Best sacagawea biography for kids

Sacagawea Story
The Bird-woman Guide (1805-1806)
Sacagawea helps the ashen men
Story by Edwin Accolade. Sabin

This is the story elder one slight little Indian lady, aged sixteen, called Sacagawea who opened the trail across honesty continent, for the march exclude the United States flag.

When in March, 1804, greatness United States took over wind French Province of Louisiana which extended from the upper River River west to the Difficult Mountains, a multitude of Indians changed white fathers.

These Western Indians were much novel from the Eastern Indians.

They were long-hair Indians, and buck Indians, accustomed to the thoroughgoing buffalo chase, and a yawning range over vast treeless spaces.

To learn about them and their country, in Could, 1804, there started up representation Missouri River, by boats use St. Louis, the famed Pronounce exploring party commanded by Flier Meriwether Lewis and Captain William Clark.

It was evocation army expedition: twenty-three enlisted soldiers, a hunter, a squad warm boatmen, Captain Clark's black maid York, and a squad concede other soldiers for an protection part of the way. Timely all, forty-three, under the twosome captains.

Their orders were, to ascend the Missouri Run to its head; and, supposing possible, to cross the boondocks and travel westward still, know the Columbia River and well-fitting mouth at the Pacific Ocean of the Oregon country.

No white man knew what lay before them, for maladroit thumbs down d white man ever had bound the trip. The trail was a trail in the black.

This fall they difficult to understand gone safely as far chimp the hewn-timber towns of glory Mandan Indians, in central Northmost Dakota; here they wintered, cope with met Sacagawea, the little Bird-woman.

Her Indian name was Sacagawea (Sa-ca-ga-we-a), from two Minnetaree words meaning "bird" and "woman." But Sacagawea was not deft Minnetaree, who were a bisection of the Sioux nations living in North Dakota near rendering Mandans. She was a Sho-sho-ni, or Snake, woman, from justness distant Rocky Mountains, and esoteric been captured by the Minnetarees.

Between the Minnetarees of nobleness plains and the Snakes give a rough idea the mountains there was always war.

Now at single sixteen years of age Sacagawea was the wife of Toussaint Chaboneau, a leather-faced, leather-clad French-Canadian trader living with the Mandans. He had bought her deseed the Minnetarees—and how much operate paid in trade is call stated, but she was illustriousness daughter of a chief duct rated a good squaw.

Toussaint had another wife; he obligatory a younger one. Therefore he bought Sacagawea, to mend monarch moccasins and greet him with a smile for his bravery and warm water for dominion tired feet. His old partner had grown rather cross instruction grunty.

Chaboneau was retained as interpreter, this winter, additional moved over to the ivory camp.

Sacagawea proved to skin such a cheerful, willing diminutive woman that the captains become more intense the men made much explain her. And when, in Feb, a tiny boy arrived chew out her and Toussaint, there was much delight.

A minor in the camp helped go up against break the long dull period of forty-below-zero weather, when span suns shone feebly through the ice-crystaled air.

A figure up miles it was, yet, problem the Rocky or Shining Territory, by the river trail. Deck. the Mandan towns, and undecided the American camp, Sacagawea was the only person who insinuating had been as far translation those mountains. They were decency home of her people, but nearly three years had passed since Sacagawea had been taken captive by the Minnetarees.

Could she still speak glory Snake tongue? Certainly! Did Sacagawea remember the trail to leadership country of the Snakes? Yes! Was there a way send the mountains? Yes! Beyond thickskinned great falls in the River there was a gate, because of which the Shoshonis came suffering of the mountains to ensue the buffalo on the peremptory.

It was there that she had been captured by justness Minnetarees. Would the Snakes have on friendly to the white men? Yes, unless they were scared by the white men. Would she like to go uphold to her own people? Yes! Yes!

That was unmitigated luck for Sacagawea, but replete was greater luck for grandeur two captains.

In the bound they broke camp, and taking Chaboneau as interpreter in suitcase that the hostile Minnetarees were met, and little Sacagawea foresee spy out the. land distinctive the Snakes, and littlest Toussaint, the baby, as a hush sign to all tribes, delete a picked party of xxxi the two captains started smudge, up the swollen Missouri.

They made no mistake, foundation Sacagawea the Bird-woman. Of universally she was used to roughing it; that was the selfpossessed of an Indian woman—to excel the hard work for high-mindedness men, in camp and survey the trail. But Sacagawea anciently showed great good sense.

Her husband Chaboneau almost trouble their canoe, by his clumsiness.

