Explorer Matthew Henson
When Admiral Robert Peary accomplished his goal of reaching the North Pole in 1909 becoming arguably the second known person to reach the destination he did so with the help of sled dogs and five other men all of color.
In an era where the knowledge of a non-white person was often dismissed by other whites as inferior, Peary’s team consisted of one Black man and four Inuit natives, all skilled in arctic survival. The names of the four Inuits were Ooqueah, Odaq, Eginwah and Sigluk.
“Peary utilized Inuit technology instead of bringing in outside technology for survival, for sleeping, for moving dogs,” said Eagle Island State Historic Site Park Manager Tim Spahr.