Bird Woman: Sacagawea's Own Story

by James Willard Schultz

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Genres: Biography, History, Native American, Nonfiction, Historical, Biography Memoir, Native Americans

143 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1918

About the author

James Willard Schultz, or Apikuni, (born August 26, 1859, died June 11, 1947) was a noted author, explorer, Glacier National Park guide, fur trader and historian of the Blackfoot Indians.

James Willard Schultz (J.W. Schultz) started writing at the age of 21, publishing articles and stories in Forest and Stream for 15 years. He did not write his first book until 1907 at age 48. The memoir: ''My Life as an Indian tells the story of his first year living with the Pikuni tribe of Blackfeet Indians East of Glacier. In 1911, he associated himself with publishers Houghton Mifflin who published Schultz's subsequent books for the next 30 years. In all, Schultz wrote and published 37 fiction and non-fiction books dealing with the Blackfoot, Kootenai, and Flathead Indians. His works received critical literary acclaim from the general media as well as academia for his story telling and contributions to ethnology. Sometime after 1902, while living in Southern California, Schultz worked for a while as the literary editor of the Los Angeles Times.

Reviews

[Terry Kerber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just curious, of all the books I've read on Sacajawea this is the closest first hand account almost to the degree while I was reading I thought it was her "autobiography." Of course it is not that but it has great detail into what she told to the people who retold her story here, they being Hugh Monroe and James Willard Schultz. I HIGHLY recommend all Schultz books as they are incredibly authentic and the best accounts of how life was for the traders and Indians who lived back then. So the question I have is why Wikipedia list 43 sources you can investigate on Sacajewea's life but not one mentions this book which has more information and is more comprehensive than any of the other sources? Have none of the scholars who documented Sacajawea's life ever read James Willard Schultz books???

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those obscure treasures one stumbles across while wandering around Powell's for a couple of hours. It is reportedly the thirdhand retelling of Sacagawea's own account of the Lewis & Clark expedition. I have read several versions of the story, but before this, none of them have captured the perspective of the young native slave woman who served as their guide. This is surprisingly well-written and fascinating, regardless of its veracity.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing perspective. I hope it is truly from her voice.
I'm re-reading "Undaunted Courage" with a great new perspective because of the details from Sacagawea's view.

[CindySR · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read it online here .

Probably as true and thorough an account as we can get.

[Angela Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been a quick read for me as I enjoy reading books about Sacajawea. I did not realize until I was reading this that the book was published in 1918. I thought that was interesting. There were parts of the book that moved a little slower than others for me, but overall it was good. I liked how it told her story the way she told it to others.

[Pam McCallister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Cheryl Ballard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I see that this book was originally published in 1918 which explains the lack of drama and glamorization. It is based on Interviews of those who knew the Bird Woman . She lived a long life and thus discussed the Lewis and Clark trip with them. It was informative and I am glad that she is considered a heroine. She was intelligent, resilient and resourceful while being an Indian woman in a decidedly man’s world,

[Matt Kelland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, if only her husband hadn't interrupted the story like a person from Porlock. There's so much more I wanted to know.

[Candi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book but was left with mixed feelings. I believe it is intended to be a history. The Google Book scan is from the Collection of American History at Harvard. Yet I found a reference to it as a novel. I believe it is Sacajawea's story but whether it is oral history passed down from her is probably debatable. I read paperback edition form Enhanced Media with is missing the illustrations, appendix, and foot notes! I later downloaded a PDF from Google Books and all the material is there. My rating is based on the full book but I was ;happy to read the main part of the book in paperback rather than on a screen.

The story is well told and related as "oral" history. I put oral in quotes because people from different tribes spoke to each other in sign language and some of the story was acquired that way. Much of the story is told as Sacajawea telling her story to the person who told the author, so you feel like you are hearing her tell it.

The details of the story corroborate with the entries in the Lewis and Clark Journals. The problem is that all her story telling is set after 1816 and it is now believed she died in 1812. When the author wrote this he had information to believe she lived in to the 1880s. At the time he wrote, histories meant for the general populace did to include documentation. Also in some oral history traditions, you may find people relating stories they heard from others as their own. So I am left wondering, is this Sacajawea's telling of her adventure or is it a telling of her story from other information but related that way?

[Patricia Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good account of an important part of history

I enjoyed this record of Sacajawea as she did her part to lead Lewis and Clark accross mountainous regions to reach the Pacific Ocean. I especially liked Sacajawea's story in her own words. The fact that she was only sixteen years old when she agreed to be an interpreter for the white men seems amazing to me. What sixteen year old, nowadays, would attempt such an undertaking I don't know.
I urge all history buffs to read this important bit of history and pass it on to your children.
As always, happy reading and let this book inspire you to do something worthwhile.

