Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux, The Premier Edition

Black Elk Speaks is widely hailed as a religious classic, one of the best spiritual books of the modern era and the bestselling book of all time by an American Indian. This inspirational and unfailingly powerful story reveals the life and visions of the Lakota healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863-1950) and the tragic history of his Sioux people during the epic closing decades of the Old West. In 1930, the aging Black Elk met a kindred spirit, the famed poet, writer, and critic John G. Neihardt (1881-1973) on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The Lakota elder chose Neihardt to share his visions and life with the world. Neihardt understood and today Black Elk is known to all. Black Elk's remarkable great vision came to him during a time of decimation and loss, when outsiders were stealing the Lakotas' land, slaughtering buffalo, and threatening their age-old way of life. As Black Elk remembers all too well, the Lakotas, led by such legendary men as Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, fought unceasingly for their freedom, winning a world-renowned victory at the Little Bighorn and suffering unspeakable losses at Wounded Knee. Black Elk Speaks however is more than the epic history of a valiant Native nation. It is beloved as a spiritual classic because of John Neihardt's sensitivity to Black Elk's resounding vision of the wholeness of earth, her creatures, and all of humanity. Black Elk Speaks is a once-in-a-lifetime read: the moving story of a young Lakota boy before the reservation years, the unforgettable history of an American Indian nation, and an enduring spiritual message for us all. Black Elk Speaks Is Widely Hailed As A Religious Classic, One Of The Best Spiritual Books Of The Modern Era And The Bestselling Book Of All Time By An American Indian. This Inspirational And Unfailingly Powerful Story Reveals The Life And Visions Of The Lakota Healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863?1950) And The Tragic History Of His Sioux People During The Epic Closing Decades Of The Old West. In 1930, The Aging Black Elk Met A Kindred Spirit, The Famed Poet, Writer, And Critic John G. Neihardt (1881?1973) On The Pine Ridge Reservation In South Dakota. The Lakota Elder Chose Neihardt To Share His Visions And Life With The World. Neihardt Understood And Today Black Elk Is Known To All.--cover Page 4. Reveals The Life Of Lakota Healer Nicholas Black Elk As He Led His Tribe's Battle Against White Settlers Who Threatened Their Homes And Buffalo Herds, And Describes The Victories And Tragedies At Little Bighorn And Wounded Knee. The Offering Of The Pipe -- Early Boyhood -- The Great Vision -- The Bison Hunt -- At The Soldiers' Town -- High Horse's Courting -- Wasichus In The Hills -- The Fight With Three Stars -- The Rubbing Out Of Long Hair -- Walking The Black Road -- The Killing Of Crazy Horse -- Grandmother's Land -- The Compelling Fear -- The Horse Dance -- The Dog Vision -- Heyoka Ceremony -- The First Cure -- The Powers Of The Bison And The Elk -- Across The Big Water -- The Spirit Journey -- The Messiah -- Visions Of The Other World -- Bad Trouble Coming -- The Butchering At Wounded Knee -- The End Of The Dream -- Neihardt's Postscript -- Appendix : Letter From Neihardt To Black Elk, 6 November 19 -- The Drawings By Black Elk's Friend, Standing Bear -- John G. Neihardt And Nicholas Black Elk. As Told Through John G. Neihardt (flaming Rainbow) ; Annotated By Raymond J. Demallie ; With Illustrations By Standing Bear. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [317]-324) And Index. "Black Elk Speaks," the story of the Oglala Lakota visionary and healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863-1950) and his people during momentous twilight years of the nineteenth century, offers readers much more than a precious glimpse of a vanished time. Black Elk's searing visions of the unity of humanity and Earth, conveyed by John G. Neihardt, have made this book a classic that crosses multiple genres. Whether appreciated as the poignant tale of a Lakota life, as a history of a Native nation, or as an enduring spiritual testament, Black Elk Speaks is unforgettable.Black Elk met the distinguished poet, writer, and critic John G. Neihardt in 1930 on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and asked Neihardt to share his story with the world. Neihardt understood and conveyed Black Elk's experiences in this powerful and inspirational message for all humankind. His life story and the story of the Oglala Sioux during the decades of the Little Big Horn, the ghost-dance rising, and the Wounded Knee massacre. A Sioux medicine man who lived through the times of the Plains Indian wars tells the story of his life