During their final day before heading east, a group of Clatsop Indians crossed the Columbia River in a canoe and met with members of the Corps.  They explained that the other side of the river had plentiful elk.

This new information provided a third alternative for a winter camp.  Rather than head east to Sandy River or the falls, Lewis and Clark were now faced with the possibility of wintering over near the mouth of the Columbia River.

On November 24, 1805, Lewis and Clark polled the members of the Corps about what to do.  Each member and their “vote”  was dutifully noted in the journal.  Most significantly, two votes stand out among all others:  those of York and Sacagawea.

York was a slave to Captain Clark.  At that time in history, slaves were considered property and had no rights as individuals.  Indians and women received similar treatment.  Yet Lewis and Clark made a point of asking their input as well as those of the permanent party.