Abstract
The characters in John Neihardt's "Black Elk Speaks" cross a multitude of literary representations, symbols and metaphors. Although one can say that each of these characters or representations are unique to the Lakota Sioux, and indeed represent what is unique about Native American heritage in general, This paper will focus more on how these representations and characters reflect the Christian influence upon the Lakota Sioux. Throughout "Black Elk Speaks", many Christian parallels may be found and this paper will highlight several of them.

Tags:black, elk, speaks

Abstract
This paper analyzes the central theme of "Black Elk Speaks," while also considering its most significant images. The paper explains how Black Elk speaks not only for himself but for the fate of his tribe and also discusses his failure to achieve peace for his nation.

From the Paper
"In the book "Black Elk Speaks" John Neihardt tells the story of a Lakota Sioux holy man and how his visionary experiences impacted both his Native American nation and the world in general. Indeed the book is not simply Black Elk's personal story or biography but instead serves as an examination of the fate of his tribe as well."

Tags:Black Elk, Lakota Sioux, Neihardt, failure

Abstract
This paper offers a comparison and contrast of issues confronting Black Elk and Russell Means. The writer examines the rhetoric of both Native American leaders. The writer also discusses Oglala Sioux, the Wounded Knee massacre of 19th Century and the A.I.M. takeover of the site in 20th Century.

Tags:Black, Elk, Wounded, Knee, Russell, Means

Abstract
In this paper, Neihardt provides a different historical perspective of pioneer history through the perspective of Black Elk, a Native American. The paper examines how this anthropological dictation not only provides evidence of the genocide and racism that Europeans forced upon the Indians, but also how much more noble and moral Black Elk was though his tradition and honor of treaties. The writer proposes that by getting another perspective to the often-biased American history of how Native Americans are seen, the story of Black Elk resonates the truth of happened during pioneering expansion from the voice of the defeated.

From the Paper
"In this book review one can analyze the various anthropological dictations of the Native American, Black Elk, who was `interviewed' by the European John Neihardt. By examining various aspects of the expansionist policy of the Europeans who moved into the Dakota tribal region, one can realize an Indian perspective of how they were treated in the ensuing wars. In essence, Neihardt acts as a anthropological investigator that discovers the non-European point of view of the "Indian" Wars' with Black Elk. The purpose of the John Neihardt's book Black Elk Speaks is to give validity to the Native American side of the story when westward expansion was at is peak in the Dakota regions of the Old West. Neihardt's mission is to convey a different story of early pioneer European expansion than those found in American history books."

Tags:elk, neihardt, black

Abstract
This paper takes a look at the life and beliefs of Black Elk, member of the Oglala Sioux nation. According to the paper, Black Elk had many visions, the first of which he experienced at age nine. The paper goes on to discuss how Black Elk provided leadership in the acceptance of Christianity for a peaceful coexistence with the dominant society, while at the same time remaining a Lakota traditionalist at heart.

From the Paper
"Black Elk shared his vision with the entire tribe, which then carefully enacted each detail (Wink 2000). They gathered sixteen horses: four black horses which represented the west, four white horses for the north, four sorrels for the east, and four buckskins for the south, and all with riders painted accordingly (Wink 2000). Then they began dancing, wheeling from one quadrant of the sacred circle to the next, drawing everyone into the circle until all were within the center (Wink 2000). A stick was planted in the earth that would flower as a sign of life and hope for the Sioux tribe (Wink 2000)."

Tags:Indian, Religious, Freedom, lakota, sacred, circle, Little, Powder, River

Abstract
By examining the life of Black Elk, this paper provides a brief historical tour of the life of a typical Native American being confronted with the advancing white pioneers attempting to move Westward. It explores the events of various battles that took place between the pioneers and the Native Americans and the involvement that Black Elk had in each of these. It focuses specifically on the saga of the Sioux tribe.

From the Paper
"According to the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia (2002), Black Elk (1863-1950) was a Native American religious leader of the Oglala Lakota band of the Sioux tribe. Black Elk, who at the age of 17 had a vision of the Lakota people rising up and freeing their lands from the white settlers, tried to find ways of reconciling his people's traditions with Christianity and the encroaching reality of white dominance. This vision was a famous one among the Sioux in which the Powers of the World told Black Elk of a "fearful road, a road of troubles and of war. On this road you shall walk, and from it you shall have the power to destroy a people's foes" (Neihardt, p. 29). Reality, unfortunately, would prove to be quite different. The whites were eventually successful in obliterating the Native Americans' way of life and subjugating the peoples."

