Who was first native peoples that English met in Virginia belonged to what language group?

The first Native peoples that the English encountered in Virginia were primarily the Powhatan Confederacy, which belonged to the Algonquian language group. This confederacy included various tribes, such as the Powhatans, Chickahominies, and others, who spoke dialects of Algonquian. The interactions between these Native Americans and English settlers, such as those at Jamestown in 1607, were significant in shaping early colonial relationships and conflicts.