![]() I was in high school when I read Black Elk Speaks, and I recall being deeply moved by it, both because of its subject's life story and experiences, and because of the spiritual wisdom that it offered. Since that time, Black Elk's vision has inspired countless others, and the wisdom it offers about the choices before humanity has remained as necessary as ever. ![]() ![]() Neihardt, and Black Elk Speaks was published to much acclaim. In 1932, he related his vision to the Euro-American author John G. Witness to the end of the nomadic freedom of his people, Black Elk fought in the Battle of the Little Big Horn (1876) traveled with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show to New York and London, and then with the Mexican Joe show throughout Europe (1886-1889) and witnessed the massacre at Wounded Knee (1890). Waking from his illness, Black Elk returned to a world where the beauty and hope of his vision seemed to stand in stark contrast to the ugliness and suffering of life around him. He also learned about the great tree of life, growing at the center of all things, which can only flourish if all peoples care for it. Taken to the land of the Cloud People, he met the Six Grandfathers, who were the Powers of the World, and he learnt from them about the Circle of Life, and the powers of life and destruction that had been given to all peoples. In 1872, at the age of nine, he had his Great Vision, while he lay ill. Born near the Little Powder River in Montana in 1863, Black Elk had visions from an early age, but kept them to himself at first, for fear that he would be misunderstood by his people. Nelson turns to the story of Oglala Lakota prophet and medicine man Black Elk in this deeply moving work of biography. Lakota picture-book author and artist S.D. informative, well written.” - Kirkus Reviews “Nelson pulls it off with his confident style as a storyteller. A solid addition to collections of Native American tales and an enjoyable read-aloud.” - School Library Journal “Splendid acrylic artwork captures the action, humor, and spirit of the tale. “A modern-day story in the Sioux tradition of storytelling.” - Winston-Salem Journal ![]() “A fine choice for story hours, this will also find wide curricular use.” - Booklist “An appealing story full of excitement, warmth, and wisdom.” - The Five Owls, starred review Western Writers of America Spur Storyteller Award The book includes archival images, a timeline, a bibliography, an index, and Nelson’s signature art. Through it all, Black Elk clung to his childhood visions that planted the seeds to help his people-and all people-understand their place in the circle of life. The Native people found their land overrun by the Wha-shi-choos, or White Man, the buffalo slaughtered for sport and to purposely eliminate their main food source, and their people gathered onto reservations. Nelson tells the story of Black Elk through the medicine man’s voice, bringing to life what it was like to be Native American in the mid-to-late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. From recounting the visions Black Elk had as a young boy, to his involvement in the battles of Little Big Horn and Wounded Knee, as well as his journeys to New York City and Europe with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, this biographical account of Black Elk-an Oglala-Lakota medicine man (1863–1950)-follows him from childhood through adulthood. Told from the Native American point of view, Black Elk’s Vision provides a unique perspective on American history.
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