About the Council

The Lewis and Clark expedition looms large in the American imagination. It was an unsurpassed tale of adventure and endurance, yet the bicentennial events demaded more than a commemoration of a long-ago adventure. This was an opportunity for all of us to evaluate the long chain of cause and effect that links past, present and future.

From the perspective of American Indians, the explorers were not discoverers and describers of an unknown land but rather sightseeing foreign visitors whose experiences depended on the good will and assistance of strangers. Indeed, without Indian help, Lewis and Clark and their party might have become lost or died from starvation.

The expedition itself acknowledged that it had to be a cooperative venture with the people who inhabited the land and that survival depended on American Indian willingness to share knowledge about the land, its resources and practical routes across it. During the journey, Lewis and Clark learned to see the land through American Indian eyes. The Bicentennial Commemoration provided an occassion for us as a nation to learn about the expedition, enhance cultural awareness and to acknowledge the traditions and sacredness of the land.

Robert R. Archibald
President,
National Council of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial

Bicentennial Council History
History of The National Council.

Board & Friends
Board members and friends of the Bicentennial.

How to Make a Donation
Learn how you can help the National Council.

Partners
Partners of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration.