Wonder Woman of the Week: Sacagawea

Sacagawea, a Lemhi Shoshone woman born around 1788, played a crucial role in the success of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806), which explored the newly acquired Louisiana Territory. Kidnapped at a young age by Hidatsa raiders, she was later sold to or won by the French-Canadian fur trader Toussaint Charbonneau, who became her husband. When Meriwether Lewis and William Clark hired Charbonneau as an interpreter, they recognized Sacagawea’s value not only for her linguistic skills but also for her deep knowledge of the terrain. Despite being just a teenager and pregnant at the time, she joined the Corps of Discovery, giving birth to her son Jean Baptiste shortly before the expedition set out into the vast and unknown West.

Throughout the arduous journey, Sacagawea contributed far beyond translation. Her knowledge of plants, geography, and native tribes proved vital in navigating unfamiliar lands. At several critical moments, her calm presence helped prevent violence and misunderstandings between the Corps and various Indigenous groups, particularly when they encountered her own people, the Shoshone. In one remarkable coincidence, she recognized the Shoshone chief as her brother, a moment that helped secure desperately needed horses and supplies. Her role as a woman—and a mother carrying an infant—also signaled to tribes along the way that the expedition was not a war party, increasing its chances of peaceful passage through hostile or wary territories.

Though Sacagawea received little formal recognition during her lifetime and her exact fate remains a subject of historical debate, her legacy endures as a symbol of courage, resilience, and cultural bridge-building. In the 20th and 21st centuries, she became a national icon, particularly celebrated for her contributions to American exploration and for the strength she represented as an Indigenous woman navigating two worlds. Her image has appeared on U.S. currency, in statues, and in countless books and films. For many Native Americans and feminists alike, Sacagawea stands as a powerful reminder of the often-overlooked roles women and Indigenous peoples played in shaping the history of the United States. Her journey with Lewis and Clark, though recorded mostly through others’ eyes, continues to inspire new generations to explore, persevere, and honor cultural heritage.