Heȟáka Sápa (Black Elk) (December 1863 – August 19, 1950) was a famous wičháša wakȟáŋ (medicine man and holy man) of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux). He was Heyoka and a second cousin of Crazy Horse. Read full biography of Black Elk →
You remember that my great vision came to me when I was only nine years old, and you have seen that I was not much good for anything until after I... →
Grown men can learn from very little children for the hearts of little children are pure. Therefore, the Great Spirit may show to them many things... →
And while I stood there I saw more than I can tell and I understood more than I saw; for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shapes of all things in... →
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... →
After the horse dance was over, it seemed that I was above the ground and did not touch it when I walked.
I cured with the power that came through me.
To use the power of the bison, I had to perform that part of my vision for the people to see.
I had a vision with which I might have saved my people, but I had not the strength to do it.
So I took the bright red stick and at the center of the nation's hoop I thrust it in the earth.
And if the great fear had not come upon me, as it did, and forced me to do my duty, I might have been less good to the people than some man who had... →
But I think I have done right to save the vision in this way, even though I may die sooner because I did it; for I know the meaning of the vision is... →
They told me I had been sick twelve days, lying like dead all the while, and that Whirlwind Chaser, who was Standing Bear's uncle and a medicine... →
I was four years old then, and I think it must have been the next summer that I first heard the voices.
Heȟáka Sápa (Black Elk) (December 1863 – August 19, 1950) was a famous wičháša wakȟáŋ (medicine man and holy man) of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux). He was Heyoka and a second cousin of Crazy Horse.