Black Elk Speaks

Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux

Black Elk Speaks presents the life story of Nicholas Black Elk, an Oglala Lakota holy man, as told to the poet and writer John G. Neihardt. The narrative recounts Black Elk's childhood, visions, participation in Lakota life, and experiences during the turbulent late nineteenth century, including the aftermath of westward expansion and the Wounded Knee Massacre. The book combines personal testimony, Lakota history, and spiritual reflection.

by John G. Neihardt

University of Nebraska Press · First published 1932 · 298 pages