Randy’L Teton to showcase new book about Sacajawea at Wood River museum event

The Wood River Museum of History and Culture will host Randy’L Teton from the Fort Hall Indian Reservation for a presentation about her new young adult book, “It’s Her Story: Sacajawea.”

The event, which will also be livestreamed online, will take place at 5 p.m. Friday at the John A. and Carole O. Moran Lecture Hall at The Community Library, 415 Spruce Ave. N., in Ketchum. Registration is required for the in-person presentation.

The book tells the story of Sacajawea, the only female member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806. According to the press release, “It’s Her Story: Sacajawea” is a graphic novel that tells the story of Sacajawea – a young girl who was taken from her Shoshone people – through the lens of a modern-day young Shoshone girl and her grandmother. It’s illustrated by Ali McKnight.

Teton will sell the book and posters at the event and meet with attendees.

“The Wood River community will have the chance to hear what a dynamic and captivating storyteller she is,” said Mary Tyson, director of the Center for Regional History, in the press release. “People, especially young people, are eager to soak up stories about women facing all odds. It’s so important to learn or re-learn Sacajawea’s story through the Shoshone lens.”

In 1998, Teton served as the official model for the U.S Native American dollar coin featuring Sacajawea. In addition, she completed several museum exhibitions across Idaho as a curator and co-curator for several notable Native American exhibits highlighting Shoshone-Bannock history and culture. She is working on a personal memoir as the “youngest and only living model” on U.S currency, according to the press release.

“I wrote this children’s book to reflect a Shoshone storytelling of Sacajawea’s journey from Salmon, Idaho, to the Pacific Ocean,” Teton said in the press release. “Join me as I share her journey and my journey in representing her voice on a national level. I have been representing Sacajawea since 2000 when I traveled with the U.S. Mint to help promote the new golden dollar coin featuring Sacajawea and her baby Jean Baptiste.”