Because the Great Spirit gave strength to the hunters and
the hard working hands of the women, there would be enough buffalo meat to eat this
winter. This is a good time for my people, Sacajawea thought to herself. Now the white
winter blanket could cover mother earth, and the howling song of the winds could come
‘round the tipi, but her family would stay warm and well fed. That thought made her
very safe, very happy and she fell back against the soft carpet of forest leaves, folding
her long slender suntanned arms behind her head like a pillow, looking up at the sky.
Suddenly without warning a burst of birds scattered from the branches of the trees
directly above her, their wings flapping furiously making themselves disappear into small
dark dots in the clouds. The sound of fast running feet pounded the ground and she was
immediately lifted up by one hand sweeping under her body, the other hand across her
mouth, she was being stolen by "the people who lived moons away". Sacajawea knew
that she would be taken from this place that she loved, but she made a promise to herself,
one day she would return to her people!
COMMENTARY:
Little is actually known about this mysterious young woman
who helped to lead the Lewis and Clark expedition to safety over the treacherous mountain
range and through dangerous Indian territories. Her dedication to returning to her people
helped others to forge a pathway through the Northwest Territory. An original heroine!
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