Day 11-Atchison, KS to Big Lake, MO (53/495 miles)

Lewis and Clark encountered over two dozen different Indian tribes on their expedition.  It was at this point on the river where they thought they would have their first formal meeting with the Kansa tribe.  That meeting did not materialize because the Indians were hunting bison on the plains in early July 1804 when the expedition passed through this region.

President Jefferson had instructed Lewis and Clark to do everything possible to befriend the Indians.  In fact, he wanted Lewis and Clark to invite some of the important tribal leaders to visit Washington, DC.

Lewis and Clark often gave the Indians gifts, including medallions with the likeness of President Thomas Jefferson on them, tobacco, whiskey and blue beads.

The reception that Lewis and Clark received from the Native Americans varied from tribe to tribe. They often feared that the Indians would attempt to rob them.  Usually they were well received by the Native Americans, but later in their journey their fears of being robbed would prove justified.

Today I rode through the first of many Indian reservations I will pass through on my trip, that of the Iowa tribe in southeastern Nebraska.  Earlier in the day, I passed through Troy, Kansas, which is the location of a large wood carving honoring Native Americans by a gentleman who now  has created different carvings honoring Native Americans in all 50 states.

 

With a few exceptions,Federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies have no jurisdiction over activities that take place on Indian reservations. Law enforcement on the reservations is handled exclusively by tribal police. I once spoke with a cyclist who told me he had experienced problems on the Lewis and Clark trail with young Native Americans who tried to rob him while he was camping on reservation land.

 

I had that story in mind when I entered the reservation. The first thing I saw upon entering the reservation was a tribal policeman parked on the side of the road.  I went over to speak with him and he could not have been nicer!