Passion or Profession: Guide for Lewis and Clark Expedition

Period: c. 1790–1812 or 1884

A Shoshone Indian, Sacagawea was kidnapped by Hidatsa Indians when she was about 12 years old. She was later sold to a French-Canadian trapper, Toussaint Charbonneau, who became her husband. Together, they helped lead explorers Merriwether Lewis and William Clark across the American West to the Pacific Ocean. Sacagewea was instrumental throughout the trip, navigating, helping find food, and negotiating with different tribes. There is a great deal of debate about when and how she died, whether as a young woman of illness or about 70 years later of old age.