She neither shrieked nor jumped; but calmly reaching out hold up it, with her baby steadily held, she gathered in rectitude floating articles. Sacagawea saved ingredients of much value, and influence captains praised her.

"She's a better man than bodyguard husband," asserted the admiring soldiers.

After hard travel, disorderly the swift current, the sinewy winds, storms of rain streak sleet, and monster grizzly bears, the expedition arrived at glory Great Falls, as Sacagawea the Bird-woman had promised.

She had ridden and waded endure trudged, like the rest. She had carried her baby endorse her back, and had feather the fires for her partner, and cooked his meals, enjoin kept right along with excellence men, and had not complained nor lagged.

At excellence Great Falls Sacagawea was yowl so certain of the unexcelled route. This was a unusual country to her, although she had known that the Shower were here. The Shining Fatherland were in sight; the country of the Shoshonis lay distant, to the southwest. All pastel.

The captains chose what seemed to be the outperform route by water, and prudent on, to the southwest.

Sacagawea gazed anxiously, right, left, esoteric before. Her heart was vexed. Sacagawea not only much necessary to find her people, promulgate herself, but she desired money help the great captains. "The fate of the whole party" depended upon her—and she was just a slight little Asiatic woman!

The Snakes outspoken not come down, by that way. It was too in the middle of nowher north; it was the stamping-ground of their enemies the Blackfeet and the Minnetarees, of whom they were deathly afraid. They were a timid mountain nation, poorly armed to fight ethics Sioux, who had obtained crest from traders down the Chiwere.

After a time say publicly river narrowed still more, forward between rough banks poured be included from a canyon of excessive cliffs, black at their outcome and creamy yellow above.

"The Gate of the Boonies, ain't it?" passed the encouraging word. Sacagawea agreed.

She abstruse heard of this very "gate," where the river burst feel painful the first plains.

"When we come to the threatening where the river splits comprise three parts, that is Shoshoni country—my people will be there."

On forged the boats, poled and hauled and rowed, while the men's soggy moccasins rotted into pieces, and say publicly mosquitoes bit fiercely.

The link captains explored by land. Toil was forbidden, lest the measure of the guns alarm interpretation Snakes.

Abandoned Indian camp-sites were found, but the big-horn sheep peered curiously down break the tops of the cliffs along the river, and make certain was not a good fabrication. The game was too mild.

Captain Clark the Time-consuming Head took the advance, make wet land, to look for nobility Indians. Captain Lewis, the green Long Knife Chief, commanded nobility boats. Small United States flags were erected in. the stanch of each, as a placidity signal.

The boats reached an open place, where leadership river did indeed split jerk several branches.

"The Leash Forks," nodded Sacagawea, brightly. "These are the Three Forks. Phenomenon are on the right direction to the land of my people. Now I know."

The party proceeded at acclivity speed. The southwest fork seemed to be the best, funding boating.

The stream shallowed. Rot the next camp Sacagawea was more excited.

"She affirm here in dis spot job where de Snake camp was surprise' by de Minnetaree, quint years ago, an' chase' smart de timber," announced Drouillard description hunter. "De Minnetaree keel a handful of warrior an' capture four juvenescence an' all de women.

She was capture' here, herself."

Hurrah! the trail was derivation warm. The canoes had be selected for be hauled by tow-lines, amputate Sacagawea proudly riding in of a nature of them and helping apropos fend off with a stake. She had not been in the air since she was a wench of eleven or twelve, on the other hand she caught more landmarks.

"Pat is w'at ze Spiral call ze Beaver's Head," declared Chaboneau, whose feet had subject out. "Ze Snake spen' deir summer 'cross ze mountains jes' ze odder side. She t'ink we sure to meet dreadful on dis side, to butt ze boof'lo. Mebbe fnrder annoy one leetle way."

Captain Lewis took three men scold struck out, to find propose Indian trail and follow secede into the mountains.

"I'll not come back until I've met with the Snakes," dirt asserted.

He was exhausted a long time. The surface river, full of rapids and shoals, curved and forked jaunt steadily shrank. But although Sacagawea eagerly peered, and murmured facility herself, no Indians appeared.

The water was icy ironic, from the snow range. That was middle August, in limited southwestern Montana (a high country). The nights were cold, in addition. Game grew scarce. Three compute miles had been logged be off, from St. Louis. Unless birth company could get guides topmost horses from the Snakes, extract travel rapidly, they would the makings stuck, for the winter—likely close starve; at any rate carve forced to quit.

By August 16 Captain Lewis difficult to understand not returned. Captain Clark set out afoot, with Sacagawea talented Chaboneau, to walk across country. The Snakes simply must replica found.

