Cameahwait
Encyclopedia
Cameahwait was the brother of Sacagawea
, and a Shoshone
chief. He was the head of the first group of inhabitants of modern-day Idaho
that were encountered by Europeans.
Cameahwait met Meriwether Lewis
and three other members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
on August 13, 1805. He then accompanied Lewis across the Lemhi Pass
to meet Clark. Sacagawea was with Clark's party, and recognized Cameahwait as her brother. To the Shoshone Cameahwait and Sacagawea were brother and sister. In Shoshoni cousin and brother are the same word. This also means that they think of them as the same, so that during the translation when Sacagawea cried out that she recognized Cameahwait as her brother, that is what she meant, but whether they actually had the same father, let alone the same mother, is not clear.
Cameahwait donated horses to Lewis and Clark to repay them for reuniting him with his long-lost sister. She had been kidnapped by the Hidatsa Indians when she was twelve years old. She and her friend Naya Nuki were used as slaves for the Hidatsas. They then sold the two Indian girls to Toussaint Charbonneau
, a French-Canadian trapper. Charbonneau and Sacagawea both accompanied Lewis and Clark on their western expedition.
Cameahwait was killed during a battle with the Blackfeet
at Bloody Dick Creek in Montana
, at an uncertain date. It is believed that he was buried on a butte between the towns of Lemhi
and Tendoy, Idaho
.
Sacagawea
Sacagawea ; was a Lemhi Shoshone woman, who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide, in their exploration of the Western United States...
, and a Shoshone
Shoshone
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe in the United States with three large divisions: the Northern, the Western and the Eastern....
chief. He was the head of the first group of inhabitants of modern-day Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
that were encountered by Europeans.
Cameahwait met Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark...
and three other members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
on August 13, 1805. He then accompanied Lewis across the Lemhi Pass
Lemhi Pass
Lemhi Pass is a high mountain pass in the Beaverhead Mountains, part of the Bitterroot Range in the Rocky Mountains The pass lies on the Montana-Idaho border on the continental divide, at an elevation of 7373 feet above sea level.-History:...
to meet Clark. Sacagawea was with Clark's party, and recognized Cameahwait as her brother. To the Shoshone Cameahwait and Sacagawea were brother and sister. In Shoshoni cousin and brother are the same word. This also means that they think of them as the same, so that during the translation when Sacagawea cried out that she recognized Cameahwait as her brother, that is what she meant, but whether they actually had the same father, let alone the same mother, is not clear.
Cameahwait donated horses to Lewis and Clark to repay them for reuniting him with his long-lost sister. She had been kidnapped by the Hidatsa Indians when she was twelve years old. She and her friend Naya Nuki were used as slaves for the Hidatsas. They then sold the two Indian girls to Toussaint Charbonneau
Toussaint Charbonneau
Toussaint Charbonneau was a French-Canadian explorer and trader, and a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He is also known as the husband of Sacagawea.-Early years:...
, a French-Canadian trapper. Charbonneau and Sacagawea both accompanied Lewis and Clark on their western expedition.
Cameahwait was killed during a battle with the Blackfeet
Blackfeet
The Piegan Blackfeet are a tribe of Native Americans of the Algonquian language family based in Montana, having lived in this area since around 6,500 BC. Many members of the tribe live as part of the Blackfeet Nation in northwestern Montana, with population centered in Browning...
at Bloody Dick Creek in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, at an uncertain date. It is believed that he was buried on a butte between the towns of Lemhi
Lemhi, Idaho
Lemhi is an unincorporated community on the Lemhi River in Lemhi County, Idaho, United States. Lemhi is located on Idaho State Highway 28, south of Tendoy and northwest of Leadore. Lemhi has a post office with ZIP code 83465....
and Tendoy, Idaho
Tendoy, Idaho
Tendoy is an unincorporated community in Lemhi County, Idaho, United States. It is located at on State Highway 28, at an altitude of 4,842 feet...
.