgiving. So on Thanksgiving, be sure to give thanks for a very brave, bighearted guy, Squanto.
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