“Her roots and berries probably prevented more illness by bringing variety to a diet of mostly red meat...Sacagawea’s contributions to their diet must have been very welcome, indeed.”
- April Summitt, Sacagawea: A Biography |
Knowledge of Native Plants and Species
As an American Indian, Sacagawea had a vast expanse of knowledge on the trees, plants and animals native to the western United States. She shared her best tips with the crew on what was edible and useful, which turned out to be an extremely important contribution. The men ate mostly red meat: not the healthiest diet. The wild fruits and vegetables provided by Sacagawea helped to prevent illness among them, as well as adding a welcome variety to their foods.
Here are some of the specific ways in which Sacagawea assisted the expedition by providing information on native plants and species.
Here are some of the specific ways in which Sacagawea assisted the expedition by providing information on native plants and species.
Jerusalem ArtichokesEarly on in the journey, Lewis noted in his journal that Sacagawea already had contributed something of great value. He wrote that she “busied herself in serching [sic] for the wild artichokes... Her labors soon proved successful and she procured a good quantity of these roots..” Before long, Sacagawea came across a great number of these roots buried in the ground. It was later noted that they were most likely to be Jerusalem artichokes, which are plentiful in the region. Historian April Summitt noted that the artichokes “must have been a welcome addition to the foods that the expedition brought.” (Sacagawea: A Biography, pg. 30)
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Ingenuity with Elk Bones
Later in the journey, Sacagawea explained to Clark and some other men how elk bones could be further used even after all the meat and marrow was gone. She showed them how to boil the bones into grease or tallow, which could benefit the crew later on. The men were impressed with her knowledge and ingenuity as the bones, which were once worthless, could now aid them in the future.
Wild LicoriceEventually Sacagawea formed the habit of walking along the riverbank with Clark every morning, pointing out various traits about the nearby land and life. It was noted that she came across wild licorice on a walk with Clark, which makes sense as the plant was native to the region. Historian April Summitt explained that this wild licorice “provided [the crew’s] diet with much needed carbohydrates and sugars that a diet of primarily meat could not provide.” (Sacagawea: A Biography, pg. 31)
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Wild Roots and OnionsOn May 16th the expedition was travelling through the land of the Nez Perce Indians, in present-day Idaho. Both Lewis and Clark wrote that Sacagawea was continuing to provide them with much-needed native foods, specifically wild roots and onions. Clark wrote, for example, that the fennel root was “paleatiable [sic] and nourishing food.”
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Mud and Mosquitos
Sacagawea also taught the crew certain methods the natives used to avoid being constantly attacked by mosquitoes, which were plentiful along the journey. The first tactic was to spread mud on areas of exposed skin to discourage insect bites. The second was to crush the bulbs of wild onions in order to form a mixture that would do the same. This mixture was then applied to crew members’ bodies, and it acted as a fairly efficient safeguard.
2015 National History Day Project by Liam Mullen