Many Nations, Many Homes

Long before European ships arrived in North America, hundreds of Indigenous nations lived across the continent. Each nation had its own languages, stories, and traditions. Some communities farmed corn, beans, and squash together in fertile valleys. Others followed seasonal routes to hunt bison on the plains or fish along coastlines. Indigenous builders created diverse homes suited to local climates. Plains nations used portable tipis made from wooden poles and buffalo hides. Pueblo peoples in the Southwest built multi-story adobe villages. In the Pacific Northwest, large plank houses sheltered extended families through rainy seasons. Trade networks connected nations over long distances. Wampum belts, obsidian tools, and woven baskets traveled along rivers and trails. Leaders negotiated agreements and shared knowledge about plants and weather patterns. Indigenous nations still live thr…

The Corps of Discovery

In 1804, President Thomas Jefferson sent an expedition called the Corps of Discovery to explore the Louisiana Territory. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led about thirty soldiers and skilled workers westward from St. Louis. Their mission included mapping rivers, recording plants and animals, and meeting Native nations along the route. The expedition relied on help from many people. French-Canadian trader Toussaint Charbonneau joined as an interpreter. His wife, Sacagawea, a Lemhi Shoshone woman, spoke several languages and recognized landmarks from her childhood. She helped the group obtain horses and food during difficult winters. York, an enslaved man owned by Clark, also traveled with the corps. He hunted, cared for supplies, and voted on decisions with other members at key moments. His story reminds us that the expedition included people who did not share equal rights at the tim…