"While teaching American history at Encinal High, I often suggested the need for a holiday in a woman's honor, or, perhaps two women. My choices: Sacagawea and Eleanor Roosevelt. Why those two? Read on.

Perhaps no exploratory adventure in American history rivals that of the intrepid Lewis and Clark expedition across the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and beyond to the Pacific Ocean.

Crucial to the success of this early venture (1804-05) was a young Native American lass named Sacagawea, the Bird Woman.

She was born into the Shoshone Tribe, then shuffled around to a couple of other tribes, even being sold as a slave; then she was eventually married off to a Frenchman named Charbonneau who had signed on with Lewis and Clark partially as a guide but more as an interpreter.

Sacagawea performed a critical role in dealing with several tribes the expedition encountered -- the Shoshone in particular. Oddly enough, the fact she had given birth to a child and was carrying little Jean Baptist with her helped assuage relations with the suspicious, less-than-friendly Shoshone. It also assured them a war party wouldn't have a woman with a kid tagging along with them.

And we get an extra break with Sacagawea. Since we only know her approximate birth year (1767?), we can choose any date we feel a holiday is needed."

Get the Story:
Joe King: Thoughts on the Run: Eleanor Roosevelt, Sacagawea deserve holidays (The Oakland Tribune 10/1)