The success of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was highly dependent on the relationships made between the men of the expedition and the Indians who occupied the area from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean. In order to establish essential alliances with the Indians, Lewis and Clark had to overcome communication barriers and provide provisions to show hospitality. Because Lewis and Clark knew that the expedition would come in contact with many Indian nations, interpreters were hired to act as mediators. In addition, Lewis hired skilled hunters not only to supply food for the men, but also to give to the Indians when trade goods, such as beads and medals, were scarce. At the beginning of the expedition in 1804, there was approximately fifty-one men on the Corps of Discovery. Of the fifty-one men, five of them were metis: George Drouillard, Pierre Cruzatte, Francois LaBiche, Peter Pinaut, and Peter Roi. A new addition to the party occured when baby Jean Baptiste Charbonneau was born.  The metis on the expedition were an integral part of its success because they played a major role as interpreters and hunters.

 

George Drouillard (Drewer; Drewyer)

George Drouillard was born in Sandwich, Canada to Pierre Drouillard of Detroit and Shawnee Indian woman. He was working at Fort Massac when he was recruited by Meriweather Lewis for $25 a month, November 11, 1803. Because Drouillard was both highly skilled in Indian sign language and hunting, his commander was reluctant to release him to the Corps of Discovery.  Drouillard would prove to be one of the most valuable men on the expedition.

Drouillard's hunting skills were remarkable. In Charles G. Clarke's account of the Journals, Drouillard is constantly mentioned as having killed numerous amounts of game. In fact, Drouillard was often put in charge of the hunting parties, and "Lewis praised him as the most skilled hunter among the men" (pbs.org). Drouillard's hunting skills were essential during the winter of 1804-05 when the Corps stayed with the Mandan Indians. During the severe winter, Drouillard commanded the hunting parties that killed food for the Corps and for trade with the Mandans. Early on in the expedition, "G Drewyer brought in a  Missourie Indian which he met with hunting in the Prarie" along with two Oto Indians whose villages were located along the Platte River and with whom Lewis and Clark were seeking council ( Devoto). Lewis felt that Drouillard was responsible and trustworthy, and therefore put him in charge of the hunting and search parties. Since Drouillard was loyal and dependable, he would always accompany either Lewis or Clark on his excursions. He was part of Lewis' party that explored the top of the Missouri's southern bluffs and the Yellowston River. Drouillard was also with Lewis' party on June 13, 1805 when Lewis found the south fork was the real Missouri River( Clarke).

On August 14, 1805, Drouillard interperting skills proved to be invaluable. Clark commented that "the means of communicating with the [Shoshone Indians] was by way of Drewyer who understood perfectly the common language of jesticulation or signs which seems to be universally understood by all Nations we have yet seen" (devoto, 194). The previous day Drouillard was able to communicate to a Shoshone Indian woman that Lewis and Clark meant no harm and to not be alarmed. Drouillard was noted to be "superior in situations of danger, where nerve, endurance and cool judgement were needed" (pbs.org). While on the Little Missouri River, Charbonneau lost control of the pirogue. Drouillard quickly but sternly took charge of the boat and brought her safely under control.  If it had not been for Drouillard's quick and calm actions, then Lewis and Clark's most valuable items would have been lost (Clarke).

Even after the expedtition was over, Lewis gave Drouillard the first letters containing the reports of the expedition to deliver to the postman (pbs.org). Drouillard also visited Clark in the Rocky Mountains to give him topigraphical details of the mountain range, which Clark added to his map of the Northwest (Clarke).

Drouillard was murdered by the Blackfeet Indians on Manuel Lisa's fur trading party in 1810 near the Three Forks region of upper Missouri (Clarke).
 

Pierre Cruzatte (Cruzat; Crusatte; Crouzatt; Croisette)

Pierre Cruzatte was of French and Omaha Indian heritage.  His father lived among the Omahas and was possibly from the Cruzatte family who were early settlers of St. Louis.  Before enlisting on May 16, 1804, Cruzatte was a fur trader along the Missouri River, which was later helpful to the expedition.  He also knew the Omaha language and sign-talk.  In addition, Cruzatte was an excellent boatman, who knew the navigation of the Platte River well.  When the Corps of Discovery came upon the Teton Sioux, Cruzatte was able to talk to some Omaha squaws and learned that the Teton Sioux were going to stop Lewis and Clark from crossing the Cheyenne River.
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He was put in charge of the pirouges and was "usually at the helm of the large red pirogue" (Clarke 150).  In times of emergencies, Cruzatte's valuabale experience kept the boats from flipping over. As was the case on May 14, 1805 when "Charbonneau, instead of putting her before the wind, luffed her into it--and she went to one side. Cruzatte gave orders repeatedly to take hold of the rudder and at last Cruzatte himself saved her" (Clarke 155). Cruzatte's intuitive navigation skills earned him the respect of every man on the expedition.

