Sacagawea was an Shoshone
Native American woman born in Idaho.
In 1800 she was captured by some Hidatsa
warriors.
She was picking berries with some other Shoshone women. Then Sacagawea
was sold to a Canadian fur trapper. His name was Toussaint
Charbonneau. In 1804 Charbonneau was hired as a interpreter and
a guide on the western expedition with Lewis
and Clark. Of course Sacagawea had
to come. She had just gotten married to him and was about to have his baby.
As it turned out Sacagawea was more of a help than Charbonneau. She
was they one that picked that roots that you could eat. She also
saved them from the destruction by the Shoshone.
Some people think that Sacagawea died
in 1812, but others think that she died in 1884. People still don't
know when she died.
There are many memorials of her.
The most famous one is in Washington Park in Portland, Oregon.
Sometimes her name is spelled Sacajawea
instead of Sacagawea.
In honor of Sacagawea, the U.S. Mint
has created a new dollar coin with her picture
on it.
Microsoft Encarta
Microsoft Co.
1994