Tags:west, america, battle

Abstract
This paper examines how, as a direct account of the life of an Oglala Sioux medicine man, the biography "Black Elk Speaks" lends a unique perspective to modern American audiences regarding the struggles of Native Americans during the country's tumultuous frontier era. It discusses how we are shown a rare perspective on the sacredness of life and how this includes an enormous respect and sense of comradery not only between Black Elk and his fellow man, but between the Sioux and all the living things in the world, as well as the spirits in the realm beyond.

From the Paper
"Likewise, Black Elk's tribe is described in terms that are almost alien to our modern individualistic society. His people are depicted as the epitome of a united community: those living with him are not merely friends and relatives, but an extended family, his brothers and sisters in spirit. Men are hunters and soldiers, women the caregivers and domestic lynchpins, children the helpers and warriors-in-training. During religious celebration, each member plays a role in depicting the vision or bringing forth the spirits in dance and song. Everyone in the tribe has a role to play, a job to do, and they work together to succeed in doing it. "

Tags:Sioux, Oglala, medicine, man

Abstract
Life of Nicholas Black Elk, a religious elder, as told to the author. History of the Plains Indians of the late 19th Century. Describes the tribe's belief system. Black Elk's relating how the spirit voices came to him. Sanctioning of his vision. Need to bring his message of the unity of the planet to the world.

From the Paper
" Black Elk Speaks (2000) is more than a history of the plains Indians of the latter 19th century. Black Elk was a religious elder of a people that has historically relied on the oral tradition. So this recounting of his life and his vision can be seen as a sacred text that has been preserved on paper instead of committed to memory. As Black Elk begins to relate his life and his vision to John Neihardt, he calls upon the Spirit of the World to keep him true (2), and then he reaffirms the authority of his vision, his tribe's belief system, and his belief that somehow, this vision can still be fulfilled.


When Black Elk was five years old he heard the spirit voices and saw the two messengers who flew down from the sky (14-15). He knew that this was not a dream, but a vision that came from the One Spirit. From that time he would occasionally hear the..."

Abstract
This paper discusses Thomas King's novel "Green Grass, Running Water" and how it offers a modern socio economic view of Buffalo Bill as an exploiter of Native Americans. The paper compares King's view of Buffalo Bill to that of Black Elk's view in "Black Elk Speaks" which presents a picture of the historical Buffalo Bill that is more humane in how he remembers his adventures with the traveling Wild West show.

From the Paper
"By understanding the intertextual references that King makes within his more modern depiction of Buffalo Bill, one can see how he is similar to Black Elk's explanations of how this famous western character interacted with Native Americans. In contrast, the Black Elk helps forge this intertextual message in portraying the reality of Indians in connection with the historical Buffalo Bill in opposition to King's modern view of Indians. In essence, a compare and contrast of these two narratives will be examined to discover how Buffalo Bill is represented in both modern and historical perspectives."

Tags:elk, king, grass

Abstract
This paper discusses how both the books "Observations on Marxism and the Lakota Tradition" by Frank Black Elk and "Those Dead Guys for a Hundred Years" by Jimmie Durham critically examine the historical Native American tradition in America from a contemporary Native American perspective. It examines how Frank Black Elk examines his heritage with a critical economic and political eye, as well as attempts to discuss his personal search for his identity as a Native American man today. Jimmie Durham, in contrast, is much more concerned with the social and psychological terms of historical and ethnic 'memory' of all Native Americans. It shows how Durham defines himself, not against an ideology or against European society, but in contrast to individuals whom he never know, yet he still sees as an intrinsic part of his past. It looks at how Durham attempts to reconstruct the lives of Native Americans from long past, while Elk is more concerned with reconstructing his own sense of self.

From the Paper
"In contrast, the Native American author Jimmie Durham views his past and his connection with Native American heroes in a far more unbroken fashion. He views his connection with the dead and even the defeated as a living tradition, rather than the dead Native Americans as part of the past. "For us, history is always personal. (I remember the Trail of Tears and Sequoia's efforts as though I had been there.) History is directly involved with our families and our generations; tied with sacred white cotton string to the sweet and intense memories of our brother or sister is the desperate and intense hope of each generation to change this history." (Durham 171-2). Durham views his identity as a Native American, despite the currently marginal status of his people, as a viable source of identification. He portrays the supposed split between the culture of the living and the dead as simply yet another manifestation of white ideology and anathema to Native American culture."

Tags:native, americans, tradition, society