Black Elk's 1932 Oral History Publication Transformed American West Narratives

Published in 1932, 'Black Elk Speaks' presents an Indigenous viewpoint on the closing chapter of the American West, drawing from the oral history of Oglala Lakota leader Black Elk, shared with John Neihardt. Black Elk, born Hehaka Sapa in December 1863 in Montana, experienced pivotal events such as the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868), the Battle of the Little Bighorn (1876), and various forced relocations. He was a refugee alongside Sitting Bull before ultimately surrendering to the reservation system. After sharing his visions, he emerged as a holy man and performed in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. He also took part in the Ghost Dance and witnessed the Wounded Knee massacre in 1890. Black Elk passed away on August 19, 1950, at the age of 87, and rests in Manderson, South Dakota.