On August 12, 1806 Lewis & Clark reunited on the Missouri River near the present-day headquarters of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. The expedition traveled on to the Knife River Hidatsa and Mandan villages and days later, bid farewell to their interpreters Sakakawea and Toussaint Charbonneau. Before leaving the Mandan villages, they persuaded one tribal leader, White Coyote, to return with them to meet President Thomas Jefferson. On August 20, 1806 the Expedition left what is now North Dakota.

THE HISTORY:

The Lewis and Clark expedition arrived at the Mandan and Hidatsa villages near the mouth of the Knife River on October 26, 1804. It was here where they met Sakakawea, who was then only 15 years old. Lewis and Clark originally employed Sakakawea's husband, Toussaint Charbonneau, as an interpreter on the journey, but agreed Sakakawea and her infant son, Jean Baptiste, could join them on the trip.

Sakakawea's invaluable contributions on the journey included knowledge of edible plants, recognition of land forms, and the ability to translate Shoshone and communicate with other western Indian tribes. Perhaps her greatest contribution was her very presence and that of her baby. They gave an air of peace to the group of white strangers traveling through other nations.

On October 13, 1805, Captain Clark recognized Sakakawea's significant role on the journey when he wrote in his journal: "The wife of Shabono (Charbonneau) our interpreter we find reconciles all the Indians as to our friendly intentions. A woman with a party of men is a token of peace."

After the expedition, she remained with Charbonneau spending time at Knife River in North Dakota, St. Louis, Missouri, and finally at Fort Manuel in South Dakota. She gave birth to a second child, a daughter named Lizette, in the fall of 1812. Sakakawea is reported to have died of an unspecified illness later that year.