what were the Indian relationships with the Jamestown colony

The short answer is troubled. The Jamestown colonists had trouble with American Indians from the outset. The colonists were perhaps seen as easy targets: They were unfamiliar with the environment, were struggling to grow crops, and did not have any allies in the region to rely on for help. There was likely ethnic animosity as well. The colonists looked physically different, spoke a strange language, wore strange costumes, and behaved in what was probably seen...

The short answer is troubled. The Jamestown colonists had trouble with American Indians from the outset. The colonists were perhaps seen as easy targets: They were unfamiliar with the environment, were struggling to grow crops, and did not have any allies in the region to rely on for help. There was likely ethnic animosity as well. The colonists looked physically different, spoke a strange language, wore strange costumes, and behaved in what was probably seen as an odd manner. To Indians for whom intermittent tribal warfare was a way of life, this new tribe with exotic tools was probably eyed with both suspicion, curiosity, and envy.

For the colonists, there was probably a similar view, although probably less animosity and more anxiety. They were strangers in a strange land and had to make contact with local tribes. The initial contacts with the Powhatan Indians were violent which likely set the stage for relationships between colonists and Indians for generations to come. Eventually, the colonists reached a peace in 1614 when John Rolfe married Pocahontas, daughter of Indian Chief Powhatan. This alliance maintained a peace for several years but eventually broke down after when the Indians launched an attack in 1622, killing 300-400 colonists. This resulted in increased military operations by the colony against local tribes.

By the 1640s, Jamestown had grown to a sufficient size and was able force the Powhatans to sign peace treaties. This effectively meant that the colonists had become the dominant tribe, so to speak, in the region. Therefore, we can conclude that the relationship between Indians and colonists followed a pattern similar to that followed by many groups around the world. Sadly, it was an uneasy relationship largely marked by violence, shaky peace deals, and mutual antipathy.