Samoset (ca. 1590 – 1653) was the first Native American to make contact with the Pilgrims. On March 16, 1621 the settlers were more than surprised when Samoset strolled straight through the middle of the encampment at Plymouth Colony, greeted them in English, and asked whether they'd any beer for him. He was a member of an Abenaki tribe that resided at that time in Maine. He was a sagamore (subordinate chief) of his tribe and was visiting Chief Massasoit. He had learned his broken English… (More on Samoset)