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If you're familiar with Sacagawea, you likely recognize her as the guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, also referred to as the Corps of Discovery. Her role involved navigating the challenging landscapes of the Louisiana Purchase and the Pacific Northwest, showcasing an extraordinary understanding of the terrain.
However, much of what is commonly believed about Sacagawea is inaccurate. Historians have limited concrete details about her life, and many popular narratives are more myth than reality. Even her name remains a subject of debate among experts. Despite this, Sacagawea's role in shaping the United States is undeniable, and the verified aspects of her life are equally remarkable. Below are nine facts about Sacagawea. [Note: All journal entries are presented sic throughout.]
1. At the age of 12, Sacagawea was taken captive by a rival tribe.
Historians estimate that Sacagawea was born around 1788 or 1789 into the Lemhi Shoshone tribe, whose ancestral lands were located near the Salmon River in present-day Idaho. According to accounts, she was part of a buffalo hunting group in the autumn of 1800 when they were ambushed by Hidatsa warriors. Sacagawea was captured and brought to the Hidatsa-Mandan village in what is now south-central North Dakota.
2. Just a few years later, she was married to a French-Canadian fur trader.
Sacagawea remained with the Hidatsa tribe until 1803 or 1804, when she and another Shoshone woman were either traded or lost in a bet to Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian fur trader who resided among the tribe. At the time, Sacagawea was approximately 15 years old. Sources vary on Charbonneau's birth year, suggesting he was either in his mid-thirties or mid-forties when he married Sacagawea, with some records indicating 1758 and others 1767.
3. Sacagawea was merely 16 or 17 years old when she became part of Lewis and Clark’s arduous expedition.
The earliest documented mention of Sacagawea appears on November 4, 1804, in Clark’s journal, where he briefly notes her as one of Charbonneau’s wives. (Charbonneau had embraced Hidatsa customs, including polygamy.) That winter, the Corps of Discovery stayed at Fort Mandan, a post they constructed near present-day Bismark, North Dakota. By April 1805, the expedition continued its journey up the Missouri River, accompanied by Sacagawea, Charbonneau, and their newborn son, Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, whom Sacagawea had delivered just a few months prior. At this stage, she was only 16 or 17 years old.
4. Sacagawea’s role wasn’t strictly that of a guide.
While popular culture often portrays Sacagawea as Lewis and Clark’s guide, her contributions to the expedition were far more nuanced. A more accurate title for her would be “interpreter.” Although her husband, Toussaint Charbonneau, was the one officially hired by the Corps of Discovery in November 1804, Sacagawea played a crucial role in his proposal to the explorers. Fluent in Shoshone and Hidatsa, and with Charbonneau speaking Hidatsa and French, their combined language skills facilitated communication and trade with the Shoshone for horses, which were essential for crossing the Rocky Mountains.
Sacagawea’s deep understanding of the terrain proved invaluable during the journey. A key moment occurred on the return trip when she advised the group to take Montana's Bozeman Pass instead of the Flathead Pass, as it was lower and safer. This was a region she remembered from her youth, and Clark had come to trust her judgment, noting in his journal, “The Indian woman, who has been of great service to me as a pilot through this country, recommends a gap in the mountain further south, which I shall cross.”
Beyond her navigational skills, Sacagawea was also an expert forager, adept at identifying edible and medicinal plants. Her presence alone held significant value. Clark noted in his journals that having a Native American woman with them signaled peaceful intentions to the tribes they met, preventing potential misunderstandings that could have led to conflict, such as being mistaken for a war party.
5. Sacagawea played a critical role in preventing a potential catastrophe for the expedition.
On multiple occasions, Sacagawea’s contributions to the expedition were remarkably concrete. On May 15, 1805, Charbonneau, whom Lewis characterized in his journals as “possibly the most fearful waterman alive,” was steering one of the expedition’s boats when a powerful gust of wind almost overturned it. Charbonneau froze in panic, causing the boat to tilt dangerously. Lewis noted that he only regained control after another crew member threatened to shoot him unless he “took hold of the rudder and performed his duty.”
