Black Elk Speaks: The Complete Edition

Finally got to read this book. It is a good account of what happened in his life- with his visions and the treatment of the Indians. It is sad, of course that he had to endure the cruelty of the white man and see so many people die. I am not Indian, but I try to do what I can for them- but it will never make up for how they have been treated- then and now.

<i>Black Elk Speaks: The Complete Edition</i> by John G. Neihardt<i>Black Elk Speaks</i> is arguably the single most widely read book in the literature relating to North American Native history. To better understand ourselves, it is a book that everyone with a modicum of conscience should read. It is also a treasure trove for research.I'm at the point in life where there is little else to linger for save yesterday. This book took me there in spades."It is the story of all life that is holy and is good to tell, and of us two-leggeds sharing in it with the four-leggeds and the wings of the air and all green things; for these are children of one mother and their father is one Spirit." ~ Black ElkThis is a story from the perspective of indigenous beliefs, born of how they perceived the natural world they had an intimate relationship with. A people with deep respect for the unknowable, that knew well the brightness and darkness inherent in the psyche of all life forms, and that understood the connectedness of all life. That in sharp contrast to so-called civilized peoples that plunder our little blue canoe, blindly driving nails in humankind's coffin.“A savage is not the one who lives in the forest but the one who destroys it.” ~ unknownUppermost though, it is the story of a people that were self-sacrificing for the good of all, that only wanted to live with Nature as they always had, even on what little was left them in treaties. The obstacles were overwhelming though, with the greed of the weedy materialistic culture wanting all there was, and having no respect for the natural world. It is an age old story of avarice and genocide, this genocide the greatest by far in humankind's history [see <i>Genocide of indigenous peoples</i>, and <i>Genocides in history</i> articles on Wikipedia], estimated at upwards of ninety percent of the Indigenous population. According to geographers from University College London, the colonization of the Americas by Europeans killed so many people it resulted in climate change and global cooling.And yes, in the telling there is much bloodshed and many died, because the colonialists' materialistic culture was relentless in taking all they lusted for irregardless of treaties. How could there be any saving grace in what was done to Native Americans, with the colonialists employing massacres of women and children, biological warfare (intentionally spreading the infectious diseases they brought with them), starvation (the last survivors of the northern buffalo herds were killed off in 1881), slavery, and ethnocide (e.g. the resident school system). One abhorrent example of the massacres, is in a latter chapter where Black Elk recounts what he saw first hand at Wounded Knee."Wherever we went, the soldiers came to kill us, and it was all our own country. It was ours already when the Wasichus [white people] made the treaty with Red Cloud, that said it would be ours as long as grass should grow and water flow." ~ Black Elk“Everyone believes in the atrocities of the enemy and disbelieves in those of his own side.” ~ George OrwellNotice in Black Elk's recounting that these peoples' rituals commonly included an element of giving to those that had the least. For example, in one instance in preparing for a ceremony a holy man would find a holy tree for the dance, and a warrior would strike the tree counting coup upon it. Then the warrior would give gifts to those who were most needy, and the braver he had been the more he gave away.This in contrast to what Black Elk observed later in the story when visiting major cities."I could see that the Wasichus did not care for each other the way our people did before the nation’s hoop was broken. They would take everything from each other if they could, and so there were some who had more of everything than they could use, while crowds of people had nothing at all and maybe were starving. They had forgotten that the earth was their mother. This could not be better than the old ways of my people." ~ Black ElkHmm, sounds familiar.Black Elk's concept of community was as different as day and night."The Six Grandfathers have placed in this world many things, all of which should be happy. Every little thing is sent for something, and in that thing there should be happiness and the power to make happy. Like the grasses showing tender faces to each other, thus we should do, for this was the wish of the Grandfathers of the World." ~ Black ElkBe aware in reading this book that what is conveyed is in part through metaphors and mystical symbolism in the ways the ancient ones enhanced the vividness of a telling. One example in Black Elk's vision is when he speaks of the fourth Grandfather, "he of the place where you are always facing (the south), whence comes the power to grow." The first association is that in numerous Native American beliefs, after death the soul travels south along the Milky Way. Thus, throughout life one is always facing south. The second association is of the power to grow. Restated in modern terms, the power is that of the natural world's closed loop system of life fueled by life, recycling the essential elements of physical being for a continuum of life.Other examples include the circle (hoop), which not only symbolizes life's cyclical journey, but also represents a way of life in interacting with each other in a circular fashion to negate power struggles. The number four also has special significance, as in the elements of Earth, fire, air, and water; the seasons of winter, spring, summer and fall; and the primary directions of North, South, East, and West. Symbols can also be used in combination, such as a circle divided into quarters with four arrows signifying wisdom, innocence, foresight, and soul-searching.The perspicacious reader will find more inclusive relevance in what Black Elk says, as parallels abound in the broader community and history of humankind. Something to think about is the circular aspect of life, where 'what goes around comes around.'

