Brave Hearts: Indian Women of the Plains

Sacajawea

Sacajawea was a Shoshone guide who helped Lewis and Clark explore the West. She was born in Idaho in 1788 and was kidnapped by a rival tribe at a young age. She was later sold to French fur traders and eventually became the property of Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian trapper.

In 1805, Lewis and Clark hired Charbonneau and Sacajawea to guide them on their expedition to the Pacific Ocean. Sacajawea was invaluable to the expedition. She helped the explorers find food and water, and she acted as a translator between the explorers and the Native American tribes they encountered.

Sacajawea's journey with Lewis and Clark was not without its challenges. She gave birth to a son during the expedition, and she had to carry him with her for the rest of the journey. She also witnessed the death of her husband and witnessed the violence that the explorers inflicted on Native Americans.

Despite the challenges she faced, Sacajawea remained a loyal and dedicated member of the expedition. She was a skilled guide, a resourceful negotiator, and a loving mother. She is a true American hero.

Nancy Ward

Nancy Ward was a Cherokee leader who fought for peace and justice. She was born in Tennessee in 1738 and was the daughter of a Cherokee chief. She was a gifted orator and diplomat, and she used her skills to promote peace between the Cherokee and the white settlers.

In the 1770s, Ward helped negotiate the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals, which established a boundary between the Cherokee and the white settlers. She also played a key role in the Cherokee delegation that met with George Washington in 1791.

Ward was a strong advocate for Cherokee rights. She fought against the forced removal of the Cherokee from their land, and she helped to establish schools and churches for her people. She was a tireless advocate for peace and justice, and she is remembered as one of the great leaders of the Cherokee Nation.

Pocahontas

Pocahontas was a Powhatan princess who became a symbol of peace between her people and the English. She was born in Virginia in 1596 and was the daughter of Powhatan, the chief of the Powhatan Confederacy.

In 1607, Pocahontas met John Smith, an English explorer who had been captured by the Powhatan. She saved Smith's life, and the two developed a close friendship. Pocahontas helped Smith and the other English settlers survive in the New World.

In 1613, Pocahontas was captured by the English and taken to Jamestown. She was held captive for a year and was forced to convert to Christianity. In 1614, she married John Rolfe, an English tobacco planter.

Pocahontas and Rolfe had one child, a son named Thomas. Pocahontas died in England in 1617, at the age of 22. She is remembered as a symbol of peace and reconciliation between the Native Americans and the English.