The educational programs and events are the focus of the bicentennial and will feature support materials for schools, youth groups, the media, and citizens of all ages. Learning activities will cover the breadth and depth of Jefferson's vision; the leadership skills of Lewis and Clark; the interdisciplinary nature of the Expedition and problem-solving skills of the members of the Expedition. Further, science and journaling will be key learning methods with observations by the members of the Expedition of Native Americans; geography, plants, animals, and geology; changes in the landscape and society since the Expedition; and Native Americans observations and interpretations of the Expedition.

"I hope that America will learn about the Indian cultures as a part of the bicentennial. The commemoration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition brings an opportunity for reconciliation and understanding of Indian tribes across the country."

The Teenage Translator: Sakakawea 
Amy Mossett

The teenager Sakakawea was the youngest member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and one of the most celebrated women in American history. From coast to coast, the name Sakakawea appears on rivers, mountain tops, parks, schools, Girl Scout Councils, women's organizations, businesses, and websites. The dollar coin now bears her image.

Sakakawea was born in Lemhi Shoshone country in what us now Idaho. She was captured as a young girl and grew up on the Northern Plains. Sakakawea whose Hidatsa name means Bird Woman grew into womanhood at Awatixa, a Hidatsa village along the Knife River near present-day Stanton, North Dakota.

She became the wife of Touissant Charbonneau who was hired by Lewis and Clark as an interpreter. When Charbonneau physical challenges and illness, all the while caring for her child, who was only 19 months old when she returned.

The controversy and disagreement over Sakakawea's early life, her death and burial site, and her name remain; however, these ongoing debates have undoubtedly contributed to the ever-increasing fascination with this remarkable young woman. Sakakawea has left a lasting imprint in American history, not because of her place of birth or death, but rather, for her contributions and her presence throughout the Northwest Corps of Discovery's grueling journey to the Pacific Ocean and back.

I hope that America will learn about the Indian cultures as a part of the bicentennial. The commemoration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition brings an opportunity for reconciliation and understanding of Indian tribes across the country. Look at the achievements of the individual Indian Tribes at the time of Lewis and Clark. They had highly developed societies: they had built trade networks, farmed, and lived successfully for generations.

When Lewis and Clark discuss Native Americans, particularly in their journals, we must remember that the things they wrote were their perceptions, which were often based on limited knowledge. A better source of information about the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara and other Indians is in each tribe's history handed down from generation to generation. These stories will be told over and over during the bicentennial.

Was Something Lost in the Translation?

As the Corps of Discovery traveled across the western part of the continent, they found they were dealing with a number of unfamiliar Native American languages. When the expedition was trying to retrieve their horses from the Nez Perce Indians on the return trip, Meriwether Lewis would speak in English to one of the half French members, who would speak in French to Toussaint Charbonneau, who would speak in Hidatsa to his Shoshoni wife, Sacagawea, who would speak in Shoshoni to the Shoshoni slave in the Nez Perce village who would then speak in Nez Perce to the Nez Perce chief. Of course, the reply would follow this same line of communication in reverse.

Examples for the Classroom

2. Have students read each of these two quotes aloud to the class.

"The Shoshone boy refused to speak, he alleged it was a quarrel between two Chiefs and that he had no business with it; it was in vain that we urged that his interpreting what we said on this subject was not taking the responsibility of the interference on himself, he remained obstinately silent." Lewis, 8 May 1806

"... by the assistance of the Snake boy and our interpreters were enabled to make ourselves under stood by them altho' it had to pass through French, Minnetare, Shoshone and Chopunnish languages. the interpretation being tedious it occupied the greater part of the day, before we had communicated to them what we wished." Clark, 11 May 1806

a. Helpful Hints: "Snake" Shoshoni tribe, "Minnetare" Hidatsa tribe, "Chopunnish" Nez Perce tribe
b. Have a class discussion about the problems Lewis and Clark faced when dealing with this form of communication.