Cochise was one of the most feared and respected Indian leaders in history. He was chief of the Chiricahua Apaches during that tribe's most critical years, when they made their most determined stand against the efforts of the white settlers to deprive them of their homelands.

Under Cochise, the Chiricahua initially got along with the settlers. Because honor was a central concept of Apache beliefs, Cochise felt it was important to be true to his word in peace. Although he maintained the peace for four years, the settlers shattered his trust and forced Cochise to show his warlike side.

The war began as a result of a white rancher falsely accusing Cochise of attacking his ranch. An uninformed U. S. Army second lieutenant made matters worse by believing the rancher, and under a flag of truce, lured Cochise and his family into a trap. Only Cochise was able to escape. He took hostages of his own and tried to bargain for the release of his family. He finally realized he couldn't trust the whites and fought a guerrilla war for more than a decade.

Cochise did eventually regain his trust of white settlers, through his relationship with Thomas Jeffords. Jeffords had fought the Apaches, but respected them. Cochise learned to call Jeffords brother out of regard for his honesty. General Oliver D. Howard, a noted humanitarian sent by President Grant, accompanied Jeffords into Cochise's mountain stronghold. A peace was negotiated giving the Chiricahua a reservation in their homeland, with Jeffords as agent.

Before he died, Cochise affirmed his faith in the value of truth and the keeping of one's word.

Sacajawea, a Shoshone, was born about 1786 in territory which is now part of the state of Idaho. When she was about 11, she was captured by an enemy tribe. Then she was sold to the Missouri River Mandans, who in turn sold her to a French Canadian fur trader named Toussaint Charbonneau. During her early adventures she developed an imaginary friend she called "Walking Stone," a turtle. Sacajawea confessed to Walking Stone that even though she missed her people, she was excited about the adventures that had come into her life. Sacajawea had a chance to escape from her captors, but she refused to leave her friend, Otter Woman. Charbonneau took both Sacajawea and Otter Woman as his wives.

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark appeared on the river in 1804. The white men were heading a large party of explorers, and were on the first leg of their journey to the Pacific.

Charbonneau was accepted as interpreter for the expedition. It was agreed that Sacajawea would accompany him, for she was the real interpreter. Four months later they reached the high country beyond the Great Falls of the Missouri. Here they found the Shoshones, who were the people of Sacajawea. Sacajawea's brother was now the chief of the Shoshones and he promised the explorers horses and guides so that they could cross the mountains and complete their journey to the sea.

Before Lewis and Clark could take advantage of this promise, the chief changed his mind. Sacajawea told Lewis and Clark that the chief might abandon them. She severed her ties with her people and allied herself with the white men. She wanted this adventure to succeed. Cameahwait was finally persuaded to postpone their hunt and help the expedition.

Sacajawea lived to be very old and she found many adventures as she traveled widely in the west. Do you know that if it were not for this remarkable Indian girl, with her courage and her love of adventure, the great journey of Lewis and Clark might never have been completed.