Who was Black Elk?
— Black Elk’s spirit dream — Black Elk as a young warrior — The beginning of Black Elk speaks — Storytelling is hard work — Black Elk’s pipe — Now it’s your turn : make a morning star — A traditional feast — Teaching tales — Black Elk and the six grandfathers — An amazing life — Fulfilling the spirit vision — Now it’s your turn : names that have meaning — Now it’s your turn : caring for mother earth.
Black Elk (1862-1950) was a much respected and wise holy man and medicine man of the Sioux Nation. He was cousin to Crazy Horse and knew Red Cloud and Sitting Bull. He was a man who even with his last breaths worried that he had not lead his people to the Good Red Road. He spent much of his days praying and fasting and was known for his visions and wisdom. Black Elk also travelled with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show and although he did not speak English, he visited France, England and Italy. Black Elk was married twice. His first wife was Katie War Bonnet whom he married in 1892. It was his and Katie’s youngest child, Benjamin, on whom Black Elk relied the last years of his life and also the man who named Paha Ska. Katie died in 1903. Black Elk’s second wife was Anna Brings White, who he married in 1905, She died in 1941. All total, Black Elk had four sons and one daughter. He lived in traditional Lakota ways until he was a young man and he was one of the last of the generation to do
