Portrayal details Lewis and Clark expedition

COLUMBUS - Darrel Draper's voice carried over the children in a lilted mix of French and English.

The accent was assumed by the 56-year-old Omaha man as he took on the identity of George Drouillard, a member of Lewis and Clark's famous westward expedition. Drouillard is portrayed as a part French, part Shawnee Indian man who was a hunter, interpreter and Indian-sign talker with the explorers.

"So far we have 12 men and one dog. Sacre bleu!" Drouillard exclaims at the start of the trip.

Draper told Drouillard's story from the trapper's point of view, from what happened when sickness set in to interaction with Native American tribes along the way.

Drouillard recalled falling ill and the medicine Meriwether Lewis gave him.

"Dr. Rush's Thunderbolt. It make you feel better. In three hours, Drouillard making run for de wood... But, it cure me," he recalled.

There were more obscure points that Draper relayed to his audience as Drouillard.

When a sergeant on the expedition perished, a vote was held two days later to fill the position.

"This is the first vote taken by Americans west of the Mississippi River," Drouillard's voice boomed over the heads of the children.

Later, when the group finally reached their destination of the Pacific Ocean, it had to be decided whether they would camp near the water or near the woods. Everyone in the party, including African American servants, Sacagawea (their female guide) and the Indians, were included.

"It will be 65 more years before black Americans can vote. It will be 113 more years before American women can vote. It will be 119 more years before American Indians can vote," Drouillard said, putting democracy into a different perspective.

Drouillard expressed his consternation upon seeing the Rocky Mountains for the first time. He said Lewis pondered taking another route.

"Captain Louie say, maybe we no go tha' way. I say, 'What way you go to go west?'"

As the character was part Indian, Drouillard expressed some regret at what happened to the Native Americans at the hands of the incoming Europeans, and he went so far as to accept some responsibility. He tempered that with examples of great American leaders and told the students they would have to decide for themselves if the westward expansion was justified.

Draper, upon finishing his monologue, left the students with some parting words.

"May every day of your life be a voyage of discovery."

Draper said he has assumed the role of Drouillard since 2001, having done similar character reenactments in the past. He spent 30 years in the military and has gone coast to coast with his roles.

He was at Lakeview High School on Saturday morning at the request of the East Central Nebraska Reading Council for the Young Author's Conference. Students in kindergarten through eighth-grade in Platte, Nance, Colfax, Polk and Butler counties were invited to submit manuscripts of original stories.

The stories were judged, and medals were handed out for first, second and third place in each grade. The winning stories were read aloud for the group.

The day also included a presentation on animal skins and how to tan hides by Dale Novak of Clarkson.