Cruzatte was also the entertainer of the Corps as a violinist. He made lively music during the holidays and helped keep the mens' spirits up. Cruzattte's music talents also came in handy with the Indians while the Corp was moving from the Snake River to Tidewater. Captain Clark noted, "Cruzatte played the violin, and the men danced, which pleased the Indians. This presented a good opportunity to hold a council to make peace--which we are satisfied we accomplished" (Clarke 214).

Cruzatte acted as an extraordinary boatsman, navigator, interpreter, and musician. After the expedition, he was awarded extra pay and a 320 acre land grant. Cruzatte was killed between 1825-1828.
 

Francois (William) LaBiche (La Buche; La Beiche; La Buish)

Francois LaBiche's date and place of birth are unknown. He was from French and Omaha Indian lineage. LaBiche joined the Corps of Discovery on November 28, 1803 at Kaskaskia, Illinois.  LaBiche was an expert in English, French and several lower Missouri Indian languages. When the expedition came in contact with the Shoshone Indians at the Great Divide, Labiche was able to translate English into French for Charbonneau, who then translated it into Hidatsa for Sacagewea, who finally translated it into Shoshone. Labiche's translation was again helpful in September 1806 when the expedition passed through Teton Sioux territory (pbs).

LaBiche was also a skilled hunter and went on many of the hunting parties led by George Drouillard.  In addition, LaBiche had experience in trade and navigation and often helped Pierre Cruzatte as boatman.  LaBiche was part of Lewis' party to find a suitable place to set up camp for the winter of 1805.  They determined that Neteul near the Clatsop Indians had plenty of vegetation and wildlife and therefore built Fort Clatsop.  After the expedition in Octoer 1806, LaBiche along with John Ordway were put in charge of transporting the rest of the scientific evidence to Washington D.C. (www.pbs.org).

LaBiche married Genevieve Flore and had seven children. He died in St Louis after 1828 (Clarke).
 

Peter Pinaut (Charles Pineau)

Peter Pinaut was born to Joseph Pineau and a Missouri Indian woman around 1776. Pinaut started out as a member of the Corps of Discovery, but seems to have been ent back to St. Louis on June 13, 1804 (Clarke).
 

Peter (Pierre) Roi (Roy; Roie; Le Roy)

The identity of Peter Roi is uncertain because of the populat name (Roi and Roy) found among the early settlers.  The Roy family is from French and Indian extraction.  Peter Roi is not mentioned in the Journals after February 28, 1805 (Clarke).
 

Jean Baptiste Charbonneau

Jean Baptiste Charbonneau was born on February 11, 1805 to Frenchman Toussaint Charbonneau and Shoshone Indian woman, Sacagewea. He was the youngest member of the expedition and was only a little over a year when the expedition ended. Clark was very fond of the small boy whom he nicknamed Pomp (Clarke). Due to his fatherly affection towards the boy, Clark offered to raise Jean Baptiste as his son. So in April 1811, Charbonneau and Sacagewea left Jean Baptiste with Clark (www.pbs.org).

 By the age of 18, Jean Baptiste returned to frontier life as a fur trader. While he was on the Kansas River, Prince Paul Wilhelm of Wuertmberg, Germany took Jean Baptiste lived in Europe for six years where he became fluent in English, French, German, and Spansih along with several Indian languages he had previously learned. Jean Baptiste returned to mountain life in 1829. In 1846 Jean Baptiste was part of the Mormon Battalion under Philliop St. George Cooke where he hunted, explored, and guided. Afterwards, he joined the San Luis Rey mission as the alcalde. Jean Baptiste did some gold mining in California and finally on May 1,1866, on his way to Montana he died of pneumonia. His gravesite is now part of the National Register of Hisoric Places (www.pbs.org).