Listen with your heart; you will understand that Poca is a feminist, native American queen. Pocahontas provides so many deep conversations based on both her Disney portrayal and historically accurate story. In her Disney retelling, she is bold and brave and curious and acutely aware of her surroundings. Pocahontas is level headed throughout the entire movie, juxtaposing every rash male shooting the second he gets nervous. The entire movie we see the way Pocahontas weighs her options and seeks advice to make decisions that benefit the whole situation, not just herself.

She is battling love and racism and war and a literal fight for her homeland and the right for an opinion on all of these things. Pocahontas faces a two-pronged issue the entire movie: the overarching enemy of the British invading and destroying her civilization, and also her father and tribe destroying her right to choose her own path or be viewed as a valuable leader. The men focus on one issue at a time, and she fights multiple issues at once. If that isn’t the ultimate picture of girl power I don’t know what is.

Pocahontas is the first princess that demonstrates the internal battle of choosing self and determining ones morals.

She struggles with the battle of figuring out what it is you truly value and need, all while be surrounded by enormous outside pressures. We see the paths she can follow, and we see her struggle to figure out what she determines is right. The way she never rushes a decision, but seeks a life that rushes her into adventure is amazingly admirable.

She fights, literally, for her ideal life and we should all do the same.

She is selflessly bold in the face on an enemy that threatens her entire lifestyle and home. She realizes the love she wanted was rash and impulsive and beautiful, and ultimately wasn’t what she needed. In that choice she proves a wisdom we should all strive for when faced with similar choices. Pocahontas shows us how to calmly consider every option, and then boldly jump off a cliff to follow it through. She is steadfast, wise, and constantly rushing towards her goal. Just like a river.

To be safe we loose our chance of ever knowing true equality, and that is sad. We must boldly pursue it. We must weigh every option, and never be afraid to choose the right path for ourselves and our own happiness. We should revel in the freedom of that choice, and appreciate everyone along the way that helps us make it. Choosing the right path is not always easy, but Pocahontas shows just how important it is.