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The true story of Sacajawea - Karen Mensing

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In the early 19th century, a young Agaidika teenager named Sacajawea was enlisted by explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to aid her husband Toussaint Charbonneau as a guide to the Western United States. Karen Mensing debunks some of the myths that surround the familiar image of the heroic woman with a baby strapped to her back and a vast knowledge of the American wilderness.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition took place in the early 1800s. How would this journey be different if it had taken place in the early 1900s? How would it be different if it had taken place in the early 2000s? How would the group travel? Would they eat the same things? How might modern technology make things different?

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Karen Mensing
  • Director Darcy Vorhees
  • Artist Tom Beuerlein, Marissa Hutchins, Sarah Johnson, Stephen Brooks
  • Narrator Jim Sharpe

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