the mandan were cautiously favorable toward such an alliance. when the expedition returned to the area in 1806 while traveling east, the mandan sent one of their chiefs, "sheheke," on the trip to washington, d.c. to meet with thomas jefferson. but the mandan did not commit to trading with the united states at the expense of their previous partnership with great britain through canadian traders. the hidatsa strongly resisted the american diplomatic efforts, often avoiding meeting with lewis and clark.