Lewis and Clark from the Native Americans perspective Research Paper

Lewis and Clark from the Native Americans perspective - Research Paper Example The Native Americans were poorly interpreted and failure to see their unique, cultural and historical existence. This came about because the trail they traversed had distinct cultures, dialects and tribal associations (National Geographic, 2013). The Native Americans formed part of the success of the expedition. Drouillard and Sacagawea were hired by Lewis to provide extensive support at different points of the trip. Drouillard was a hunter and a specialist in Indian sign semantics and local dialects while Sacagawea was a transcriber. Both helped save the mission as they helped in the provision of crucial necessities such as horses from the Shoshone tribe, canoes, medicines and valuable goods. The travelers' safety was not guaranteed during their expedition and Sacagawea played the role of ensuring their full safety, as was the case when the group came into contact with the Indian tribes. The Rocky Mountains were exhausting and formidable especially during the 11 day crossing in the snow led by Old Toby. The Mandan villages provided shelter and fortitude during the winter of 1804-1805 when they allowed the travelling team to build a fort amidst them. the villagers were friendly and provided food for the team. It is during this period that Lewis and Clark's life was saved from the Nez tribe that wanted to kill them. The two were saved through the intervention of an old woman who lived in the Mandan village. The chiefs from different tribes who provided friendly connections with other tribes further enhanced the success of their expedition. Without this, the voyage would have probably ended before it would have started (National Geographic, 2013) As is evident, Lewis & Clark met different tribes during their journey, and who provided help at each and every stage of the journey. Their first encounter was with the Oto Indian tribe, whose six chiefs who they honored with clothes and a flag. In return, the chiefs acknowledged their conquest and granted them access to pass through their lands. The Mandans and Hidatsas tribes from the North Dakota Territory insisted on the significance of using horses. These, according to this tribe, would be helpful in the transportation of cargo and speed up the journey as compared to travelling on foot. The neighboring tribes were generous enough to trade food stuffs and arrange for guides who gave information on the way ahead. The good relations with the tribes of the Colombia and Snake rivers proved to be useful as they provided food and quick passages through their lands. Along the journey, Lewis & Clark also met the North West, Plain and Plateau Indians with whom they shared an analogous cultural lifestyle and heritage. The Sioux, Crow and Mandans tribes were nomadic while few resided in villages. Those who lived in the country of the Colombian river were hunters, fishermen of salmon and subsistence agriculturalists. Despite the various friendly tribes, the travelers also met up with hostile tribes on thei r way to the Pacific Ocean. Such a tribe was the Blackfeet Indians, who were notorious for being hostile to intruders. The members of this tribe were equipped with rifles and sought to get more from the expeditionists. In the heat of the moment, Lewis and Reuben slew a Blackfeet warrior sparking a war between the tribe and envoys of the federal government. They also had an unfortunate encounter with the Yankton Sioux and Omaha tribes (National Geograp