We live in days that most spirituality has been lost by our busyiness and American, western ways of life or oppression. God or "The Great Spirit" raised up Black Elk to help his people in a very trying time in their history and those times really are still here for the Natives and all peoples of the world. This book is for both Natives and westerners because it shows the reality of the supernatural and the kingdom of God that Jesus demonstrated in the bible, its the same thing that Black Elk is talking about here but with different symbolism and a different culture. The old Native way was about honoring, praying to, following, believing and living out life in the spirit to a higher being (God or the Great Spirit). If westerners and the Natives worked together they both would find what they are looking for. If westerners would drop their traditions and seek Jesus in the fashion that the old Native way knew (some still do) which this book displays all could find life around the tree of life (The Great Spirit or God) and all would be united and at peace, this was Black Elk's goal and should everyones goal. Black Elk shows that to be in touch with the creator and to make a difference you have to seek Him and separate some from an ordinary life (this is what the bible shows also), if you do this The Great Spirit or God will invade your life and you will be in touch with why you were created. Sometimes God, The Great Spirit raises up a forerunner like Black Elk to restore the old ways that were lost and just like Black Elk says, his purpose was so all could do what he was doing and to revive things back to life. A very important book for all. Enjoy!

The book centers around instances in Black Elks life that refer back to his vision he had when he was 9 years old. It is from his point of view of the events that transpired between the government and the Indians when they were being robbed of their land. It tells of the Indian tragedy of constant relocation, starvation, murder, lies and more lies. Many of the stories tie back to stories of events I’ve read about in other books, only in greater detail. The narrative is as it was told by Black Elk to the author, with the author adding pieces of his own narrative.

Great book, should be taught in school

I bought this as a gift for my mother. She is enjoying reading it.

A rare perspective, well written/dictated. I first read this book on recommendation of a high school teacher. 20 years later I decided it was a necessary addition to my library.

Good notes on this version, and good background information.

on en apprend a toutes les pages, fabuleux

Ha muitos anos queria ler esse livro e minha expectativa foi correspondida.Excelente para quem gosta de histórias sobre os povos nativos americanos

good service, accurate information, happy me

Yes I enjoyed this read, one has to remember when reading that this is the experience of on particular brave man's great vision and how he lived his life in the pursuit of the vision given to him. Always attempting to follow this for the benefit of his people, the Lakota, giving himself over to the vision when the time came, no matter the outcome for him personally. People on the outside reading this book should take into account that the Americas are vast continents and the Spirit ways of the Lakota are not necessarily the ways of other people in these lands. One thing that is held in common is a deep reverence for the elders and a core understanding of humanities inseparable part of life.The ways of our modern 'civilised' society where incomprehensible, even mad, to young Black Elk, just as they were/are to Native peoples the world over. What we can take firstly from this book is respect for Black Elk, sympathy or empathy for the first nations, an elder people who have been and in many ways still are abused. What we can do also is to reflect upon these writings and say, is there any way in which I can restore some of the innocence lost, how is this relevant to my life?Sure these people were not Christians nor did they hold to the values and moralities of these now dominant societal ways, they knew death was a part of life and were honest about it, they did not speak one way and act another, what you saw was what you got.Was Black Elks vision Fulfilled. Did he find the solution or resolution he first sought for his people? Maybe this is still ongoing through the pages of his book, just as his Uncle Crazy Horse sought to solve the dilemma and free his people, this book does the same for us all. Here can be considered another piece of the solution, the book is another Brave left behind for us to find and in turn to teach us. Whilst we grow and mature as a people the Book remains here, a message from the past for us now, to pick up, learn and grasp in turn what it is that our people never saw all those years ago, as we rampaged and ravaged, as a bull in a china shop, throughout this our sweet and sacred earth. For it was not Black Elk, Crazy Horse or for any other to solve this mess alone, they and many other visionaries of many a hew are a part of the work, which must be done if we are eventually to turn things around and save our world. Even the wisest of us is still very small in the grander vision, all we can do is try to follow in their foot steps so as we too can grow and play our part.

First book I have read that has made me feel so emotional. Paints a vivid picture of how things were. My heart breaks for Black Elk and his people. Highly recommend.