Sacagawaea stands tall

West Main Street at the Lewis and Clark statue was transformed on Friday as children wearing Native American clothing danced in front of police vehicles and residents gathered for an event described by many as “long-awaited.”

Charlottesville-area residents and Native American guests erected a historical marker at the statue’s site on Friday honoring Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian who helped guide Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their 19th-century U.S. expedition to the Pacific Ocean. The expedition, launched in 1804, has many ties to the area. Lewis was an Albemarle County native, and the explorers were dispatched on their transcontinental journey by third President Thomas Jefferson.

Over many years, residents have decried the Shoshone woman’s portrayal on the statue as demeaning because she is kneeling next to the famed explorers, who stand upright.

Sacagawea, the only woman on the expedition, also served as an interpreter on the journey. She was about 16 and pregnant when she and her French-Canadian husband joined the mission.

Though the marker is only

one item, Mayor Dave Norris said, “It hopefully represents a major shift in how we talk about our past … and the role of women in society.”

“This is about reciprocity, finally recognizing the debt Charlottesville owes to women and American Indians,” said Guy Lopez, a Sioux Indian who has criticized the downtown statue.

Rose Ann Abrahamson, a descendant of Sacagawea, said she was very impressed at the steps the city had taken to give tribute to the Native American woman. The plaque, she said, was for all women.

“Women have always struggled,” Abrahamson said. “But we will give this plaque here strength.”

Abrahamson, along with relatives Rozina George and Summer Morning Baldwin, flew from Idaho to attend the ceremony, and are being hosted by members of the Monacan tribe. That tribe is native to Virginia.

“It’s wonderful to see Charlottesville making such great strides,” Abrahamson said. She added, “I think it’s so wonderful.”

The statue was erected in 1919 by celebrated New York sculptor Charles Keck. At the time, there were varying opinions on the work: an article in Natural History magazine from 1919 says the artist represented Sacagawea “Bending forward, intent on the vast expanse of the ocean.” Paul Goodloe McIntire, who donated the statue to the city, said Sacagawea’s addition to the work made it “greatly improved,” according to documents kept at the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society.

Still, many residents have thought Sacagawea’s stance is unfair. A group of about 25 women protested the statue in 1997, and city resident Jennifer Tidwell organized a protest about Sacagawea’s portrayal in October 2007. After the outcries, the City Council last year unanimously approved placing the marker commemorating Sacagawea next to the statue.

On Friday, Tidwell said, “I didn’t imagine a ceremony like this.” The event included Native American prayers, dancing, music and Sacagawea’s descendants blessing the marker.

“At the moment, I’m pretty moved,” Tidwell said.

Tidwell said the new plaque is a start in furthering the conversation about Native Americans and women.

“I really hope this is the beginning,” she said.