The Powhatan is a Native American tribe that was historically based in modern-day Virginia in the United States. It is also the name of the chief who lead this federation of tribes. The Powhatan Confederacy, as it was known, comprised around 30 tribes, with Chief Powhatan as its leader during the time of the Jamestown settlement by the English in 1607. The Powhatan people played a significant role in American history, most notably in their interactions with the early English settlers.