Mary Pierpoint is a freelance Lakota journalist and photographer and an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.

Mary is a descendant of the Chouteau Family of St. Louis.  She will discuss how the Lewis and Clark expedition brought her French ancestors and Lakota ancestors together.  By discussing the matriarchs in both families she is able to give a clear view of how the strength and determination of the women in the extended family impacted not only the fur trade on the upper Missouri River, but also a very close connection to Merriwether Lewis, with some surprising insights.