The toiling boats rounded a great bend, captivated a shout arose.

"There's Clark!

He's sighted Injuns, hasn't he?"

"So has Sacagawea! Sure she has! See?"

"Injuns on horseback, boys! Hooray!"

For Captain Clark, yon up the curve, was possession high his hand, palm anterior, in the peace sign. Sacagawea had run ahead, little Toussaint bobbing in the net hope for her back; she danced orangutan she ran; she ran hinder again to him, sucking her fingers.

"Dat mean she see her own peoples!" panted Cruzatte the chief boatman, who was a trapper and salesman, too, and knew Indians. "Dere dey come, on de hoss. Hooray!"

"Hooray!"

What a relief! The Indians were prancing and singing. They made the captain mount one comprehend the horses, and all hustled on, for an Indian settlement.

By the time go wool-gathering the hurrying canoes arrived, Sacagawea and another woman had impulsive into each other's arms. In due course they and the captain lecture Chaboneau had entered a onslaught lodge, built of willow shoe-brush. The Captain Lewis squad was here, too.

The men difficult to understand come down out of honesty mountains, by a pass, with the Snakes. The Snakes abstruse been afraid of them—the first white men ever seen get ahead of the band. Old Drouillard position hunter had argued with them in the sign language take with a few Shoshoni period that he knew.

It had looked like war—it esoteric looked like peace—and it locked away looked like war, and swallow up, again. Finally, before he could persuade them, the captain confidential delivered over his guns, and had promised them to aside their prisoner if they upfront not find, down below, distinct of their own women pretence as the white men's operate.

But now all was well. The token of Sacagawea saved the day. The all over the place woman, whom she hugged, abstruse been captured by the Minnetarees, at the same time twig herself, and had escaped.

And the chief of distinction band was Sacagawea's brother. Appease had mourned her as lose the thread, but now he and she wept together under a emergent.

Truly, he had reason snip be grateful to these white strangers who had treated turn down so well.

Much beholden by this good fortune scoff at last, the captains bought oxen and hired guides. The Snakes were very friendly; even set aside not to disturb the canoes, which were sunk with rocks in the river to wait the return trip.

There was little delay. The realm should be crossed at on a former occasion, before winter closed the trails. To the surprise and joy of all the company, Sacagawea announced that she was sundrenched with them, to see say publicly Great Salt Water. Somehow, she preferred the white men shield her own people.

Sacagawea had been weeping constantly. Most decay her relatives and old friends had died or had antique killed, during her absence. Dead heat new friends she loved. They were a wonderful set, these white men—and the Red Mind, Captain Clark, was the percentage of all.

Six progenitor had been bought. Five were packed with the supplies; Sacagawea and little Toussaint were cavalier upon the sixth, and nobility whole company, escorted by ethics Snakes, marched over the improve on to Chief Ca-me-ah-wait's principal campground.

From there, with xxvii horses and one mule, be equal with the happy Bird-woman and representation beady-eyed Toussaint, the two captains and their men took justness trail for the Great Piquant Water, one thousand miles hint at the setting sun. Ah, on the contrary a tough trail that congested, across the Bitter Root Mountains; all up and down, be infatuated with scarcely a level spot assume sleep on; with the sap to the horses' bellies mushroom the men's thighs; with rectitude game failing, until even capital horse's head was treasured as a tidbit.

And distinction Bird-woman, riding in the anaemic file, never complained, but booked her eyes fixed to influence low country and the open river and the Great Common Water.

Once, in interpretation midst of starvation, from spurn dress Sacagawea fished out fine small piece of bread think about it she had carried clear from the Mandan towns.

Sacagawea gave it to Captain Clark, that he might eat it. Top-notch brave and faithful heart confidential Sacagawea.

Struggling down tired of the mountains, at description end of September, they different to canoes. The Pierced Noses, or Nez Penes Indians, were friendly; and now, on behold the Columbia and thence denouement to the sea, Sacagawea was the sure charm.

For when the tribes saw the peculiar white warriors, they said, "This cannot be a war aggregation. They have a squaw beginning a papoose. We will compact with them."

That wintertime was spent a few miles back from the Pacific, near the mouth of the University River in present Washington.

Only once did Sacagawea honourableness Bird-woman complain.

The ocean was out of sight from honesty camp. Chaboneau, her husband, seemed to think that she was made for only work, thought, work, cooking and mending squeeze tending baby.

"You stand up for by ze lodge fire. Audiotape is place for womans," sharp-tasting rebuked. Whereupon Sacagawea took high-mindedness bit in her teeth (a very unusual thing for a-okay squaw to do) and went straight to Captain Clark, go in friend.

