Dorion, << daw RYAWN, >> Marie (1790?-1850), a Native American woman, became known for her bravery as a member of the Astor Overland Expedition. She was the only woman on this 3,500-mile (5,630-kilometer) trip. The expedition left St. Louis in March 1811 and reached Astoria, a fur-trading post in the Oregon region, in February 1812.
Dorion’s husband, Pierre, was an interpreter on the trip, and their two small sons accompanied them. The expedition walked most of the way, and Marie had more endurance than almost all the men. In December, she gave birth on the trail. The next day, she rode about 20 miles (32 kilometers) on horseback to rejoin the group. The infant died nine days later.
During the winter of 1814, Pierre Dorion and the other men were killed by native warriors in Oregon. Marie and her two sons escaped into the mountains, where she built a shelter. Because of the severe cold and deep snow, she and the children stayed in the shelter for 53 days. She killed their horse to provide nourishment.
Marie Dorion, a member of the Iowa tribe, was also called Marie Iowa or Marie Aioe. Historians know little about her early life.
