Sacagawea, sah kah guh WEE uh (1787?-1812), was a Shoshone Indian woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805 and 1806. The expedition, an early exploration of the northwestern United States, was led by U.S. Army officers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Sacagawea has often been depicted in art and literature as the expedition's heroic guide. But in reality, her contributions, though important, were much more limited. Sacagawea's name means Bird Woman. It is also spelled Sacajawea or Sakakawea.