Unit III
Sacagawea
7
Introduction
Sacagawea (Sa CA ga WE a) was the only woman to travel with Captains
Lewis and Clark as part of the Corps of Discovery. As the Shoshone wife of
Toussaint Charbonneau (TOO sant Shar buh NO), she was included in the
expedition to serve as an interpreter when they reached the Shoshone nation.
Lewis thought that having her with them would make the Shoshone more
receptive to trading for horses which would be needed to cross the Rocky
Mountains. Her presence would also communicate the peaceful status of the
corps} since war parties never included women. Little did anyone anticipate
that her presence would have such a positive impact on this loyal group of
explorers.
How did Sacagawea come to be living with the Hidatsa? Why was she so
far east afwhere her Shoshonefamity lived? What could a 15-year-old
contribute to such an adventure?
The story began when she was about 10 years old, living along the Bitterroot
Range of the Rocky Mountains. As a young girl she might have been called
Huichu which means "Little Bird." The Shoshone were a peaceful people
who migrated to gather food. In the fall of 1800, Hidatsa (also called
Minnataree) warriors captured Sacagawea and others. The captives were
taken more than 600 miles from their homeland to a strange} new place and
forced into a way oflife that was much different from their own.
Sacagawea and her family had been accustomed to moving their tipi from
place to place in search of food, but the Hidatsa lived in earthen lodges and
cultivated their food. For several years Sacagawea lived as a slave. She
didn't understand her captors' language or way oflife. She did learn to plant
and tend to a garden, a skill that would prove most valuable later in her life.
She was living among strangers, not knowing ifher family was still alive,
and often dreaming of escape. Then once again, her life would be changed
by a series of events. She was traded to Toussaint Charbonneau, a French
fur trader, and became one of his Indian wives. They settled in a village of
Mandan and Minnataree Indians. It was here that even more strangers
would play an important role in her life. When Charbonneau was asked to
join the Corps of Discovery as an interpreter, Sacagawea was asked to come
along because of her lmowledge of the Shoshone language. Charbonneau
spoke French ana. Hidatsa, and Sacagawea spoke Hidatsa and Shoshone;
OASIS Tutors Meet Sacagawea
8
together the husband-and-wife team would provide a complete language link
which Lewis and Clark would need in negotiations for Shoshone horses.
On February 11, 1805, Sacagawea gave birth to her son, Jean Baptiste
Charbonneau - or as Clark called him "Pomp." The word "Pomp" means
"first born" in the Shoshone language. In April, when the Corps of
Discovery left Fort Mandan~ Sacagawea carried her baby in a cradleboard on
her back. During the trip~ Sacagawea's resourcefulness as a-provider
became evident when she located berries and edible plants and roots for the
group.
At one point her quick thinking saved some of the Expedition's valuable
supplies during a boating accident and gained her the praise of the
expedition members. Sacagawea's primary role was to serve as an
interpreter, but as the Expedition passed through her Shoshone homeland,
she recognized landmarks that were beneficial in shortening the journey.
Imagine her excitement at the realization that Cameahwait, the leader of the
Shoshone band, was actually her clan brother. Journal entries by both Lewis
and Clark demonstrated their affection for Sacagawea, They often referred
to her contributions to the group and remarked that she never complained.
Which is the "right" pronunciation of her name? Sacagawea (Sa CA ga WE
uh) with a hard "g" sound is the Hidatsa term for "Bird Woman." In the
Shoshone language Sacagawea (Sack ahjuh we ah) with a "j" sound would
sound more like "boat launcher." There is evidence that Lewis documented
in his journal on May 20, 1805, a creek named Sa ca gab we ah or bird
woman's river.
In the year 2000, the United States Mint issued a new dollar coin. Seventeen
women were nominated to appear on the coin, but Sacagawea was the
overwhelming choice. Originally 12 real gold coins were made which went
into space on the space shuttle Columbia in July, 1999. The following
November the United States Mint began minting the Golden Sacagawea
Dollar coin. This coin serves to commemorate the important role that
Sacagawea played in this historic journey.
OASIS Tutors Meet Sacagawea
9
Session Plan
OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program
Talk Together - Write Together - Read Together
Date:
Student:
Tutor:
_Talk about an activity you are sharing.
_Write a story together.
_Read the story together.
_Work with the student's story.
_Review journal stories and vocabulary
Sacagawea
1. Ask your student what he knows about the only woman to accompany
Lewis and Clark on their expedition. Listen to what he shares about this
famous Native American woman. Tell your student that you are going to
read a picture book written by David Adler titled Sacagawea to learn
more about her.
2. Read the story to him. As you read the story, point out events that may
hold strong emotions for Sacagawea - for example, when she was
captured as a child by the Hidatsa or when her own son, Pomp, was born.
3. After reading the story talk about a time when your student felt brave like
Sacagawea did when she saved the supplies in the boating accident or
when she felt happy at meeting her brother, Cameahwait, after so many
years apart. Write your'student's story.
4, Read the story to him. Have him read it to you.
