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FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2003

The University of Montana-Missoula and the Montana Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission hosted the Confluence of Cultures conference this week.

Tribal members shared tribal histories about the Lewis and Clark expedition. York, the African slave of explorer William Clark, was mistaken a warrior by the Salish Tribe, said tribal elder Johnny Arlee, and probably saved the crew from being attacked.

Allen Pinkham, former chairman for the Nez Perce Tribe, said history shows there was sex between expedition members and Indian women. Clark and York had children with Nez Perce women, he said.

Rose Ann Abrahamson, a Lemhi Shoshone, talked about her ancestor, Sacajawea, whose name means "burden" in the Shoshone language. At age 12, Sacajawea was kidnapped by a rival tribe and eventually married off to an abusive French trapper. She reunited with her tribe on the expedition.

Get the Story:
Indians offer perspective on expedition (The Great Falls Tribune 5/30)
She can relate to stories of Sacajawea's travails (The Missoulian 5/30)

Relevant Links:
Confluence of Cultures - http://www.umt.edu/cultures/default.htm

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