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[[File:Sacagaweastatue.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|A bronze statue recognizing Sacagawea.]]__NOTOC__Sacagawea (aka Sacajawea), whose name means "bird woman" in Hidatsa," was a young Shoshone woman integral to the Lewis and Clark expedition. In fact, likely, Lewis and Clark would not have been able to complete their mission without Sacagawea's assistance. She is a common figure in Western history and the subject of countless articles and books.

SacagaweaIn 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France for the paltry sum of $15 million. The 530, whose name means "bird woman" in Hidatsa000," was a young Shoshone woman who was integral to 000 acres of land more than doubled the Lewis United States' size and Clark expeditionseemed to secure Jefferson’s vision for an agrarian republic. In factSoon thereafter, it is likely that Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark would not have been able off to explore this new territory. Specifically, Jefferson wanted to complete their mission without know about the assistance of Sacagawea. She is a common figure Native Americans in Western historythe region, opportunities for trade, and the subject kinds of countless articles minerals and books. Neverthelessresources available to exploit, few of us know much about this remarkable woman, save for and a few details during her trek across the continentwater route that could allow Americans to trade with Asia. Much of what we know about Sacagawea has been filtered through Financially backed by the lens of othersUnited States, Lewis and Clark set off from St. As an indigenous woman who was captured and sold into slavery, her involvement Louis in the Corps of Discovery is likely the only thing that stopped her from being lost to the annals summer of history1804.

====The Lewis and Clark Expedition====In 18031800, President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory when Sacagawea was about 12 years old, she was kidnapped by Hidatsa Indians and taken from France for her homeland, near Idaho, to the paltry sum of $15 million dollarsHidatsa-Mandan villages near present-day Bismarck, North Dakota. The 530Later she was sold as a slave to Toussaint Charbonneau,000,000 acres of land more than doubled a French-Canadian Fur Trader who lived among the size of the United States Indians. Charbonneau held Sacagawea and seemed to secure Jefferson’s vision for an agrarian republicanother Shoshone woman as his wives. Soon thereafter, Jefferson sent Meriwether When Lewis and William Clark off to explore this new territory. Specifically, Jefferson wanted to know about the Native Americans began their expedition in the region, opportunities for trade1804, the kinds of minerals young Sacagawea was approximately 16 years old and resources that were available had just given birth to exploit, and if there was a water route that could allow Americans to trade with Asia. Financially backed by the United States, her first child only months before joining Lewis and Clark set off from St. Louis on their expedition in the summer spring of 18041805.

==Sacagawea==In 1800Around November of 1804, when Sacagawea was about 12 years old, she was kidnapped by Hidatsa Indians Lewis and taken from her homeland, Clark's Corps of Discovery set up camp near Idaho, to the Hidatsa-Fort Mandan villages near present-day Bismark, North Dakota. Later she was sold as a slave to Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian Fur Trader who lived among where they rode out the Indians. Charbonneau held Sacagawea and another Shoshone woman as his wiveswinter. When Lewis and Clark began they set off again for the next leg of their expedition in 1804journey, they brought Charbonneau, the young Sacagawea was approximately 16 years old, and had just given birth to her first child only months before joining Lewis and Clark on their expedition in the spring of 1805infant son, Jean-Baptiste.

Around November Sacagawea and Charbonneau became part of an interpreter team for the Corps of 1804Discovery. Sacagawea spoke Shoshone and Hidatsa, Charbonneau spoke Hidatsa and French, Lewis and Clark's Corps Francois Labiche—one of the members of Discovery set up camp near Fort Mandan where they rode out the winterCorps—spoke French and English. When they set off again for After the next leg long string of their journeyinterpretations, they brought with them CharbonneauLabiche would do the final translation to English. Additionally, Lewis and Clark hoped that Sacagawea, 's Shoshone heritage would help them since the Shoshone people sold horses necessary to cross the Bitterroot Mountains and their infant son, Jean-Baptistecontrolled much of the region.

In tow, with her infant son, Sacagawea and Charbonneau became part an interpreter team for was the only woman accompanying this discovery group's33 permanent members on them over the Corps of Discovery8,000-mile trek. Sacagawea spoke Shoshone and HidatsaHer tasks included digging for roots, collecting edible plants, Charbonneau spoke Hidatsa and Frenchpicking berries, and Francois Labiche—one of surveying the members of the Corps—spoke French and Englishlandscape. She was also incredibly resourceful. After the long string of interpretationsIn one noted incident, Labiche would make the final translation she managed to English. Additionallysave papers, journals, Lewis and Clark hoped that Sacagawea's Shoshone heritage would help them since the Shoshone people sold horses that were necessary to cross the Bitterroot Mountains, supplies when a boat she was in was hit by high wind and also controlled much of the regioncapsized.

