Lewis and Clark encountered the matriarchal Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara societies on their expedition. In this resource from Prairie Public Television, Amy Mossett and Terrence L. O’Halloran explain what these women contributed to society, specifically exploring the earth lodges built to withstand the harsh winters of North Dakota and their harvesting techniques. They also read Lewis and Clark’s observations of other matriarchal characteristics of these societies.