Massasoit

Hello! My name is Massasoit. My name means 'Great Leader.' I was the leader, or sachem, of my people, the Wampanoag. We lived in a beautiful land. Our home had tall trees, clear rivers, and the big, sparkling ocean. I loved my home very much and I always took care of my people.

One day, a big wooden ship came to our shores. New people, who were called Pilgrims, were on the ship. They were not used to our land. They felt cold and they were hungry. I saw that these new people needed help. My good friend Squanto helped me talk with them. We decided to be friends. We promised to help each other and live together in peace. It is always a good thing to be kind to new neighbors.

To celebrate our new friendship and all the good food from the earth, we had a big feast together. We shared lots of yummy food like corn, deer, and fish. Everyone ate together and felt very happy. People now remember this special meal as the first Thanksgiving. I lived a long life, and I always tried to be a peaceful leader for my people. It is important to remember that sharing and being friends can make the world a much better place for everyone.