5. Revisit your student's story to locate any "feeling" words that he might
have used. Ask him to highlight the words like afraid, happy, etc. or
brainstonn additional fee1ing words from the book to add to the list. Use
a copy of the Feeling Activity Sheet to sort the feelings into two groups ­
<'Happy Face" and "Sad Face" words. Read the list of words. Talk about
how the words are alike and different. Mix the words up and playa
sorting game.
6. Reread other journal entries. Do any of them have feeling words?
OASIS Tutors Meet Sacagawea
10
Sacagawea - Character Feeling Activity Sheet
OASIS Tutors Meet Sacagawea
11
Additional Activities
What's in a Name
A river, two lakes, and a mountain peak are named for Sacagawea, yet there
remains debate over how to spell her name and how to pronounce it. Even
within the journals of expedition members her name is spelled a number of
different ways. In Hidatsa, sacaga means bird and wea means woman - thus
her name would be "bird woman." Modem Shoshone, Sacagawea's birth
tribe, support the version of her name spelled Sacajawea based on the
journals published in 1814. This spelling in Shoshone would mean "boat
launcher."
The question remains how these names would be given to an individual.
American Indian names often reflect an event or attribute of an individua1.
A name may be given to someone to remember an animal trait - running
bear or black crow; or it may reflect a more naturalistic trait - red flower or
shining star; or it may reflect a human characteristic - standing tall or hair
like blackbird.
Names of other American Indians met by the Expedition were Cameawhait­
One Who Never Walks, Sheheke Shoat - Big White, Walammottinin"­
Twisted Hair, and Yoomparkkartim - Five Big Hearts.
Talk with your student about why these names might have been given to
these individuals. Have him think of an appropriate American Indian name
for you and for himself, e.g. Bird Lover and One Who Love Cats. Tell why
it is appropriate. Write a story about the two new characters or review past
journal stories and rename characters with American Indian names based on
attributes exhibited in the stories. Retell the stories with the new names.
The Inside and Outside of Sacagawea
It is important for students to understand the complexity of any character in
a story. In A Picture Book ofSacagavvea by David Adler, the student is
exposed to a variety ofprofiles of Sacagawea. She is a young girl who is
taken from her home tribe; she is a new mother of Jean Baptiste
Charbonneau; she is a guide; and she rediscovers her brother, just to_ name a
few encounters she experiences. She was resourceful and quick thinking as
OASIS Tutors Meet Sacagawea
12
she demonstrated when she saved important supplies and medicine when the
boat capsized.
Use a copy of the Inside/ Outside Character Profile Activity Sheet to map
out the feelings, emotions, thoughts, and actions of Sacagawea. Completing
this map provides your student a guide to better understand Sacagawea as a
whole person. Talk with your student about the examples listed for the word
traits. These traits can be used to write a descriptive profile story of
Sacagawea. Listen to your student's story and then record it in his journal.
Have him illustrate his story of Sacagawea.
Who Am I?
There are no actual pictures of Sacagawea, so any representation of her
comes from the imagination of artists and writers. She was an ordinary
woman put into this exceptional circumstance as a member of the Lewis and
Clark Expedition. It is through books, articles, journal entries and stories
that insight is given into the depth of her character.
Use a copy of the Who Am I? Activity Sheet to explore with your student
how to represent character information in organized categories. This
character map becomes a source for writing a character sketch or stOlY.
1. Have your student write his name in the center of the web.
2. Each icon on the web represents a category of information about
the student. Have him draw pictures or label each icon with words
that give supporting infonnation.
3. Your student can then write a "self-story" (autobiography) using
the information on the web.
4. Your student can use this same web to explore other characters on
the Expedition. The icons can be changed to suit the desires of the
student.
OASIS Tutors Meet Sacagawea
13
Thinks-
,..- - ­.... Hears
Sees
Smells
--~Says
Loves
Goes
........
Sacagawea -Inside/Outside Character Activity Sheet
OASIS Tutors Meet Sacagawea
14
Who AmI?
©
LikeslDislikes
Books
'F.
~~
'-'"
Sports
Foods
Family
Pets
Sacagawea - Who Am I Activity Sheet
OASIS Tutors Meet Sacagawea
15
Lewis and Clark
An American Adventure
For Younger Students
For younger students who may have difficulty grasping some of the complex
content of this historic event, OASIS tutors might need to simplify any of
the lesson plans and activities or use one of the suggested alternatives for
younger children listed below:
Meet Sacagawea
To engage younger students in understanding the story of Sacagawea, use
the "helping hand" activity to assist your student in remembering
information from the story. Use the helping hand activity sheet, or even
better, a simple white gardening glove with five Ws printed with marker on
the finger tips, to make it inviting and active for young children to talk about
the story they have just heard.
Use the five Ws to ask leading questions:
Who were the characters in the story?
Where did the event take place or how did the setting change?
What does your student remember about the story?
When did this happen?
Why was the event important to the character or in what way does the event
connect to your student's life today?
Use this information to write a story in your student's journal.
OASIS Tutors Meet Sacagawea
16
OASIS Tutors Meet Sacagawea
17