With her infant son in tow, Sacagawea was incredibly valuable to the only woman accompanying Corps, not just for her survival skills and ability to negotiate with other Indian groups and maneuver around the 33 permanent members land, but because of what she symbolized. Some of this discovery group on their over 8,000-mile trekthe Native Americans they approached had never seen white people before. Her tasks included digging for rootsStill, collecting edible plants, picking berries, and surveying Clark himself noted that the Indians were inclined to believe they were friends since they saw the landscape. She Corps was also incredibly resourcefultraveling with a native woman and baby. In one noted incident, she managed to save paperstheir cultures, journalswar parties never traveled with women, and supplies when a boat she her presence was enough to soften the Corps of Discovery's image and signify that they came in was hit by high wind and capsizedpeace.

Sacagawea Sacagawea’s opinions were counted equally as the men’s when deciding where to camp or which direction to take, and she was incredibly regarded as a valuable guide—even if, in their journals, the expedition leaders often referred to the her just as “the squaw.” The Corps, not just for her survival skills, and ability returned to negotiate with other Indian groups and maneuver around the land, but because of what Hidatsa-Mandan village in August 1806. Though she symbolized. Some of the Native Americans they approached had never seen white people beforewas so important, but Clark himself noted that the Indians were inclined to believe they were friendly since they saw when the Corps trip was traveling with a native woman and babyover, Sacagawea received nothing. In their culturesOn the other hand, war parties never traveled with womenCharbonneau was given over $500 (about $10, 000 present-day) and her presence was enough to soften the Corps 320 acres of Discovery's image and signify that they came in peaceland.

Sacagawea’s opinions were counted equally as ====Sacagewea's Death and William Clark adopts her Children====Little is known about Sacagawea after the men’s when deciding where expedition. According to campsome accounts, or which direction to takein 1811, and she a traveler was regarded described as looking alone and wearing white women’s clothes. She gave birth to a valuable guide—even ifdaughter about six years after the expedition ended, in their journalsLisette, the expedition leaders often referred to but it is unknown if her just as “the squaw.” The Corps returned to the Hidatsa-Mandan village in August 1806daughter survived infancy. Though she Soon after Lisette was so importantborn, when the trip Sacagawea passed away. She was over, Sacagawea received nothingapproximately 25 years old. William Clark legally adopted Sacagawea’s children about eight months after her death. CharbonneauWe do know that her son, on the other handJean Baptiste, was given over $500 (about $10,000 present day) and 320 acres educated in St. Louis before going off to Europe at the age of land18.

Little is known about Sacagawea after In a letter Clark later wrote to Charbonneau, he reiterated Sacagawea’s significance to the expedition. According Corps of Discovery’s success: “Your woman who accompanied you that long dangerous and fatiguing rout[sic] to some accounts, in 1811 the Pacific Ocean and back disserved[sic] a traveler described as looking alone, greater reward for her attention and wearing white woman’s clothes. She gave birth services on that route than we had in our power to a daughter about six years after the expedition ended, Lisette, but it is not known if offer her daughter survived infancy. Soon after Lisette was born, Sacagawea passed away”<ref>[http://nebraskastudies. She was approximately 25 years oldunl. William Clark legally adopted Sacagawea’s children about eight months after her deathedu/0400/stories/0401_0107. We do know that her sonhtml|The Voyage of Discovery: Sacagawea], Jean Baptiste was educated in St. Louis before going off to Europe at the age University of 18Nebraska, Lincoln.</ref>

In a letter ====Conclusion====The knowledge that William and Clark later wrote gathered with Sacagawea's help paved the way for other explorers and pioneers to Charbonneau, he reiterated Sacagawea’s significance make their way into the region to fulfill their manifest destiny. Perhaps one of the Corps of Discovery’s success: “Your woman who accompanied you greatest ironies is that long dangerous the landscape, flora, and fatiguing rout[sic] to the Pacific Ocean fauna that William and back disserved[sic] a greater reward for her attention Clark described would soon become altered and services on that route than we had extinct. This new migration they enabled also ushered in our power to offer her.”<ref name="The Voyage the displacement of Discovery: Sacagawea">[http://nebraskastudies.unl.edu/0400/frameset_reset.html?http://nebraskastudies.unl.edu/0400/stories/0401_0107.html], University of Nebraska, Lincolncountless indigenous people and significantly transformed the environment.</ref>

The knowledge that William For more information on the Lewis and Clark gathered with the help of Sacagawea paved the way for other explorers and pioneers expedition, feel free to make access their way into the region to fulfill their manifest destinydigitized journals [https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl. Perhaps one edu/ courtesy of the greatest ironies is that the landscape, flora, and fauna that William and Clark described would soon become altered and extinct as this new migration they enabled also ushered in the displacement University of countless indigenous peopleNebraska, and significantly transformed the environment as wellLincoln.]

====Reference====<references/>For more on the Lewis and Clark expedition, feel free to access their digitized journals [https[Category://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/ courtesy of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.Native American History]] [[Category:Wikis]] ==References==