Sacagawea

Navigator, translator, & mother during Lewis & Clark expedition

This week on Broads You Should Know, Sam does a deep dive in teaching Sara & Justin about Sacagawea. Best known as the navigator during Lewis & Clark’s expedition of the Louisiana Purchase, the truth is a bit more complicated than that. She was kidnapped and sold into slavery as a young girl, and was brought on the journey by her husband/owner. She played the role of navigator at some points, but she also had never been to most of the land they were exploring and had never seen the ocean. She was mostly needed for her ability to translate and so that Native American tribes they encountered would trust the white men and believe they were peaceful. Listen to the episode to learn more about Sacagawea and the truth about white male exploration of North America.