The life and times of Nicholas Black Elk (1863?-1950) saw the final years of Lakota supremacy on the plains, followed by his people’s confinement to reservations and the loss of age-old traditions. Born around December of 1863, Black Elk witnessed seminal events such as the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the death of Crazy Horse, and the Massacre at Wounded Knee.

During this period, American society viewed Lakota religion as dangerous, especially when it seemed to preach the elimination of white persons from the continent. Especially after Wounded Knee, elders feared that continuing these teachings placed their people in danger, and instead they stopped passing on their stories. Allotment and religious persecution quickly eroded these ancient traditions, and soon it appeared that all was lost for Lakota society.

While this persecution lasted well into the twentieth century, two men from opposite cultures began a relationship that saved some of the traditions so threatened by this new way of life. In August of 1930, John G. Neihardt took a chance and visited the rapidly aging Black Elk to see if he could save some of those traditions. With great good fortune, Black Elk and Neihardt developed a trust for one another that is still unique for native-white relations today.

Black Elk Speaks was the result of this cooperation. The book is a complex translation of the stories provided by Black Elk and others who lived during the same era. Black Elk described his great vision as a youth, provided details on ceremonies in danger of extinction, and spoke of memories during a critical time in Lakota history.