4/8/2006:
On March 10th, we did a story on Sheheke, the Mandan chief who went east with Lewis and Clark to meet President Thomas Jefferson. Tracy Potter, who has just written a book on Sheheke, has more to say about the chief, starting with his name. Clark called him “Big White,” which might have been close, but was probably shorthand for his real name... White Coyote, Sha-heyk-shote.
Sheheke and his people hosted the Corps of Discovery in the winter of 1804-05 and generously told them, “If we eat, you shall eat.” He delivered on that promise by bringing them corn and taking Meriwether Lewis on a buffalo hunt. To learn more, read Tracy Potter’s book, Sheheke: Mandan Indian Diplomat.
Written by Merry Helm