Black Elk Last of the Great Sioux Chief’s

Black Elk (1863–1950) was a famous medicine man, spiritual leader, and holy man of the Oglala Lakota Sioux people. He was born on the Little Powder River in Wyoming, and his given name was Hehaka Sapa, which means “Black Elk” in English. Black Elk is perhaps best known for his role in the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, where he witnessed the killing of nearly 300 Sioux men, women, and children.

Black Elk is also famous for his book, “Black Elk Speaks,” which he dictated to John G. Neihardt in the 1930s. The book tells the story of Black Elk’s life, including his visions, his role as a spiritual leader, and his experiences as a Native American during a time of great upheaval and change. It is considered a classic of Native American literature and has been widely read and studied.

In one memorable passage, Red Dog, Black Elks’s friend, talks about watching the wagon trains head west high on a hill. He told the writer that the one thing that troubled him was he could not figure out how they were sneaking back behind him because he knew there could not be that many people in the world.

Black Elk’s teachings and vision of the world emphasize the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of living in harmony with nature. He believed in the power of the sacred hoop, which represents the unity of all things and the need…