Sacagawea

Hello, my name is Sacagawea, and I want to tell you my story. I was born into the Lemhi Shoshone tribe, and my childhood was filled with the sounds of rushing rivers and the sight of tall mountains. My family taught me everything about the land. I learned which berries were sweet to eat, which roots could be used for medicine, and how to find my way by looking at the sun and stars. I loved my home and my people. But when I was about twelve years old, something scary happened. I was taken far away from my family to live with the Hidatsa people. It was a very different place, and I was lonely. But this difficult time taught me to be strong and brave, even when I was afraid. I learned a new language and new ways of living, which would become very important later on.

One day, two explorers named Captain Meriwether Lewis and Captain William Clark arrived near my village. They had started a great journey from the east and wanted to travel all the way to the big Pacific Ocean. It was a long and dangerous trip. They needed someone who could speak the Shoshone language to help them talk to my people when they reached the mountains. My husband, Toussaint Charbonneau, was a translator, and they asked him to join them. Because I knew the land and could speak Shoshone, they asked me to come too. I was so excited. I packed my baby son, Jean Baptiste, into a cozy carrier on my back, and we set off on the grand adventure in 1805. My job was very important. I dug for roots and found berries so the men would have enough to eat. When our boat tipped over, I stayed calm and saved their important papers and medicines from the water. Having me and my baby with them was also a sign of peace. When other tribes saw a woman and a child, they knew our group was friendly and not there to fight. The most amazing thing happened when we finally reached the lands of the Shoshone. I saw a group of my people, and their chief was my very own brother, Cameahwait. I hadn't seen him since I was a little girl. We cried and hugged. I said, 'Brother, it is you.' It was the happiest day. Because I was his sister, my brother trusted the explorers and agreed to give them the horses they needed to cross the giant Rocky Mountains. My heart was full because I could help my new friends and my own people at the same time.

After a very long time, we finally reached the great ocean and then made the long journey back. I was so proud of what we had done together. I had traveled thousands of miles with my baby on my back, and I helped the explorers make a map of the land and meet new people peacefully. My life showed that being brave and using what you know can help others in big ways. Even when you feel lost or far from home, you have a strength inside you that can help you find your way and build a path for others to follow. I am remembered for being a guide and a symbol of peace, and that makes my spirit happy.