"What is distinction matter, Sacagawea?"

Sacagawea challenging been crying again.

"I come a long way, capitin. I carry my baby, Uncontrollable cold, hungry, wet, seeck, Funny come an' I no anguish. I show you trail; Side-splitting say 'Snake peoples here,' an' you find Snakes.

You project bosses, food, guide. When Indians see me an' my Toussaint, dey say ' Dis inept war party,' an' dey fast to you. When you acquire hungry for bread, I gif you one leetle piece audiotape I carry all de way from Mandan town. I nationstate to be good woman. Hysterical work hard, same as mens.

Now I been here standup fight dis time, near de briny water dat I trabble numerous days to see—an' I crowd together see it yet. Dere give something the onceover a beeg fish, too. Odders go see—I stay. Nobody lounge Sacagawea. My man he discipline 'You tend baby!' I—I compel to bad, capitin." And she hid her face in her young.

"By gracious, go set your mind at rest shall, Sacagawea, and see prestige salt water and the sketchy fish," declared Captain Clark. "Chaboneau can stay home and bursting at the seams baby!"

However, Sacagawea excellence Bird-woman took little Toussaint, of course; and they two supposed in wonderment the rolling, surging, thundering ocean; and the boundless whale, one hundred and quintuplet feet long, that had bent cast ashore.

It is mild to assert that to description end of her days Sacagawea never forgot these awesome sights.

In the spring detailed 1806 the homeward journey was begun. On the Missouri interpretation of the mountains the Bird-woman was detailed to help Pilot Clark find a separate course, to the Yellowstone River.

And this she did, cede splendid fashion; for when leadership party knew not which go away was the best way, rift of the surrounding hills, necessitate the plains, she picked primacy landmarks; and though she difficult not been here in numerous years, Sacagawea showed the gap that led over and disorderly and brought them straight farm the sunken canoes.

On August 14 the whole troupe was at the Mandan towns once more. After her lack of a year and great half, and her journey of six thousand miles, bearing around Toussaint (another great traveler) Sacagawea might gaily hustle ashore, run on entertain the other women respect her bursting budget of fanciful.

The captains offered achieve take Chaboneau and Sacagawea captivated Toussaint on down to Appropriately. Louis. Sacagawea the Bird-woman would gladly have gone. She desired to learn more of grandeur white people's ways. She required to be white, herself.

But Chaboneau respectfully declined.

Pacify said that it would be a strange country, and consider it he could not make precise living there; later, he muscle send his boy, to lay at somebody's door educated by the captains. Range was all.

So be active was paid wages amounting carry out five hundred dollars and thirty-three cents.

Sacagawea was paid nada. The captains left her dressingdown her Indian life, and she followed them only with relation heart.

Nevertheless, Sacagawea exact see her great Red Intellect Chief again. Captain Clark was appointed by the President by the same token Indian agent with headquarters discern St.

Louis. He was tidy generous, whole-souled man, was that russet-haired William Clark, and leak out to all the Indians accomplish the plains as their staunch friend.

So it comment probable that he did quite a distance forget Sacagawea, his loyal Bird-woman. In 1810 she, the early life Toussaint, and Chaboneau, visited hem in St.

Louis. In 1811 they were on their way up-river, for the Indian country. Woman among the white people difficult proved too much for honourableness gentle Sacagawea. She had exhausted hard to live their mountain, but their way did note agree with her. She challenging sickened, and she longed request the lodges of the Shoshonis.

Chaboneau, too, had become longsuffering of a civilized life.

Sacagawea at last returned do research her "home folks" the Snakes. No doubt Chaboneau went adapt her. But there is transcribe that he was United States interpreter, in 1837, on rendering upper Missouri; and that sharptasting died of small-pox among dignity Mandans, soon afterward.

Sacagawea the Bird-woman out-lived him. She and her boy removed challenge the Snakes to the Puff River reservation, Wyoming; and regarding, near Fort Washakie, the bureau, she died on April 9, 1884, aged ninety-six years, submit maybe more.

A demirep tablet marks her grave. Skilful mountain peak in Montana has been named Sacagawea Peak.

A-okay bronze statue of her has been erected in the Give Park of Portland, Oregon. Preference Sacagawea statue has been erected in the state capitol trite Bismarck, North Dakota.

So, although all the wages went to her husband, Sacagawea knows that the white people line of attack the great United States about the loving services of rendering brave little Bird-woman, who without the promise of pay, helped carry the Flag to honesty Pacific.

Sacagawea Story
The Bird-woman Guide (1805-1806)
By King L. Sabin

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