Lewis and Clark camp, exchange gifts with American Indians
By Christian Richardson, Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, August 22, 2004
Mahkenna Koinzan, left, and her brother Jack, second from left, Sioux City, and Anna Horner of Minneapolis listen to Mike Berger, portraying Sgt. Nathaniel Pryor, left, during Camp Discovery Saturday along the riverfront as he explains various artifacts that were used in trading with the Indian tribes encountered on the journey. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga)
The Missouri River bank along U.S. Interstate 29 was transformed into the Corps of Discovery campgrounds Saturday.
Men dressed in heavy 1804 uniforms fired canons, forged utensils, guarded their tents and cooked over an open campfire. Patrons carrying water bottles, tacos and cell phones watched the laborious work.
"Makes you realize how soft we are now," said Jane Andersen, 62, of Ponca, Neb.
The day filled with re-enactments of Lewis' & Clark's stop on land nearby presented an educational opportunity for some 400 people in attendance at 1 p.m, estimated Alan Hansen, executive director of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. The interpretive center later reported that a record 1,413 people visited its indoor exhibits.
Later, in a re-enactment on the grounds northwest of the interpretive center two American Indian chiefs met with Captain Meriwether Lewis. Lewis handed the two men a United States flag. They exchanged small gifts.
The leaders sat on a fur rug under a tree, smoked a peace pipe and talked of the expedition's travels.
A narrator told of how the re-enactment of the event, which originally occurred in South Dakota, was meant to show the meeting between the Yankton Sioux nation, then known as the Yankton Nakotah, and Captain Lewis. The American Indians gave the Corps of Discovery safe passage through their land, which was located in the Yankton, S.D. area and stretched as far south as Sioux City.
"We're here to educate people on history," said Mike Weddell, of Sioux City.
Dressed in buckskins and a feather headdress Weddell joined Patrick Four Killer of Sioux City. Four Killer bore a wolf headdress. The chiefs welcomed Capt. Lewis, portrayed by Stephen Allie of Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Allie, known as an expert in authentic clothing, was clad in a captain's uniform.
Weddell said he wanted to send the message that the Yankton were friendly "because we would welcome people in."
And he wanted to "let people know we're still here and friendly like we use to be toward different people and different nations."
Allie, known also to portray Sgt. John Ordway, is one of eight re-enactors from the Frontier Army Living History Association of Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
"What we explain are the military aspects of the expedition," Allie said. Their encampment displayed the corps sleeping quarters and weapons.
He explained that the adventure involved more than the well known two captains, a dog and an American Indian guide.
"It was an army expedition and that's what we try to emphasize," Allie said.
The Fort Leavenworth group is all volunteers, who conduct the re-enactments on the weekend. After today's events they'll return home, he said.
Many patrons expressed hopes of seeing the St. Charles, Mo. re-enactment group and the keelboat the men are traveling in. Hansen said the men broke camp near the interpretive center at about 10 a.m. Saturday and stopped in Elk Point, S.D. for the day.
Hansen said the St. Charles group is dedicated to sticking to the schedule that Lewis and Clark followed 200 years ago.
A row of heavy white tents staked out on the lawn north of the Sergeant Floyd River Museum and Welcome Center, a blacksmith and weapons display highlighted the perennial Camp Discovery encampment.
Dean Slader of Valley, Neb., heated iron over a forge oven and relentlessly pounded hot metal to make a spoon. Slader said it usually takes 40 minutes to make the eating utensil.
Children stood by, mesmerized with the exhibition.
"It's real fun to talk to them because you can ask them who they are," said Ginny Duncan, 64, of Sioux City, about Camp Discovery.
"They can answer about any question you throw out at them," Duncan said. " I like that."
The Frontier Army Living History Association will conduct the encampment today from noon to 3 p.m. outside the interpretive center. The Yankton Sioux meeting re-enactment will take place again today at 1 p.m. at the interpretive center.
Contact Christian Richardson at (712) 293-4219 or christianrichardson@siouxcityjournal.com.
Men dressed in heavy 1804 uniforms fired canons, forged utensils, guarded their tents and cooked over an open campfire. Patrons carrying water bottles, tacos and cell phones watched the laborious work.
"Makes you realize how soft we are now," said Jane Andersen, 62, of Ponca, Neb.
The day filled with re-enactments of Lewis' & Clark's stop on land nearby presented an educational opportunity for some 400 people in attendance at 1 p.m, estimated Alan Hansen, executive director of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. The interpretive center later reported that a record 1,413 people visited its indoor exhibits.
Later, in a re-enactment on the grounds northwest of the interpretive center two American Indian chiefs met with Captain Meriwether Lewis. Lewis handed the two men a United States flag. They exchanged small gifts.
The leaders sat on a fur rug under a tree, smoked a peace pipe and talked of the expedition's travels.
A narrator told of how the re-enactment of the event, which originally occurred in South Dakota, was meant to show the meeting between the Yankton Sioux nation, then known as the Yankton Nakotah, and Captain Lewis. The American Indians gave the Corps of Discovery safe passage through their land, which was located in the Yankton, S.D. area and stretched as far south as Sioux City.
"We're here to educate people on history," said Mike Weddell, of Sioux City.
Dressed in buckskins and a feather headdress Weddell joined Patrick Four Killer of Sioux City. Four Killer bore a wolf headdress. The chiefs welcomed Capt. Lewis, portrayed by Stephen Allie of Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Allie, known as an expert in authentic clothing, was clad in a captain's uniform.
Weddell said he wanted to send the message that the Yankton were friendly "because we would welcome people in."
And he wanted to "let people know we're still here and friendly like we use to be toward different people and different nations."
Allie, known also to portray Sgt. John Ordway, is one of eight re-enactors from the Frontier Army Living History Association of Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
"What we explain are the military aspects of the expedition," Allie said. Their encampment displayed the corps sleeping quarters and weapons.
He explained that the adventure involved more than the well known two captains, a dog and an American Indian guide.
"It was an army expedition and that's what we try to emphasize," Allie said.
The Fort Leavenworth group is all volunteers, who conduct the re-enactments on the weekend. After today's events they'll return home, he said.
Many patrons expressed hopes of seeing the St. Charles, Mo. re-enactment group and the keelboat the men are traveling in. Hansen said the men broke camp near the interpretive center at about 10 a.m. Saturday and stopped in Elk Point, S.D. for the day.
Hansen said the St. Charles group is dedicated to sticking to the schedule that Lewis and Clark followed 200 years ago.
A row of heavy white tents staked out on the lawn north of the Sergeant Floyd River Museum and Welcome Center, a blacksmith and weapons display highlighted the perennial Camp Discovery encampment.
Dean Slader of Valley, Neb., heated iron over a forge oven and relentlessly pounded hot metal to make a spoon. Slader said it usually takes 40 minutes to make the eating utensil.
Children stood by, mesmerized with the exhibition.
"It's real fun to talk to them because you can ask them who they are," said Ginny Duncan, 64, of Sioux City, about Camp Discovery.
"They can answer about any question you throw out at them," Duncan said. " I like that."
The Frontier Army Living History Association will conduct the encampment today from noon to 3 p.m. outside the interpretive center. The Yankton Sioux meeting re-enactment will take place again today at 1 p.m. at the interpretive center.
Contact Christian Richardson at (712) 293-4219 or christianrichardson@siouxcityjournal.com.
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