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 had performed the horse dance near the mouth of the Tongue River during my eighteenth summer. Black Elk danceeighteenthgood share on social
The soldiers did go away and their towns were torn down; and in the Moon of Falling Leaves (November), they made a treaty with Red Cloud that said our country would be ours as long as grass should grow and water flow. Black Elk cloudcountryfall share on social
I looked below and saw my people there, and all were well and happy except one, and he was lying like the dead - and that one was myself. Black Elk deadhappylie Change image and share on social
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 never dreamed at all, even with the memory of so great a vision in me. Black Elk dreamdutyfear share on social
I know now what this meant, that the bison were the gift of a good spirit and were our strength, but we should lose them, and from the same good spirit we must find another strength. Black Elk bisonfindgift Change image and share on social
So I took the bright red stick and at the center of the nation's hoop I thrust it in the earth. Black Elk brightcenterearth Change image and share on social
To use the power of the bison, I had to perform that part of my vision for the people to see. Black Elk bisonpartpeople Change image and share on social
I was four years old then, and I think it must have been the next summer that I first heard the voices. Black Elk hearsummervoice Change image and share on social
