When American flags and Sioux peace pipes met on the Missouri

Lewis and Clark’s Peaceful Yankton Sioux Council

In August 1804, Lewis and Clark planted an American flag at Calumet Bluff and waited. Three days later, seventy-five Yankton Sioux warriors led by Chiefs Shake Hand and Half Man rode into camp.

Under an oak tree’s shade, Lewis gave gifts and talked of a new nation while Pierre Dorion, a French trader married to a chief’s daughter, turned his words to Sioux.

The next day, tribal leaders spoke of their needs for guns, trade goods, and powder. During this peaceful meeting, a Yankton baby boy was born who later grew up to be Chief Struck by the Ree.

This historic council near today’s Nebraska-South Dakota border set up decades of peace between the Yankton and America.

The Lewis and Clark Visitor Center atop Calumet Bluff now tells this story with stunning river views that look much as they did that fateful day.

Three Yankton Boys Brought News That Changed History

On August 27, 1804, three Yankton Sioux boys walked into the Lewis and Clark camp with big news. They told the explorers about a large group of their people camping nearby along the James River.

The boys helped connect their tribe with the newcomers.

Lewis and Clark saw this as their chance to follow President Jefferson’s orders about making friends with Indian tribes. They stopped below Calumet Bluff to wait for the Yankton leaders to contact them.

The American Flag Waved From Calumet Bluff

Lewis and Clark put up a tall flagpole on August 27th and raised a big American flag to show they came in peace. They picked a spot Clark called a “beautiful plain” below the tall limestone cliff.

The place got its name from the French word for peace pipes used in Indian meetings. Pierre Dorion Sr., their new translator, got ready for his job.

Dorion knew the Yankton well after living with them for twenty years and marrying Holy Rainbow, daughter of a Yankton chief.

Seventy-Five Warriors Arrived For The Big Meeting

On the morning of August 30th, Lewis and Clark sent Dorion across the river in a small boat to invite the Sioux chiefs. He came back at ten o’clock with several tribal leaders.

Chiefs Shake Hand (We-oog-shen) and Half Man led seventy-five Yankton warriors into the camp with great ceremony.

This marked the second major Indian council for Lewis and Clark, after their earlier talks with the Oto and Missouri tribes.

Captain Lewis Spoke Under An Oak Tree

At noon on August 30th, Lewis gave his speech in the shade of a big oak tree while Dorion turned every word into Sioux. He spoke directly to “Shaking Hand,” who they saw as the main chief.

Lewis told them the United States now owned the Louisiana Territory and wanted to trade peacefully with the Yankton. His words followed Jefferson’s orders to create “friendly impressions” with the tribes they met.

Peace Medals Showed Who Was Important

After his speech, Lewis handed out special peace medals to five chiefs. One got a medal marking him as “great chief” while others got medals for second and third chiefs.

The expedition also gave away an American flag, tobacco, clothes, blankets, and other goods. The chiefs took these gifts with respect, understanding their meaning in this new relationship.

Clark wrote in his journal about the steps they took in recognizing tribal leaders through the medal ceremony.

Buffalo Meat And Sacred Pipes Sealed The Deal

The Yankton showed their goodwill by giving the expedition several hundred pounds of fat buffalo meat. Both groups shared the sacred peace pipe, passing it among all the leaders.

As evening came, the Yankton performed traditional songs and dances on the Dakota shore.

Clark learned about the Akicita Society, a group of tribal warriors, while Sergeant Ordway wrote down details about their music and customs.

Yankton Leaders Asked For Guns And Clothes

On August 31st, the Yankton chiefs gave their answers to Lewis’s speech.

Chief Shake Hand talked about how poor his people were and how much they needed “powder and ball” for hunting. The chiefs said their women and children were “naked” and needed “petticoats and clothes” to live.

They wanted steady trading partners who would bring manufactured goods regularly. Clark and Sergeant Ordway wrote down everything the chiefs said.

The Tribes Promised To Make Peace With Neighbors

The Yankton leaders agreed to stop fighting with the Oto and Missouri tribes as Lewis and Clark asked. They accepted President Jefferson as their new “Great Father” and promised to respect American authority.

Several chiefs said they would travel to Washington D. C. in spring 1805 to meet Jefferson face-to-face.

Unlike later meetings with other Sioux bands, this council ended with mutual respect and understanding.

A Baby Born During The Council Became A Great Chief

Tribal stories tell of a Yankton baby boy born during the celebrations at Calumet Bluff.

When Lewis heard about the birth, he wrapped the infant in an American flag and said the child would grow up to be an important leader.

That baby, named Struck by the Ree (Pa-la-ne-a-pa-pe), did indeed become a powerful Yankton chief. Many years later, he signed the 1858 treaty that created the Yankton Sioux Reservation, just as Lewis had predicted.

Dorion Got A Special Job As Peace Ambassador

Lewis and Clark gave Pierre Dorion Sr. an important mission before they left.

They asked him to visit neighboring tribes like the Omaha, Ponca, Pawnee, and Otoe to make peace. His job included bringing tribal representatives to meet President Jefferson in Washington.

They gave him official papers, an American flag, and gifts to help with his work.

The Expedition Left With New Friends Behind Them

On September 1st, Lewis and Clark packed up and continued their journey west after four days of successful diplomacy.

Their peaceful meeting with the Yankton stood in sharp contrast to their later trouble with the Teton Sioux near present-day Pierre.

When the expedition saw the Yankton again during their return trip in 1806, Clark called them “good men” in his journal.

Visiting Missouri National Recreational River, Nebraska

The Lewis and Clark Visitor Center at 55245 Nebraska Highway 121 in Crofton sits atop Calumet Bluff where the famous council happened. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers runs it with free admission, open 9am-5pm during warm season.

You can watch expedition films in the theater and check out exhibits about the Missouri River and expedition history. The scenic overlook gives you great views of Gavins Point Dam and Lewis and Clark Lake.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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