You and your Corps of Discovery are approaching the Mandan Villages. You know this is the trade center of the Northern Plains. Native Americans and white businessmen travel long distances to trade in the late summer. On your way to the Mandan villages, you and your men have seen many abandoned villages. The Mandan Indians suffered great losses of life due to a small pox epidemic brought by the white man. You discover there are two Mandan villages, one led by Chief Big White on the west bank of the river, and another led by Chief Black Cat on the east bank.
You have yet to begin your journey into the great unknown. So far, all the distance you have come from St. Louis has been in familiar territory. In October you meet the Mandans. Chief Big White and his hunting party greet you; peace seems possible. The Mandans are delighted that your expedition requires that you spend the next five months wintering with them.
You are interested in any information the local traders can provide. You invite them to your camp to discuss the geography. One of your visitors is a man named Toussaint Charbonneau, a French Canadian. He is living among the Hidasta Indians as a independent trader. Charbonneau has a young Indian wife. He won her in a bet from the Hidasta warriors who kidnapped her from the Shoshone.
Toussiant Charbonneau wishes to sign on with your Expedition as an interpreter. He wife speaks both Shoshone and Hidasta. Charbonneau can translate the Hidasta into French to Drouillard ( a member of the Corp of Discovery). Drouillard can then translate to you and Clark in English.
Communication with the Native Americans is of utmost importance. The success of your expedition may depend on the willingness of the Native Americans to trade. You needs should be explained in their native tongue. One of your Corp members, MacKenzie, has acquainted himself with Toussaint Charbonneau and he is not impressed. Apparently, the translation chain does not flow as well as you originally believe.
Should you hire Toussaint Charbonneau and in the process agree to take along his wife, even though she is pregnant?
Fall 1804- The problem is should we hire Toussaint Charbonneau, and in the process agree to take along his wife, even though she is pregnant. We think that we should hire the Toussaint Charbonneau. Because we need a better translator and they know some of the land. And as a bonus we get a navigator. My thought is we did a good job coming to the solution because we have a thoughtful answer on if we should hire Toussaint Charbonneau. Lewis and Clarks decision was that they should take along Toussaint Charbonneau and his wife. Our decision and Lewis and Clarks decision was the same, or we had the same decision.
ReplyDeleteBlue Group- Shania, Kalei, Jacob, and Jaret.
Date: Fall of 1804
ReplyDeleteShould we hire Toussaint Charbonneau and that we should take his wife even thought she is pregnant? Yes,we hired him and his wife because they speak Hidasta, French,and Shoshane and Drouillard can can put in English for us.We all agreed on Toussaint and his wife. The said yes too. We both said yes to have them go one the trip with us.
Green group
ReplyDeleteHalei’s- thoughts yes for translations
Amanda’s- thoughts yes for translation but no cause more mouths to feed and pregnant lady
Austin’s thoughts- why not
Tristan-sure they can help
The corp says yes we will hire the French dude and Sacagawea the French dude will help us survive and get around while Sacagawea translates and help with relations.
Lewis and Clark made the same decision with the French dude and Sacagawea they hired them in the winter and she had her baby in the spring. Sacagawea turned out to be very helpful because her brother was chief and with her help they got horses.
we said yes because she can help with the languages and it would be less trouble to go through to understand there languages.A probably less chance being killed for not understanding there languages too. we will also be hiring Toussaint Charbonneau as well.
ReplyDelete