In 1800, the twelve year old Sacagawea was kidnapped from her Shoshone Tribe in the Rocky Mountains by the Hidata Indians. She was then sold as a slave to Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian fur trader, who claimed her as one of his many wives. Lewis and Clark felt that her Shoshone heritage would help in trading with other Indian tribes despite the fact that she was six months pregnant. Along with her husband, she became an interpreter to the team of explorers for her knowledge of multiple native languages becoming the only woman of the thirty-five members. She gave birth to a son, and America's youngest explorer, Jean Baptiste, on February 11, 1805. Her contribution to the expedition included digging for roots, collecting edible plants and picking berries for food and medicine. In one incident, high winds capsized one of the team's boats. Sacagawea remained calm and collected important papers and supplies essential to the advancement of the expedition. After encountering a certain native tribe, she recognized her brother, a Cameahwait Chief of the Shoshones resulting in an emotional reunion on August 17 and the team's ability to obtain horses from the tribe. The other Indian tribes the Corps encountered felt comfortable and believed the strangers were friendly as soon as they saw her as well. Despite the fact that she was a female, her vote was equally considered during the vote the team took to determine where to spend the winter. Piloting the returning trip through familiar Shoshone trails, she ended the trip at Hidasta-Mandan villages on August 14 in 1806.
Though she received nothing, her husband was given $500 as well as 320 acres of land. Six years later, she gave birth to daughter Lisette though it is not known whether she lived past infancy. Two theories remain on the fate of Sacagawea. One states that she passed at only 25 years of age from what is believed to be a severe illness. This theory suggests that both her children were adopted by Clark, who did infact educate Baptiste, eight months after her death. In opposition, Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard believes Sacagawea lived to be 100 on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
Though she received nothing, her husband was given $500 as well as 320 acres of land. Six years later, she gave birth to daughter Lisette though it is not known whether she lived past infancy. Two theories remain on the fate of Sacagawea. One states that she passed at only 25 years of age from what is believed to be a severe illness. This theory suggests that both her children were adopted by Clark, who did infact educate Baptiste, eight months after her death. In opposition, Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard believes Sacagawea lived to be 100 on the Wind River Indian Reservation.