SACAGAWEA
BY ODESSA
WHEN WAS SACAGAWEA BORN? WHEN DID SHE DIE?
Sacagawea was born around 1789-1790, and she died around December 20, 1812 (the exact dates are not known).
SACAGAWEA'S CHILDREN
Sacagawea had 2 children: Pomp, a boy born in 1805, and Lisette, a girl whose birth date is unknown.
After the journey the children were given to co-captain Clark to raise and educate.
How did Sacagawea get involved with this journey?
In 1800 Minnetaree Indians attacked the Shoshone tribe's camp. Sacagawea is captured and traded to Toussaint Charbonneau from Canada, she becomes his wife.
Lewis and Clark, along with the Corps of Discovery, are looking for one extra person (preferably a Shoshone) to talk to the Shoshone Indians who are famous for breeding horses that are needed for the mountain segment of the journey. Lewis and Clark chose Sacagawea and Charbonneau to accompany the expedition.
SACAGAWEA'S JOURNEY
When the Corps of Discovery reached the Pacific they built Fort Clatsop in 1806. One day at Fort Clatsop a dead whale washed up on to shore. All the men went to see it, but no one invited Sacagawea and Pomp. This made Sacagawea feel left out since she had risked her life for the Corps, so she told Clark who took Sacagawea and Pomp down to see the dead whale right away.
HONORING SACAGAWEA
Nearly a century after the Lewis and Clark expedition, Sacagawea was forgotten. During the 1800's, Native Americans and white people fought many wars. White people did not want to honor any Native American. When the fighting ended during the 1900's, Sacagawea's story was discovered. Suddenly, "bird women" (as she was called by her tribe) became well known all over America. She also became the subject of many artists and landmarks.
Sacagawea statue located in Clarks Point, Kansas
In 2000, a new coin was created by the United States that pictured Sacagawea and Pomp
Sacagawea monument located in State House Garden at Bismarck, North Dakota