Who was Sacagawea?

Get ready for an epic adventure! We’re exploring the incredible journey of Sacagawea, a Shoshone woman who became one of the greatest explorers in American history! Imagine being kidnapped as a girl and then spending years traveling across an unknown continent! Sacagawea joined Lewis and Clark on their massive expedition across America—a trip that was about 5,000 miles round trip! Wow! She carried her baby, Pomp, on her back the entire time! Discover how she used her incredible knowledge of the land to find food, figure out the paths, and help Lewis and Clark make peace with different Native American tribes. From crossing towering mountains to paddling down roaring rivers, Sacagawea was the true hero of this amazing trek! Don't miss this wild ride!

Correction: A pirogue is actually a type of canoe, not a baby carrier. Sacagawea carried her son Jean-Baptiste on a traditional cradleboard.

Transcript

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Welcome to History is Not Boring by Kidopoly.com. I'm Mira. And I'm Finn! And Finn, we have a super special shout-out today. This episode is thanks to Adria Leera, who is seven years old and listening all the way from Dallas, Texas. Hi Adria! Hi Adria! And a big hello to your little sisters. Adria asked for an episode about a real-life explorer, and boy did she pick an amazing adventurer. We're talking about a Shoshone woman who helped map the entire western part of the United States. Whoa, was she on a pirate ship? Even wilder than pirates, Finn. Imagine trekking over giant mountains, surviving without enough food, and crossing huge rushing rivers, all while carrying your baby on your back. Today, we meet the incredible brave woman known as Sakagawea. Carrying a baby? Wait, wait. How far did they even travel? Get this. The entire journey across America was about 5,000 miles round trip. That's like walking from New York all the way to Los Angeles and back. At least twice. 5,000 miles? I get tired walking to the ice cream truck. Right? So, let's set the scene. It's the early 1800s, and America is mostly just the land near the Atlantic Ocean. President Thomas Jefferson bought a massive piece of land called the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which almost doubled the size of the country. Double the country? That's like getting a second-hole toy box. Exactly. But nobody knew what was actually in that giant land. So, Jefferson sent an expedition led by two famous explorers, Captain Merriweather Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark. They set off from St. Louis, Missouri, on May 14, 1804. Lewis and Clark. Cool names. Wait, what were they looking for? Gold? They were looking for a north-west passage, a waterway they hoped would connect the Missouri River all the way to the Pacific Ocean, so ships could sail easily. They had about 33 people in their initial group, carrying supplies for one year. And here's the sad part. Before the expedition even started, Sukagawia was kidnapped from her Lemhai Shoshone tribe when she was only about 12 years old. Kidnapped? That's not fair. Where did they take her? She was taken by a rival tribe, the Hidatsa, and eventually ended up living near the expedition's winter camp, Fort Mandan, in present-day North Dakota. She was sold or gambled to a French-Canadian fur trader named Toussaint Charbonneau. That's where Lewis and Clark first met her, around 1804. Wait, wait! She was with the fur trader. Did she know how to find food? Yes, that was the key. Lewis and Clark needed someone who knew the land. They hired Charbonneau as an interpreter, but they really wanted Sarkagawear. She spoke Shoshone, which was vital because Lewis and Clark desperately needed to trade with the Shoshone people for horses when they got to the Rocky Mountains. Horses to cross the mountains? Did she have a baby with her when she started walking 5,000 miles? She did. She was pregnant with her son, Jean-Baptiste, whom they nicknamed Pomp. He was born right there at Fort Mandon in February 1805. Can you imagine that? A baby born in a tiny fort in the middle of the American wilderness. Wow, Pomp! So they kept going with a newborn? That's brave. They left Fort Mandon in April 1805. And here's a did you know fact. Clark was so impressed with her that he made a special little cradle board, called a paragua, to carry pomp on her back so he wouldn't get cold or bump around too much. It was about two feet tall. A baby backpack? That's smart engineering. What happened when they met her old tribe, the Shoshone? This was the turning point. In August 1805, near what is now the Lemhai Pass, they met a Shoshone band. When Sakagawiya saw them, she ran forward and recognized her own brother, Kameawait, who was now the chief. It was an emotional reunion after years apart. No way! She found her family! What did the Shoshone say about the explorers? Because she was there, especially with a baby, which they called a sign of peace, the Shoshone agreed