Black Elk Speaks

When Black Elk returns to Pine Ridge, he finds his people are suffering immensely. The Wasichus give the Native Americans far less food than had been promised in the Black Hills treaty. The killing of the bison, combined with a drought, means that the Lakota are unable to source enough food for themselves. Further, a second treaty is forced upon the Lakota by Three Stars (General Crook), taking away half of the Lakota’s remaining land. Black Elk reflects that his people are “penned up and could do nothing” (178).

Many Lakota become excited by rumors of a holy man in the Paiutes tribe, who had a vision of a second world coming “in a whirlwind out of the west” (179). In this coming new world, the Wasichus would be wiped out, and all of the dead Native Americans and bison would come back to life. The man is known as the Wanekia, and is considered to be the “son of the Great Spirit” (179). Three members of the Ogalala tribe travel to seek out this holy man, and when they come back, they announce to everyone that the rumors of this man’s vision are true. The men further explain that people must participate in a “ghost dance” if they hope to enter this new world (179).