Black Elk Speaks

Black Elk’s family spends several months living at the Soldiers’ Town with Red Cloud. However, Black Elk’s father decides to join Crazy Horse at Rosebud River, as he believes they must fight the Wasichus to protect the Black Hills. On the way to Crazy Horse, Black Elk’s people encounter a Wasichu “wagon train,” and a fight breaks out, though the Wasichus successfully hide behind their wagons (70). At Crazy Horse’s camp, the medicine man Sitting Bull prepares a ceremony “to purify the people and give them power and endurance” (73). The ceremony involves bringing a holy tree—called waga chun—to the village and dancing around the tree for two days.

After the ceremony, the Lakota warriors prepare to attack a group of Wasichu soldiers lead by General Cook, or Three Stars. Though Black Elk wants to join the war party, his uncle tells him that he should stay with the “helpless ones” at the camp (75). Black Elk’s friend, Iron Hawk, describes the fight that ensues. Though the Wasichus are aided by the Crow tribe, the Lakotas emerge victorious in the battle. Black Elk’s friend, Standing Bear, describes walking amidst the dead Wasichus the day after the battle, taking artifacts such as blankets and rings off the dead bodies.