John G. Neihardt
Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala
Sioux
Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1961.
Sioux holy man Black Elk shared his sacred visions with Nebraska
poet Niehardt, who had originally sought him out for help in
completing his great narrative poem, "Cycle of the West." The
resulting collaboration has political, sociological and spiritual
value. Although Neihardt took great pains to render Black Elk's
recollections faithfully, the book is still the product of at
least two levels of interpretation: Black Elk (who spoke no
English) to Flying Hawk (who spoke English) to Neihardt (who
interpreted within the context of his own culture).