[Diane Jellison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sacajawea, a factual account

This writing is an excellent accounting of a great part of our American history. It is an interesting, factal story of the Lewis & Clark expedition to the Pacific Ocean. Also, as an explorer, guide, translator, mother of an infant son on this trip is Sacagawea, the only woman, Native American, in the party. For Mr. Schultz' writing I am thankful in this season of Thanksgiving. This reading imparts respect for Sacagawea via her honest, true and valuable contributions of which I never tire of learning. To read that those two explorers treated her well and of her faithfulness to them pleases me.

[Alethea Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 1918 book tells the story of the Shoshone woman who guided Lewis and Clark’s Corp of Discovery to the Pacific Ocean in 1804-06. The basic outline is well known: a young captive sold to a French Canadian voyageur leads an expedition across uncharted territory with a baby in her arms, at several points saving the entire company. The book’s shortcoming is that the end relies entirely on Grace Hebard’s contention that Sacajawea came to the Wind River reservation and died there an old woman. The historical record indicates Sacajawea died in 1812 at Fort Manuel in present day South Dakota. So although there’s no indication of it in this book, the argument goes on.

[Joseph Passarella · Rating 3 out of 5]

WORTH THE READ

I read this book as a follow up book on the life of Sacajawea - written by Anna Lee Waldo. THAT book was exceptional! I did not want it to end, and so I chose to read this book because I could not get enough reading in on the life of Sacajawea. However, this book lacked the insight and masterful storytelling of Anna Lee Waldo’s book. I will say that I found myself intrigued by the middle section of the book (which was intended to be in Sacajawea’s own voice). That is why I gave it a 3- star rating.

Overall, it was a quick read and not horrible, so yes, I would recommend it.

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sacajawea, Bird Woman

This is the same version of Bird Woman by James Willard Schultz, this has a copyrights of 2017. I was disappointed after reading the book. I should have looked closer, I just don't want others to make the same mistake. I completely read it again. I have read several version of Sacajawea and it always amazes me how strong and brave this woman was. She deserves all the credit that she has received throughout the years. A great book that reflects only several years of her life.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about the Lewis and Clark expedition as told by The Bird woman. She tells how she was captured from her tribe and kept for many years . The tribe that kept her treated her well. She did a lot of interpreting for tribes and white men. She tells of poor tribes that were starving and had to eat their horses and dogs to survive the winters mostly. Seems a lot of the tribes fought each other and some helped out the poor tribes. Tells of the times they traveled and the land and about different tribes .

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read whatever I can find about Sacagewea as well as the L&C expedition. The informants in this book actually knew her and often conversed with her in her older years. The writing of Schultz is third hand i.e. from his informants. Note, written in 1910. Many events were told quite differently from some of the most recent literature. I want to think this book is the closest to the truth one could encounter. In any case, the book is eloquently written in fascinating 1910 prose.

[Dennis F. Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bird Wins he guide r Lewis and Clark county

A most riveting and interesting read. Remarkable woman was Sakajawia. Doubtful that the expedition of Lewis and Clark would have been successful without her assistance. Truly a woman who stands tall in the world of men. Without her help the conquest of the West would have been delayed for several years.

[Marsha Ronquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

History is enlightening

This is not a story of her travels with Lewis and Clark. Her story does not even start until chapter four. There is a lot of interesting information about the difference in the tribes and tribal life and customs. The fought wars among each other. The mistreated other tribes.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent insights into the wisdom of Sacagawea, her experiences with Lewis and Clark, and her childish husband, Charbonneau. From primary sources, we hear her in her own words as she told her stories to her friends and family in her tribes. We also get an insider's experiences in the intertribal warfare dominating native American lives at the time.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkable! This adventure fills in the gaps.

And Sakajawea cries. I loved her story, I loved the research. I loved the journal. From all the stories I've read about her, I learned the most from this book.

[Ray York · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing journey

James W. Schultz does e great job of pulling history together of Lewis and Clark’s exploration and incorporating information from other writers of later years to give a great picture of Sacajawea’s life.

[Robyn Echols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting History

I found this history of Sacajawea quite interesting. I liked how part was told in the point of view of those who knew her, and part was told as if she narrated her own story. A good read for those interested in the history of the early American explorers.

[Jennifer M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dry. The facts seem well researched but the writing is not as engaging as I would have liked. These are real people and yet the author presents them almost like characters in a novel which removes some of the connection and creates a distance that doesn't need to be there.

[Ricky Kimsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Than A Guide

This tells the life of Sacajawea before and after she met Lewis and Clark. You will learn that before she met the explorers she had already lived a dramatic life.

[Anne Wellman · Rating 1 out of 5]

So this is the true story of Sacajawea, as told (in another language) to the author by people who knew her? He remembers these long accounts this perfectly, does he? Seems more like fiction.

[Linda Rae Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

Written in 1918, a time of different style and mindset. Very enlightening Her husband would have been in jail in today's world.

[Ronald Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real hidden gem....

[Brenda L Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read... interesting telling of the story of Sacajawea.

[Garrett Lampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read!

It is so interesting reading perspectives from this era. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in American history.

[Sandra Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read