Sacajawea

The Lewis and Clark expedition was pivotal in the growth of the United States of America. It took a long time for history to give due credit to the two men for their roles in the country's expansion, but it took an even longer time for history to acknowledge Sacajawea for her role in assisting the expedition.

Sacajawea was a member of the Lemhi Shoshone tribe, and she was born around 1788. Very little is known about her life before the winter of 1804, when the Corps of Discovery arrived at the Hidatsa villages where she lived and built Fort Mandan there to spend the winter. It is believed that through her efforts, the Corps was able to communicate with the indigenous peoples they encountered.

Sacajawea has become an important figure in the story of Lewis and Clark and a symbol of women's rights. In 2000, the United States honored her by minting a dollar coin with her face on it, making her the first American Indian depicted on American currency.