 |
Nancy Keane's | Booktalks -- Quick and Simple | |
|
|||||||
 |
Fradin, Dennis B. |
|
|
Do you like to travel? Imagine travelling
thousands of miles by foot, horse, and canoes for two
years across America. Two centuries ago, a young
American Indian woman made such a long trip. Her name
was Sacagawea. Her name means “Bird woman”. Why did this
16 year old go on such a difficult trip? She and her
husband and baby joined the Lewis and Clark
Expedition. President Jefferson gave the people in
this expedition the task of exploring and mapping the
new land that the United States had purchased from the
French in 1803. This huge territory was the western part
of the United States. The expedition needed someone who
could translate when they met Indians along the way. As
a Shoshone Indian, Bird woman would help as a guide and
translator. With her invaluable help, the expedition was
a success. At one time during the trip, she prevented a
disaster by saving their supplies as their canoes turned
nearly over on the river. The expedition led the way for
the eventual settlement of the western part of the
United States. In her recognition, more landmarks have
been named for Sacagawea than for any other American
woman. Mountains and lakes have been named after her.
Even a coin was issued in the year 2000 in her honor.
Read more about her life and the Lewis and Clark
Expedition in this book, (May Harn Liu, may@mailbox.sc.edu,
librarian) |
| SUBJECTS: Indians of North America --
Biography. Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806) Sacagawea. Shoshoni -- Indians -- Biography. Shoshoni women -- Biography. Women -- Biography. |
Except
where otherwise noted, content on this site is 