The Native Americans

The Native Americans

Written by: Holly Mae Odom

While Lewis and Clark were the first Americans to see much of what would become the western United States, those same lands had long been occupied by native peoples. Together we will explore the indians that were encountered by Lewis and Clark and the Corp of Discovery. We will find out what they learned from meeting these people and how they influenced Lewis and Clark.

  Over the course of the expedition , the Corps of Discovery would come into contact with nearly 50 Native American tribes. Quickly, the captains learned how many different definitions there really were for the word “Indian.” The Mandans lived in earth lodges, farmed corn and were amenable to trade with America. The Teton Sioux slept in tepees , hunted buffalo and guarded their territory fiercely against anyone who passed through, whether foreign or Indian. Some tribes had never seen a white or black man before Lewis and Clark. Others spoke bits of English and wore hats and coats they received from European sea captains.

At the time of the Lewis and Clark expedition, the Teton Sioux occupied two villages near present-day Pierre, South Dakota. One village was located on the Missouri River itself, while the other was situated off tributary , the Bad River. Among French and Canadian traders, as well as other neighboring tribes, the Tetons were known for aggressiveness and power. Intent on controlling traffic through their portion of the river, they would demand large gifts from passing merchants . Sometimes, they even used more violent tactics.

Continue you're research about the influences of The Teton Sioux Indians. 

Neiman, D. (2007). Lewis and clark the journey of the corps of discovery. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/native/index.html