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Biography: Life of Sacagawea
Born 1788 ?, Died 1812
Sacagawea, the Indian squaw who provided a valuable service as an interpreter for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was born about 1788 in the region that is now Idaho. Sacagawea, the daughter of a Shoshone chief, was captured by Hidatsa Indians when she was about 12 years old. She was taken by the Hidatsa to their village in what is today North Dakota. There Sacagawea was purchased by Toussaint Charbonneau, who took her and another captive as his wives.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark spent the winter of 1804-1805 at Fort Mandan, which they built on a site near current Stanton, North Dakota. Here they hired Charbonneau as an interpreter with the understanding that his Shoshone wife would accompany them as a part of the team of interpreters. On February 11, 1805 Sacagawea gave birth to her son Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau. The boy, who was called “Pomp” or “Pompy” by Clark, was carried on Sacagawea’s back during the exploration. Lewis and Clark believed that Sacagawea and her baby would help to protect the Expedition from Indian attacks because war parties would not travel with a woman and child.
Sacagawea not only acted as an interpreter but also collected edible roots, wild plants and berries to supplement their diet. Although it was not her main contribution, on occasion she also pointed out possible routes. On May 14, 1805, Sacagawea saved valuable instruments, supplies and most importantly Clark’s journal which documented the new territory when a boat capsized in the Missouri River.
In August 1805 the Expedition left the Missouri River. They came upon a band of Shoshones from whom they wanted to purchase horses to use in crossing the Rocky Mountains. When Sacagawea came forward to act as interpreter and negotiator, she found that the Chief of the band was her brother Cameahwait. After a joyous reunion, Chief Cameahwait provided the Expedition with the horses they needed and guides for crossing the mountains.
After following the Clearwater and Columbia Rivers, the Expedition, along with Sacagawea, reached the Pacific Ocean. The group constructed Fort Clatsop where they spent the winter of 1805-1806. In August 1806 Sacagawea, her husband and child parted company from the Expedition back at Fort Mandan where their journey had started.
Not much is known about Sacagawea following the Expedition. In 1812 she gave birth to a daughter, Lisette. Based on a number of records, it is generally accepted that Sacagawea died in 1812. Other accounts tell of an Indian woman who had knowledge of the Expedition dying in 1844.
The contribution of Sacagawea to the Lewis and Clark Expedition was commemorated in 2000 by the United States Mint with the issuance of the Golden Dollar coin which bears her image.
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