The Uncharted West Looms
Along the way, the explorers encountered various Indian inhabitants such as the Omahas, the Missouris, the Teton Sioux and the Yankton Sioux. Apart from the Teton Sioux, also known as Lakota, all the nations were friendly, and the captains would meet with the chiefs of the expedition and offer them gifts.
1805: American explorers Lewis and Clark at the mouth of the Columbia River during their exploration of the Louisiana Territory. Original Artwork: Painting by Frederic Remington (1861-1909). (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)
The encounter with the Lakota resulted in a confrontation that was close to degenerate into violence. When the winter of 1804 was near, Lewis and Clark decided to camp with the Mandans and the Hidatsa, mostly because they did not know the route beyond the villages of the Mandans, which were located along the Missouri River.