Lewis & Clark: Help from Native Americans (2024)

Lewis & Clark: Help from Native Americans (1)

Native AmericanConnection

Lewis and Clark's journey was successful, in part, because of help received from Native Americans. The expedition had its first meetings with the Yankton, Teton and Arikara while in present-day South Dakota.

Council at Calumet Bluff

The explorers had their first council with a Sioux tribe, the Yankton, at Calumet Bluff on Aug. 30, 1804. The two groups met under the shade of an oak tree. Lewis delivered his customary speech, promoting commerce with the United States, and presented the chiefs with gifts of tobacco, clothing and peacemedals. The council continued into the next day, when the chiefs gave their own speeches. On Sept. 1, the Corps of Discovery proceeded up the river. On the return trip, the explorers would meet up with these "good men," as Clark referred to them in his journal.

Legend of Struck by the Ree

About the time of the council at Calumet Bluff, a Yankton baby was born. Legend has it that Meriwether Lewis took the baby boy in his arms and wrapped him in an American flag. The boy grew up to become Struck by the Ree, a respected Yankton chief who led his people through troubled times. The chief lived to be an old man, affectionately known to his people as Old Strike. You can visit his grave today at a tiny cemetery north of Greenwood.

From Conflicts to Celebration

Lewis and Clark's first meeting with the Teton got off to a shaky start. The two groups barely avoided a confrontation at the Bad River on Sept. 25, 1804. The next day, however, the Teton hosted a grand celebration. They carried the captains on buffalo robes to a large tent where they served a feast of roasted dog, prairie turnips, and pemmican. After dark, the Teton built a glowing fire, and dancers swirled around the flames to the sounds of drums and rattles. That night, the Teton gave the explorers a supply of bison meat to take with them as they continued up the river.

Sojourn with the Arikara

It was early October when the expedition stopped at an Arikara village. As the entourage approached, the villagers lined the shore to witness a curious sight. The captains realized the Arikara were fascinated by York, Clark’s servant and the expedition’s only black man, fascinated the Arikara. Clark wrote in his journal the Arikara flocked around him and examined him from top to toe. Over the course of several days, the two groups held councils, shared meals and exchanged gifts. One Arikara chief gave the explorers ten bushels of corn, beans and squash to take on their journey.

Today, five tribes border the Missouri River

Yankton Sioux Tribe (605) 384-3641, yanktonsiouxtribe.com
Crow Creek Sioux Tribe (605) 245-2221, crowcreekconnections.org
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe (605) 473-5561, lbst.org
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (605) 964-4155, sioux.org
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (701) 854-8500, standingrock.org

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Lewis & Clark: Help from Native Americans (2024)

FAQs

Lewis & Clark: Help from Native Americans? ›

Tribes supplied food, information, and guides that helped Lewis and Clark find their way to the ocean. Lewis and Clark wrote in their journals about how many of the Native Americans they met were honest, warm, and generous.

How did the Native Americans help Lewis and Clark? ›

The Indians took in the weary travelers, fed them and helped them regain their health. As the Corps recovered, they built dugout canoes, then left their horses with the Nez Perce and braved the Clearwater River rapids to Snake River and then to the Columbia River.

What American Indian helped Lewis and Clark? ›

Historians generally believe that Sacagawea joined the Expedition because her husband had been hired as a translator. Still, Sacagawea contributed significantly to the success of the journey. Simply because she was a woman, Sacagawea helped the Corps.

How did the Cheyenne tribe help Lewis and Clark? ›

Answer and Explanation:

The Cheyenne primarily helped the Lewis and Clark expedition by providing information about other native peoples in neighboring lands. Perhaps most important was information that the Cheyenne had about native peoples westward on the Missouri River.

How did the Shoshone tribe help Lewis and Clark? ›

Answer and Explanation:

The Shoshone tribe helped Lewis and Clark by providing them with horses. The expedition needed to use horses to get over the peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

Did Lewis and Clark treat the natives good? ›

Lewis And Clark: Disrespecting Of Native Americans

Lewis and Clark were not respectful to the Native Americans they encountered on their journey. They killed a Native American unnecessarily, stole horses, and made unreasonable demands and threats.

Did Lewis and Clark trade with Indians? ›

Indian visitors came to Fort Mandan where they exchanged corn and wild game for trade goods. Lewis and Clark also traveled to the different villages, distributing gifts and peace medals to prominent chiefs in an attempt to win their favor.

What tribe helped Lewis and Clark the most? ›

NPS Image, NEPE-HI-1773. Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark crossed Nez Perce country in the fall of 1805 and again in the spring of 1806. With the exception of their winter encampments, the Corps of Discovery spent more time among the Nez Perce than any other group they encountered in their journey.

Did Sacagawea help Lewis and Clark? ›

What did Sacagawea do? While accompanying the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–06), Sacagawea served as an interpreter. She also provided significant assistance by searching for edible plants and making moccasins and clothing.

Was Sacagawea forced to marry? ›

It was her Hidatsa captors who gave her the name Sacagawea, which means “Bird Woman.” The warriors brought Sacagawea to a Hidatsa-Mandan settlement in present-day North Dakota. About a year later, when Sacagawea was only 13 years old, her captors forced her to marry French trapper Toussaint Charbonneau.

What happened to Sacagawea after Lewis and Clark? ›

Louis to see Clark. Pomp was left in Clark's care. Sacagawea gave birth to her second child, a daughter named Lisette, three years later. Only a few months after her daughter's arrival, she reportedly died at Fort Manuel in what is now Kenel, South Dakota, around 1812.

Was the Sioux tribe friendly to Lewis and Clark? ›

The friendly reception that Lewis and Clark received from the Yankton (Dakota Sioux) would not be repeated when they met members of the much larger and more warlike Teton (Lakota Sioux) three weeks later.

How did Sacagawea save Lewis and Clark? ›

Sacagawea's job was to interpret for Lewis and Clark when they met with Indigenous communities. But she helped in many other ways also. Sacagawea saved Lewis and Clark's journals and papers when the boat carrying them up the Missouri River sank. They were so grateful they named a small river in her honor.

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