Black Elk
Black Elk
Heȟáka Sápa was a famous wičháša wakȟáŋand heyoka of the Oglala Lakotawho lived in the present-day United States, primarily South Dakota. He was a second cousin of the war chief Crazy Horse...
ProfessionLeader
voice grandfather earth
Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice.
white clouds mountain
Now suddenly there was nothing but a world of cloud, and we three were there alone in the middle of a great white plain with snowy hills and mountains staring at us; and it was very still; but there were whispers.
moving native-american circles
Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a person is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves.
inspirational dance horse
After the horse dance was over, it seemed that I was above the ground and did not touch it when I walked.
prayer earth sacred
As you walk upon the sacred earth, treat each step as a prayer.
people vision might
I had a vision with which I might have saved my people, but I had not the strength to do it.
native-american world sacred
Everywhere is the center of the world. Everything is sacred.
rain vision storm
When a vision comes from the thunder beings of the west, it comes with terror like a thunder storm; but when the storm of vision has passed, the world is greenier and happier; for wherever the truth of vision comes upon the world, it is like a rain. The world, you see, is happier after the terror of the storm.
country fall moon
The soldiers did go away and their towns were torn down; and in the Moon of Falling Leaves (November), they made a treaty with Red Cloud that said our country would be ours as long as grass should grow and water flow.
thinking glowing fog
Also, as I lay there thinking of my vision, I could see it all again and feel the meaning with a part of me like a strange power glowing in my body; but when the part of me that talks would try to make words for the meaning, it would be like fog and get away from me.
girl warrior boys
The boys of my people began very young to learn the ways of men, and no one taught us; we just learned by doing what we saw, and we were warriors at a time when boys now are like girls.
native-american circles doe
Everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles.
inspirational life inspirational-life
Behold this day. It is yours to make.
lightning breaths
And when I breathed, my breath was lightning.