Sacagawea - The Guide

A Guide is one who forges the way through unfamiliar and dangerous territory so that the others who follow may also enjoy success. Sacagawea navigated effectively through difficult terrain, seeking the smoothest, safest path for one of the most important explorations in the history of North America.

She was born into a Northern Shoshone village and was taken to live with another tribe in North Dakota where, as a teenager, she was married to a French trapper. When Lewis and Clark came searching for the services of a guide and an interpreter, Sacagawea volunteered and set off with them across the unmapped West, carrying her infant son. She quickly became one of the most valuable members of their party – a party that would become known as the “Corps of Discovery”. For example, her knowledge of the terrain allowed her to guide the members of her party to life-sustaining food sources. Her decisive actions when a boat capsized allowed her to save valuable instruments and materials, including the journals of Captain Clark. Her calm, confident presence with her infant son sent the message to other tribes that she was with a peaceful expedition.

Her knowledge of Native American languages allowed the Corps to communicate and negotiate with various tribes. Sacagawea’s skills as a guide contributed toward the success of one of the most historic, peaceful treks in American history. We honor her memory and attempt to emulate the qualities of competence and leadership that she embodied.