Sacajawea

I started this novel in preparation for our summer holidays in Montana where we camped in
Harden for the Crow Fair powwow. The surrounding teepees and the singing accompanied by
Indian drummers set a perfect atmosphere for this book about the great Native Shoshoni woman,
Sacajawea.

In 1805, she accompanied her husband, Toussaint Charbonneau who was the interpreter on the
Lewis and Clark's expedition, to the Pacific coast. Sacajawea carried her baby boy, Baptiste
(nicknamed Pomp), on her back across the mountains and freezing snowstorms of the journey.

The novel was 1328 pages long and it took me 8 months to complete but I never thought of
leaving it unfinished although the excitement of their trek to the Pacific overshadowed the retracing
of their steps back. The uncertainty in the historical data was a hindrance as Sacajawea might have
died on page 792 in 1812. Charbonneau had two wives at this time and one of them accompanied
him up the Missouri River and died of a fever on that trip. This and the uncharacteristic behaviour
of the heroine after this time made me wonder if this really was Sacajawea any more. However the
idea that Sacajawea lived to a much older age is supported by Native oral tradition and other
documents, so I continued to enjoy the possibility of this story.

Another criticism of this book was the portrayal of a romantic interest between Sacajawea and
Captain Clark. It is known that Clark was close to both Sacajawea and her son but this persistent
belief that there has to be romance in any relationship between a man and woman is unbelievable
to me.

Anna Lee Waldo says that "the Agaidukas were wary about anything unknown, because too much
curiosity might unleash unwanted powers from the tribal medicine man." She does not carry that
idea through to the end because even though Sacajawea is portrayed as a curious woman her
participation in the white man's journey is not portrayed as going against this native belief.
Curiously, the results were that white men took over the land and the native people lost their way
of life. The legend of this Shoshoni woman is not sacrificed although it would be an interesting
twist of the tale. Other native myths and ideas are also introduced but not followed throughout.

There were detailed descriptions of Indian culture, such as the Okeepa or Sundance as we refer to
it now. This was a torture ritual which was to demonstrate a brave's strength and worthiness. The
Plains Indians were a sacrificial people that even offered their bodies up to their Great Spirit,
literally, praying for survival through His help. The recounts of a buffalo hunt and of women
setting up a teepee were also told with care and skill.

Anna spoke for Sacajawea in simple poetic wisdom. "Oh, I do,ai. It is just something that is
gnawing at my thoughts. I think it is the Great Spirit telling us that we can all live together in
happiness, no matter where we come from. If we get to know a person, we can like him."