How Did the Missouri Indians Communicate With Lewis & Clark?
The Missouri Indians The Missouri Indians were a small band of Native Americans who met with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. These Indians were nearly wiped out by rival tribes known as the Sauk and Fox and then from smallpox. The survivors ended up living with a friendly tribe called the Otos near the Platte River in modern-day Nebraska. Lewis and Clark had two meetings with the Missouri Indians to discuss trade and peace negotiations in the summer of 1804. This was before the expedition hired Sacagawea and her husband as interpreters. How the Lewis and Clark Expedition Communicated with the Missouri Indians Private Pierre Cruzatte was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He was part Omaha Indian and French, but more importantly, Cruzatte had been a fur trader on the Missouri River. Cruzatte could speak both Omaha and use sign language, so he was helpful in communicating with the Missouri Indians. Outcome of the Missouri Negotiations Not much progress came from the Oto-Missouri