While Charbonneau was “pleading to his god for mercy,” Sacagawea sprang into action. Clark’s journals reveal that the boat contained the expedition’s “documents, instruments, books, medicine, a large portion of their trade goods, and nearly every item essential to their mission.” As some of these supplies fell into the water, Clark noted that they were “almost entirely retrieved by [Sacagawea].” This was particularly remarkable, as she was simultaneously ensuring her own survival and that of her baby.
In recognition of her efforts, Lewis and Clark dedicated a tributary of the Missouri River to Sacagawea a few days later. The Sacagawea River, a 30-mile-long waterway, is located in what is now north-central Montana.
6. Sacagawea was never paid for her invaluable contributions to the expedition.
Because Charbonneau was the one officially hired by the Corps, he was the sole recipient of compensation: 320 acres of land and approximately $500. Sacagawea, however, received no payment for her efforts.
Clark seemed troubled by this, expressing in a letter to Charbonneau: “Your wife, who accompanied you on that long, perilous, and exhausting journey to the Pacific Ocean and back, deserved far greater recognition for her dedication and service than we were able to provide.” This sentiment might explain why Clark took it upon himself to ensure the couple’s young son, whom he fondly nicknamed “Little Pomp” during the expedition, received a proper education. Clark later became Jean-Baptiste’s godfather and, following Sacagawea’s death, his legal guardian.
7. The circumstances and timing of Sacagawea’s death remain subjects of debate.
Most historians agree that Sacagawea passed away in December 1812, likely from typhus, at around 25 years of age. Earlier that year, she had given birth to a daughter, Lisette, and her health reportedly deteriorated afterward. This version of events is documented by a clerk at Fort Manuel [PDF], where Sacagawea resided at the time, and is widely accepted by Clark and historical records.
However, evidence emerging in the 20th century suggested that Sacagawea, known as Porivo, lived until 1884, dying near Wind River, Wyoming, at nearly 100 years old. This theory was notably championed by University of Wyoming historian Grace Raymond Hebard, who authored a 1933 biography titled Sacajawea. However, Lewis and Clark expert James P. Ronda contended that Hebard may have misread or overlooked certain evidence. While the 1884 theory has its advocates, most sources, including U.S. government websites, align with the 1812 account of her death.
8. Sacagawea is considered the most commemorated woman in American history.
The National Park Service states that Sacagawea has “more statues erected in her honor than any other American woman.” (However, some of these statues have sparked controversy over their portrayal of Sacagawea, and at least one has been taken down.) Over the years, the U.S. Navy has honored her by naming three ships after her; the U.S. Postal Service introduced a Sacagawea postage stamp in 1994; and the U.S. Mint produced Sacagawea golden dollar coins from 2000 to 2008. Additionally, her legacy is celebrated through numerous parks, schools, playgrounds, and cultural centers across the nation.
9. The correct spelling and pronunciation of Sacagawea remains a topic of debate.
Much about Sacagawea remains uncertain, including the proper spelling and pronunciation of her name. Lewis and Clark recorded her name in various ways in their journals, and historians have long disputed whether it should be Sacajawea, Sakakawea, or Sacagawea. The debate also extends to whether the g should be soft or hard and which syllable should be stressed. This question carries cultural weight: If her name is pronounced with a soft g, it likely derives from a Shoshone term meaning “boat launcher.” Conversely, if the g is hard and the spelling leans toward “Sacagawea,” it probably originates from a Hidatsa term meaning “bird woman.”
Peter Kastor, a history professor at Washington University, explains that the spelling “Sacajawea,” with a soft g sound on the j, gained prominence because it was the version chosen by the Philadelphia-based editor when Lewis and Clark’s journals were published. Kastor and numerous historians argue that “Sacagawea,” with a hard g, is likely more accurate historically. However, in North Dakota, state policy mandates the spelling “Sakakawea.”
Additional Source: Lewis and Clark: An Illustrated History by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns
