Sacajawea is well known all around the United States for being a part in the great Louis and Clark expedition of the new world. She is often referred to as the main “heroine” of the expedition, who was the reason why the expedition was such a success. Movies, books, magazines and all of popular culture have one major image of Sacajawea. This image consists of one of the greatest guides America has ever seen and an extremely hard working and self-sufficient mother. She is known throughout popular culture as a great interpreter that helped Louis and Clark communicate with the Indians of different tribes and succeed throughout the journey. As her picture appears in the minds of most Americans, she is thought to be an ultimate role model, and some movies such as “Night at the Museum” even use words such as “The ultimate working mother” to describe her, and her accomplishments. She is known as the beautiful and mature woman who guided the expedition, translated for the expedition and helped in the expedition, all with a baby strapped to her back. She is shown as a smart married woman whose husband is a proud Frenchmen. This is the major image of Sacajawea as it appears to the mind, though showings from popular culture, this is also the “white-washed” image of “the great” Sacajawea.
Popular culture might have portrayed Sacajawea as a role model, to whom all should look up to and aspire to be like. While in reality the journals from the expedition, including those of Louis and Clark have a completely different portrayal of Sacajawea. In reality she was between the ages of 10 and 15 through the expedition and was not all popular culture portrayed her to be. Sacajawea was born into a tribe called Shoshoni, which resided in present day Id...
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...y being imprinted atop a picture of Sacajawea. This one word imprinted on one coin tells so much about Americans, but the most important things it shows is that Americans are overly proud. They try and pretend that they are better than others through presenting fake stories and one important lesson all Americans should learn is that “pride comes before the fall”. Overall the practice of white washing stories, such as the Sacajawea story and connecting it with words such as liberty keeps the public from learning the most important lesson about history. “History is not learned for names, but rather for learning the mistakes and not repeating them.” This practice of white washing keeps the public from learning the true meaning of history and forces the same mistakes to repeat, which could have been easily avoided. “History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme”.
Sacagawea, also known as Bird Woman, was born to a Shoshone chief in 1788, in Salmon, Idaho. At the age of twelve, she was captured and sold to the French Canadian fur trader, Toussaint Charbonneau, and was made one of his many wives. Setting forth after the conformation of the purchased land, Lewis and Clark approached the hired interpreter, Charbonneau and his unknown Native American wife. They were to serve as guides for the party. Being only sixteen, her and her husband accompanied Lewis and Clark, graciously directing them on the expedition. She later gave birth to a boy, Jean-Baptiste, nicknamed “Pompey”, at their fort. Since Clark had become deeply attached to the infant he offered to take him, when weaned, to educate him as his own child. Less than two months later, the expedition was to continue and Sacagawea had her infant son strapped on her back sharing the hardships of the journey. Sacagawea posed as a guide, spectator, and translator because she was familiar with the geography, animals, and plants. When traveling through the land, she quieted the fears of other Native American tribes because she served a...
When you open up a book and read about the Lewis and Clark expedition, it is likely that you are going to read about a woman named Sacagawea. But who exactly is Sacagawea? In about 1788, Sacagawea was born in the Lemhi-River Valley in present day Idaho. For the following twelve years, she grew up as a Shoshone child. Although everyone got along with each other, every person in the community had a responsibility. Children were expected to work hard and taught from a very young age to be hospitable. They catered to absolutely everyone, and this was a well-known trait for most of the Shoshones. Most woman grew up and had children by the time they reached the age of twenty- such was the expectation of most Shoshone woman. However, at the age of twelve, Sacagawea, along with her brother, sister and mother were captured by the Hidatsa tribe. This tribe had the opposite reputation as the Shoshones, being known as cold people. The way Sacagawea, as well as many other young girls, does prove the accusation. Sacagawea became isolated in her new tribe, mainly due to her dreams of becoming more than just a mother.
“What Sacagawea Means to Me” was featured in TIME magazine’s Lewis and Clark edition. In the article, he writes about Sacagawea’s struggles throughout the Lewis and Clark Expedition and challenges his readers to think personally about the benefits and downfalls of colonization. He supports his argument and preaches to his audience with a satirical tone that forces the reader to think critically about his questions. He argues in his article that the story of Sacagawea and America are both contradictory, and forces the reader to see their world in a different way. Alexie’s use of satirical language was essential in making his audience think and understand the article.
Sacagawea, or also referred to as Sacagawea with a “g” or Sacakawea with a “k”, is known for her history in the Lewis and Clark expedition.(Sacajawea) She was born in Lemhi Mountains, which is now called Idaho, in 1788. She was the daughter of the Chief of the Indian Tribe, Shoshone. When she was 12 years old in 1800, she was kidnapped by the Hidasta Indian Tribe and taken to North Dakota. The Hidasta Indians also took several others along with her, and raided her Tribe from their stuff, killing a few people. A year after her arrival she was bought or gambled by a French-Canadian fur trapper, Toussaint Charbonneau, he made her his wife along with all his other “wives”. When she was 16, in 1804, she had gotten pregnant. By that time Lewis and Clark were setting up camp for the winter in Fort Mandan and had hired her husband as a translator. They later learned that Sacagawea spoke Shoshone and Hidasta, so they then asked her to join them, and she gladly accepted. “The soil as you leave the heights of the mountains becomes gradually more fertile. the land through which we passed this evening is of an excellent quality tho very broken, it is a dark grey soil” (quotes Lewis as he travels through Idaho Country.)
In order to understand how important Sacagawea was to the Lewis and Clark's mission to the Pacific, her history and the history of her people must be told.
There have been many influential cultural leaders throughout the history of the world. These leaders worked to change and improve society for those without a voice of their own. Minorities often suffer miserable conditions until someone takes a stand to demand change. In the United States, Native Americans are treated as second-class citizens who don’t have the equality that all persons in this country should have. Many well known Native Americans have worked to achieve better education, healthcare, housing, and jobs for their people. One of the few women in this group, Wilma Mankiller, made many important accomplishments in modern Native American society. As a member of the Cherokee tribe, Mankiller overcame many obstacles to become the first female Deputy Chief, as well as the first female Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Wilma Mankiller has become one of the most important leaders in Native American history as well as an influential advocate for women's rights.
In late October, The Corps of Discovery reached the Mandan Indian Villages in what is now known as North Dakota, where they built a fort and spent the winter. There, Lewis and Clark met a French Canadian trapper named Toussant Charbonneau, who was hired to be an interpreter. His 17 year old Shoshone Indian wife Sacagawea and child, Jean Baptiste, also went along on the trip. The explorers were thrilled at their good fortune. They hoped she could possibly lead them back to her native people. Also, Sacagawea could serve as a translator (Women in World Hi...
Throughout history, women have rarely been recognized for their contributions that have impacted the world. Sacagawea, a young native american girl, had a rough start in life by being kidnapped and sold at a young age. During the Lewis and Clark expedition, Sacagawea acted as both their guide and translator. Lewis and Clark were saved countless times with the use of Sacagawea’s knowledge and survival skills. Sacagawea was an important women in American History because without her the Lewis and Clark expedition would have failed.
Rowlandson, Mary. A True History of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson.In Women’s Indian Captivity Narratives. Ed. Kathryn Zabelle Derounian-Stodola. New York: Penguin Books, 1998.
“Reclaiming Culture and the Land: Motherhood and the Politics of Sustaining Community” is about a mother who is a Native American activist who has two children, she wants them to be raised and go to school in an Indian community. “I put my children in that school because I wanted them to be in the Indian community.” She explains that she is not sure if her children know what she is doing is common, but they know that what she is doing is right. “My children do have the sense that what I do is not necessarily common. Recently my daughter started asking me if I’m famous.” She has fought for her children to have a good life, full of community, ritual, and an understanding of who they are and where they come from.
She also feels that Harriet Tubman is a prime example of a strong African American woman. In this biography, author, Catherine Clinton gives an accurate take regarding the conditions for slaves in Eastern Shore, Maryland. Her description of the conditions empower readers to construe how Harriet Tubman more than likely lived in her early years. This is a fascinating, elegantly composed early account that will equip readers with a realistic insight around the life of an African American saint. There are many good points throughout this biography. The authors’ point about Harriet Tubman being brave is confirmed by evidence in which she detailed. Case in point, voyaging on numerous occasions from the South toward the North by way of the Underground Railroad was considered exceptionally strong evidence of bravery. This biography furthered confirmed my positive view of Harriet Tubman. It also provided me with new insight of the struggles that Harriet Tubman encountered. For instance, I was able to learn that her original name was Arminata Ross and she was forced to change her name to Harriet in order to maintain a false
It is not uncommon for people of one culture to misunderstand people of another. Patricia Riley’s “Adventures of an Indian Princess” introduces this concept and its underlying causes. As she illustrates a day in the life of Arletta, a twelve year old adopted Cherokee Indian, Riley reveals the misinformed and disinterested nature of the Rapier family. These individuals accept the stereotypical portrayal of Indians in America and do not wish to delve deeper into Indian culture, to much of Arletta’s chagrin. “Adventures of an Indian Princess” conveys the message that although one may not be properly taught about another culture, typecasting in place of attempting to understand is not an acceptable alternative.
Third, Clark and Lewis couldn’t finish the journey without a little bit of help. Clark and Lewis gained their help from Sacagawea and her husband Charbonneau. Sacagawea was a member of the Shoshone tribe and was taken by the prisoner by the members of the Hidatsa tribe. Her Husband, Toussaint Charbonneau, was an self-sufficient trader who lived among the Hidatsas. Lewis and Clark were offered a deal by a Charbonneau to sign on as a interpreter, because of his Sacagawea. Sacagawea was very big contribution to the Lewis and Clark expedition. She could read maps very well and she could sense in what direction they were to go. Lewis and Clark didn’t have much transportation until Sacagawea negotiated with the Shoshone for horses. Sacagawea was
Indian women had played roles in the beginning of American history. The two famous women were La Malinche and Pocahontas. Both of them were not educated, that’s why their stories were written by others. Bernal Diaz, Spanish conquistador and Cortez’s companion, wrote about Malinche. Whereas, John Smith, English soldier wrote about Pocahontas. Malinche played the role of translator, advisor and lover of Cortez, while, Pocahontas played the role of peacemaker. There are also some contradictions in Smith writings about Pocahontas saving his life. Malinche and Pocahontas made the link between colonist and native population, they married to Europeans; but Malinche was from South America (Mexico) and she had contacted with the Spanish, whereas, Pocahontas lived in North America (Virginia) and related to English. Both of them very intelligent women, Malinche had the skill of speaking multicultural languages and Pocahontas was the peace creator between Indians and English.
Throughout history freedom has had many different meanings and definitions; based on race, gender, and ethnicity. According to the dictionary freedom means the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint (“freedom” def. 1). Freedom may seem like something given to everyone however it was something workers had to fight for. Not everyone believed that workers’ rights needed to be changed, which led to a long battle between workers, employers and the government. To the working class people freedom meant making higher wages, having regulated hours, workable conditions and the right to free speech.