Final answer:
Native American tribes often helped migrants on the Oregon Trail, providing guidance and trading. Conflicts were rare and typically provoked by the migrants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cooperation of Native Americans was a significant aspect of the journey on the Oregon Trail. Initially, Native American tribes often acted as guides or engaged in trade with the migrants. The overland journey that the settlers undertook from places like Independence, Missouri, to Oregon was arduous, taking approximately five to six months.
Contrary to the images portrayed by Hollywood films, conflicts with Native Americans were infrequent and commonly instigated by the emigrants. As the movement into the west expanded, forts like Fort Laramie were established to facilitate trade and limit conflict.
Over time, the sheer number of settlers and the changing dynamics of westward expansion led to an increased military presence to secure the routes and protect interests, which changed the nature of Native American and settler interactions.