to trade Lewis and Clark about 300 horses. Without those horses, they never would have made it over the massive snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains. So the horses got them across the mountains. But what about the water part? Did they find that river road? Almost. After crossing the mountains in the fall of 1805, they followed the clear water and snake rivers, but soon realised the rivers weren't a smooth highway to the Pacific. They were turning into dangerous rapids. They had to portage, which means carrying their canoes and supplies over land for miles. Ugh, like carrying heavy backpacks for days. How many miles did they have to carry them? In one tough stretch near present-day Montana, they dragged their canoes and 200 pounds of gear over about 18 miles. Sicagoia was essential here too, finding edible roots and camus bulbs to keep them from starving when the hunters couldn't find enough game. Wait, so she was a chef and a pathfinder? Did she ever argue with Lewis or Clark? There was a tense moment. When they reached the Pacific coast near present-day Oregon, everyone argued about where to build their winter fort. Lewis wanted one spot, Clark another. Sicagawear cast the deciding vote. She pointed toward a place that offered better access to food and felt safer. She got the final say. That's huge. Did they find the ocean? They did. In November 1805, they reached the Great River, the Columbia, and built Fort Klatsop. They stayed there through the wet, gloomy winter. They never found that perfect, fast Northwest Passage River. But they proved you could cross the continent over land. So they turned around and went back. How long did the whole trip take? They started in May 1804 and finally returned to St. Louis in September 1806. A journey of over 28 months. And all that time, Sicagua and Little Pomp were there, helping them survive through food, direction, and diplomacy. She was one of the only people to complete the entire round trip. That's the end of the adventure. What happened to them after they got home? Well, the impact was massive. Their journals and maps showed the US government there were valuable resources, like beaver territory, and that the land was habitable. Their journey was the blueprint for future settlers moving west. They basically opened the door to the west. So, because of her, more people moved there. Like, a lot more. Exactly. Within 20 years, trappers and traders followed their route. And here are some fun facts. Did you know Clark named a beaver dam after her? He called it Sarkaga's Beaver Dam on one map. A beaver dam named after her? That's hilarious! Did Pomp ever meet any other famous people? He sure did. Clark actually adopted Pomp when Sarka Gawea passed away a few years later, around 1812, possibly from an illness. Clark took Pomp to St. Louis and paid for his schooling for years. Talk about becoming part of American history. So she was a guide, a peacemaker, and she had her baby with her the whole time. That's the coolest adventure ever. She really was one of the greatest adventurers in American history. Her courage helped change the map of a whole country. I think Adria picked a winner. Alright, Finn, time for the quiz! Adria, get ready to test your knowledge. Okay, I'm ready. I hope I remember the baby's name. First question for everyone. What year did Lewis and Clark officially set off from St. Louis to start their long journey? Next one. This one is about scale. Roughly how many miles was the entire round trip journey? Question 3. What was the name of Sakagawiya's son she carried on her back? Here's number four. What vital resource did the Shoshone give the expedition after Sukagawiya reunited with her brother? Last question. What major American event happened in 1803 that made this expedition necessary in the first place? Great job everyone! Let's see how you did on those big numbers and names. The first answer is that they left in 1904. For question two, the total trip was about 5,000 miles round trip. Number three, his nickname was Pomp, short for Jean Baptiste. Question 4. The Shoshone provided the expedition with about 300 horses. And the final answer is the Louisiana Purchase. Wow, Sakagawea was amazing. I can't believe she just kept walking with Pomp. Me neither. She didn't just survive, she helped change the course of a nation's story. It makes you realise how brave regular people can be. If you love learning about this incredible journey, please give us five stars. That helps other kids find our show. Yes, just find our show page wherever you listen and tap the stars. And if you want to see maps or fun facts about the 300 horses they got, head over to our site, kidopoly.com. We have tons of cool learning stuff there. And if you have an idea for an episode, or just want to send a note to Adria and her sisters, email us at hello at kidopoly.com. That's hello at kidopoly.com. Thanks for exploring history with us today. See you next time on History's Not Boring.