Having learned of the commanding presence the Sioux had established on the mid Missouri River, the captains were fortunate to encounter Pierre Dorion (Dorian) on June 12, 1804. Heading downriver with a party of fellow Frenchmen, 'old Mr. Dorion' had lived among the Sioux for twenty years and Lewis and Clark hoped to use his skills as an interpreter with that fierce and 'troublesome' tribe and persuade some of the chiefs to visit President Jefferson in Washington. After succsessfull meeting with the Yankton Sioux where Lewis and Clark collected information about the Siouan tribes, the captains were to leave Dorion with the Yankton with instructions to bring peace among many of the Sioux’s neighboring tribes. This proved to be a grave mistake as his presence and skills may have led to a more peaceful conclusion to their encounter upriver with the Teton Sioux near present day Pierre, S. Dakota. At their initial meeting Dorion and his men sold 300 lbs. of grease to the expedition and he’s shown in this painting with some of the 'furs & Peltries' that the two cajuex were loaded with along with buffalo grease and tallow. These were all valuable trade goods in Upper Louisiana.
