The word powhatan relates back to the Algonquian speaking tribe of Virginia. Most houses in this tidewater coastal area were conquered by chief Wanhunacock. These houses and this land formed the Powhatan’s tribe. This area had a huge population of 14,000. There were many towns near this area. This area could be defended very easily which was one of the men’s roles. This role for the men was fighting their enemies, they fought with bows and arrows. One of their strategies to beat their enemy was to know the land and how to maneuver it. The traditional outfit of an male Indian gave them good camouflage in some areas. 

Some of the men’s other responsibilities included fishing, hunting, and other manlike activities. Some ways they caught a lot of fish was using nets to catch many fish at one time, or using a spear for bigger fish. If there was an iced over pond they would also ice fish. They used the coastal area to move to better fishing spots if needed. For hunting they would use traps to catch animals like rabbits. Or used a bow and arrow for bigger animals like deer. They helped out for harvests but women also helped on that. Those were some of the men's roles but they also helped out with much more.