Sacagawea Day

On Sacagawea Day, people come together to honor the great woman who was born in 1788. She was brave and strong: the overall contribution is hard to underestimate. In the United States, memorials and statues are dedicated to her – the decision was made by the National Women’s Organization.

History

The girl was born near Idaho. She belonged to the Shoshone tribe and was of the Lemhi people, but at an early age she was stolen by other peoples and given the name Sacagawea. Then they sold it to a wealthy Canadian hunter, the company was made up of another girl. The man, according to the current rules, took both of them as his wife. In 1804, travelers of the Mandan people stopped in their area, they invited the hunter to follow with them as an interpreter. So Sacagawea ended up on the expedition.

The young woman by that time had given birth to a son and took him with her. She was well versed in plants and fruits, which always saved the team. Courage was manifested in different situations: for example, during a shipwreck, a girl was able to save many important things by bravely throwing herself into the water. The rumor spread for endless miles – legends were made about her. One day the expedition encountered a tribe whose leader was Sacagawea’s brother. The meeting radically changed the situation: the group received the necessary assistance.

It is not known for certain where the girl found death. There are several versions: the first says that she returned to South Dakota to her husband’s house, the other claims that she was lucky to die on historic lands, from where she left against her will. But something else is well understood: the beautiful Indian has become an indestructible symbol of peace and diplomacy.

Interesting facts

Did you know that Sacagawea:

• married at 13, her husband was 20-30 years older;
• was fluent in many languages;
• a river in present-day Montana is named after her;
• travelers treated her as an equal.

How to celebrate

Learn more about the girl’s life – she was full of adventures and interesting events! Visit memorial sites and honor her. Find a map that was created at that time. Watch a documentary about the trip.

When is Sacagawea Day celebrated in 2022?

Sacagawea Day is observed on December 20 each year.

Observations